Definitions
(numeral)
five; 5
Etymology
Origin unclear. Originally an X-shape.
About
The character 五, representing the number five, derives from early symbolic notations in Chinese writing, with its etymology often connected to a crossed or intersecting shape that conceptually captured a set of five. Structurally, it stabilized into a form consisting of two horizontal strokes enclosed within a vertical framework, a configuration that refined earlier, more pictorial depictions. While its primary meaning as a numeral has remained constant, the character has been systematically integrated into a wide array of compound words and cultural concepts, such as the five phases or five classics, extending its application without shifting its fundamental numerical sense.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我有五个苹果。
今天星期五。
五点钟放学。
这本书五元钱。
五个人一起吃饭。
他五岁开始学钢琴。
第五节课是数学课。
如果你五点来，我就等你。