Definitions

liù (numeral) six; 6

Etymology

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

About

六 is the standard numeral for six, but its original form depicted a small shelter or shack with a pitched roof and side walls. The spoken word for this structure was phonetically similar to the word for the number six, so the character was borrowed for its sound to represent the numeral. Over time, its numerical usage became dominant, and the original architectural meaning was fully lost in modern contexts.

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

他有本书。

Tā yǒu liù běn shū.

He has six books.

现在点钟。

Xiànzài liù diǎn zhōng.

It's six o'clock now.

月天气很热。

Liù yuè tiānqì hěn rè.

The weather in June is very hot.

我住在楼。

Wǒ zhù zài liù lóu.

I live on the sixth floor.

这个盒子有个面。

Zhège hézi yǒu liù gè miàn.

This box has six sides.

我们个人一起去公园。

Wǒmen liù gè rén yīqǐ qù gōngyuán.

We six people go to the park together.

节课是数学课。

Dì liù jié kè shì shùxué kè.

The sixth class is math class.

虽然已经点了,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.