Definitions
(noun)
armor plating; shell; carapace
(noun)
fingernail; toenail
(numeral)
first of the ten Heavenly Stems; first (in order or ranking)
Etymology
Origin unclear. Possibly depicts cracks on a shell or tree bark.
About
The character "甲" originated as a pictograph representing protective coverings such as armor or tortoise shells, which established its initial meaning related to hard external layers. Structurally, it has remained a simple and consistent glyph throughout its history, with its traditional form being identical to its modern representation. Over time, its semantic range expanded beyond physical protection to denote the first item in sequential systems like the Heavenly Stems, thereby acquiring an abstract ordinal significance. This conceptual shift further allowed it to be used in contexts indicating top-grade classifications in evaluations, as well as in biological terminology for natural coverings like fingernails or crustacean shells, reflecting a gradual diversification from its original concrete reference.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我剪了指甲。
甲虫是一种昆虫。
船上的甲板很干净。
这次比赛他得了甲等。
甲状腺是重要器官。
在列表中，甲代表第一。
这款手机的性能属甲级。
古代战士穿着盔甲作战。