卯う

noun

the Rabbit; the Hare (zodiac sign)

The fourth sign of the Chinese zodiac. Used in expressions like 卯年 (Year of the Rabbit) and in traditional directional/time systems.

• 来らい年ねんは卯う年どしです。

  Next year is the Year of the Rabbit.

• 卯うの刻こくに起おきるのは昔むかしの習しゅう慣かんだ。

  Getting up at the hour of the Rabbit is an old custom.

noun

hour of the Rabbit; around 6am

Traditional time period corresponding roughly to 5–7am or 6–8am. Often seen in historical contexts or in the compound 卯の刻.

See also: 卯の刻

• 江え戸ど時じ代だい、卯うの刻こくは午ご前ぜん六ろく時じごろを指さした。

  In the Edo period, the hour of the Rabbit referred to around 6 a.m.

noun

east (obsolete); second lunar month (obsolete)

Obsolete directional and calendrical uses. 卯 once indicated the direction east and the second month of the lunar calendar in traditional Chinese-influenced systems. Not used in modern Japanese outside historical references.

• 古ふるい暦こよみでは、卯うは東ひがしの方ほう角がくや二に月がつを表あらわした。

  In old calendars, 卯 represented the direction east or the second month.