壬

rén

丿 + 士

Definitions

rén ninth of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shí tiān gān]; ninth in order; letter "I" or Roman "IX" in list "A, B, C", or "I, II, III" etc; ancient Chinese compass point: 345°; nona

Etymology

Pictograph of a warp beam used for holding silk in, also known as a spool. The modern meaning "9th heavenly stem" is a phonetic loan.

About

壬 originated as a pictograph of a warp beam, or spool, for holding silk thread. Its ancient meaning was lost when the character was borrowed purely for its sound to represent the ninth of the ten Heavenly Stems (天干). In this role, it serves as an ordinal marker in the traditional Chinese calendar, as well as in astrology and directional systems.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

今年是壬寅年。

Jīnnián shì rényín nián.

This year is the Renyin year.

他姓壬，很少见。

Tā xìng rén, hěn shǎo jiàn.

His surname is Ren, which is very rare.

壬水在风水里很重要。

Rénshuǐ zài fēngshuǐ lǐ hěn zhòngyào.

Ren water is very important in feng shui.

这个周期从壬日开始。

Zhège zhōuqī cóng rén rì kāishǐ.

This cycle starts from the Ren day.

农历壬月有时在秋天。

Nónglì rén yuè yǒu shí zài qiūtiān.

The Ren month in the lunar calendar sometimes falls in autumn.

壬烷是一种化学物质。

Rénwán shì yī zhǒng huàxué wùzhì.

Nonane is a chemical substance.

在十天干中，壬排第九。

Zài shí tiāngān zhōng, rén pái dì jiǔ.

Among the ten Heavenly Stems, Ren ranks ninth.

古代用壬来纪年和纪日。

Gǔdài yòng rén lái jì nián hé jì rì.

In ancient times, Ren was used to record years and days.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 丿

Component: 士

Example Words