戊

wù

Definitions

wù fifth of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shí tiān gān]; fifth in order; letter "E" or Roman "V" in list "A, B, C", or "I, II, III" etc; penta

Etymology

Pictograph of a battle axe. Similar to 戈, 戉, and 戌.

About

The character 戊 originated as a pictograph of a battle axe, a crescent-shaped blade on a long shaft, akin to 戈, 戉, and 戌. Later, in the development of the calendar, it was borrowed for its sound and permanently assigned as the fifth Heavenly Stem, a cycle for recording days, years, and cosmic order. Over time, this calendrical function completely replaced its original meaning as a weapon, so 戊 now functions solely as an ordinal marker or celestial sign.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

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 Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Warring States (~300 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 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)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Xin dynasty (9-23 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

今年是戊戌年。

Jīnnián shì wùxū nián.

This year is the year of Wuxu.

天干的第五位是戊。

Tiāngān de dì wǔ wèi shì wù.

The fifth position of the heavenly stems is Wu.

戊时是晚上七点到九点。

Wù shí shì wǎnshang qī diǎn dào jiǔ diǎn.

The Wushi period is from 7 PM to 9 PM.

戊子年间发生了很多大事。

Wùzǐ niánjiān fāshēng le hěn duō dà shì.

Many major events occurred during the Wuzi year.

在农历中，戊年通常与土元素相关联。

Zài nónglì zhōng, wù nián tōngcháng yǔ tǔ yuánsù xiāng guānlián.

In the lunar calendar, the year of Wu is usually associated with the earth element.

戊烷是一种有机化合物。

Wùwán shì yī zhǒng yǒujī huàhéwù.

Pentane is a type of organic compound.

戊戌变法发生在公元一八九八年。

Wùxū biànfǎ fāshēng zài gōngyuán yī bā jiǔ bā nián.

The Wuxu Reform took place in the year 1898 AD.

化学老师解释了戊烷的结构。

Huàxué lǎoshī jiěshì le wùwán de jiégòu.

The chemistry teacher explained the structure of pentane.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 戊

Example Words