癸みずのと卯う

also: きぼう

Meanings

noun

Water Rabbit; 40th term of the sexagenary cycle

Refers to the 40th year in the 60-year cycle, combining the Heavenly Stem 癸 (Water) and Earthly Branch 卯 (Rabbit). Used in traditional calendar contexts, astrology, and historical dating. Years such as 1963, 2023, and 2083 are Water Rabbit years.

Written forms

癸卯Usage100%
- みずのとう
  Standard kanji form for the sexagenary cycle term.
- きぼう
  Alternate reading きぼう; less common than みずのとう.
きぼう

Kanji

癸10th calendar sign
卯sign of the hare or rabbit, fourth sign of Chinese zodiac, 5-7AM

Similar words

干支えと
干支 is the general term for the sexagenary cycle or Chinese zodiac; 癸卯 is one specific term within that cycle.
卯う年どし
卯年 means 'Year of the Rabbit' in the 12-year zodiac, while 癸卯 specifies the Water Rabbit in the full 60-year cycle.

Etymology

From the Chinese sexagenary cycle, combining the Heavenly Stem 癸 (Water) and Earthly Branch 卯 (Rabbit). The reading みずのとう is the native Japanese kun reading of the characters, while きぼう is the on reading.