Definitions
(noun)
noon; midday
Etymology
Pictograph of a pestle used for pounding rice, now written as 杵. The current meaning "noon" is a phonetic loan.
About
午 began as a pictograph of a pestle used to pound rice. Later, it was borrowed phonetically to denote the seventh Earthly Branch, which in the traditional timekeeping system refers to the middle of the day, specifically, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This association gave 午 the meaning "noon". The character's original sense of a pestle is now written 杵, with the addition of the wood radical 木.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
现在是中午十二点。
上午我要去开会。
我们下午三点见面吧。
今天的午餐很好吃。
他在午睡，别吵醒他。
正午的太阳非常强烈。
我们在船上享用午宴。
一个暖和的午后，我们出去散步了。
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