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 of a hard, protective covering, specifically the shell of a turtle or overlapping armor plates. Its structure, a central vertical stroke intersecting a box, visually echoes the segmented patterns of a tortoise's back or a soldier's gear. Since turtle shells were prized in early Chinese divination, 甲 came to signify the first position or highest rank, leading to its adoption as the first of the ten Heavenly Stems in traditional calendars. The meaning thus expanded from the physical noun for shell or armor to an adjective or marker of primacy, used to denote superiority or the leading item in a sequence.
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。