六

liù, lù

亠 + 八

HSK 2.0Level 1

HSK 3.0Level 1

Definitions

liù (numeral) six; 6

Etymology

Origin unclear. Various explainations include (1) possibly derives from 入 (enter), with two strokes on the bottom to distinguish it from 入 (enter) or (2) a pictograph of a hut, which is thought to be the original form of 廬. Either way, the current meaning is a phoentic loan.

About

The character 六 is the numeral six, but its origin is unclear. One explanation derives it from 入 (enter) with two strokes added at the bottom to distinguish the two; another interprets it as a pictograph of a hut, perhaps the original form of 廬. Either way, it was borrowed as a phonetic loan for the number, and any earlier meaning it may have had is no longer used.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 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)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

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)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他有六本书。

Tā yǒu liù běn shū.

He has six books.

现在六点钟。

Xiànzài liù diǎn zhōng.

It's six o'clock now.

六月天气很热。

Liù yuè tiānqì hěn rè.

The weather in June is very hot.

我住在六楼。

Wǒ zhù zài liù lóu.

I live on the sixth floor.

这个盒子有六个面。

Zhège hézi yǒu liù gè miàn.

This box has six sides.

我们六个人一起去公园。

Wǒmen liù gè rén yīqǐ qù gōngyuán.

We six people go to the park together.

第六节课是数学课。

Dì liù jié kè shì shùxué kè.

The sixth class is math class.

虽然已经六点了，但天还没黑。

Suīrán yǐjīng liù diǎn le, dàn tiān hái méi hēi.

Although it's already six o'clock, the sky isn't dark yet.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 亠

Component: 八

Example Words