子ね

noun

the Rat (first sign of the Chinese zodiac)

Refers to the first animal of the twelve-year cycle. Used in expressions like 子年 (year of the Rat).

• 来らい年ねんは子ね年どしです。

  Next year is the Year of the Rat.

noun

hour of the Rat (around midnight)

Obsolete timekeeping term; the hour of the Rat corresponds roughly to 11 p.m.–1 a.m. or midnight–2 a.m. in the old Japanese temporal system. Mainly encountered in historical contexts or the compound 子の刻.

See also: 子の刻

• 子ねの刻こくに怪かい談だんを語かたるのが江え戸どの趣しゅ向こうだった。

  Telling ghost stories at the hour of the Rat was an Edo-period pastime.

noun

north

Obsolete directional use based on the Chinese zodiac–compass association. In modern Japanese, 北 is used instead.

• 古ふるい方ほう位いの言いい方かたでは、子ねは北きたを指さした。

  In the old directional system, 子 indicated north.

noun

eleventh month of the lunar calendar

Obsolete calendar term; the eleventh month of the old lunar calendar was associated with the Rat. Not used in the modern Gregorian calendar.

• 旧きゅう暦れきの十じゅう一いち月がつは子ねの月つきとも呼よばれた。

  The eleventh month of the lunar calendar was also called the month of the Rat.