Chinese edit

[heavenly] stems [earthly] branches
simp. and trad.
(干支)
 
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Pronunciation edit


Noun edit

干支

  1. The Chinese sexagenary cycle expressed as combinations of the ten heavenly stems and the twelve earthly branches.

Hyponyms edit

See also edit

Japanese edit

Etymology 1 edit

Kanji in this term
かん
Grade: 6

Grade: 5
on’yomi

Noun edit

(かん)() (kanshi

  1. the sexagenary cycle (especially sixty-year cycle)
Related terms edit

Etymology 2 edit

Kanji in this term
えと
Grade: 6 Grade: 5
jukujikun

The combination of (え, e; elder brother) and (と, to; younger brother); the original meaning is 兄弟 (brother). Derived from this term, the elder is adopted as "positive" and "heavenly stems", the younger is adopted as "negative" and "earthly branches".

Noun edit

干支(えと) (eto

  1. the sexagenary cycle (especially sixty-year cycle)
    2000(にせん)(ねん)干支(えと)(かのえ)(たつ)でした
    Nisen-nen no eto wa kanoetatsu deshita.
    The sexagenary cycle of the year 2000 was the metal dragon.
  2. (narrowly): the twelve earthly branches
    1994(せんきゅうひゃくきゅうじゅうよ)(ねん)干支(えと)(いぬ)でした
    Senkyūhyakukyūjūyo-nen no eto wa inu deshita.
    The twelve earthly branches of the year 1994 was the dog.