干支

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Chinese

stems branches
simp. and trad.
(干支) 		干 支
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Pronunciation

Noun

干支

  1. The Chinese sexagenary cycle expressed as combinations of the ten heavenly stems and the twelve earthly branches.

Hyponyms

See also

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
干 支
かん
Grade: 6 		し
Grade: 5
on'yomi

Pronunciation

Noun

干(かん)支(し) • (kanshi) 

  1. the sexagenary cycle (especially sixty-year cycle)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
干 支
えと
Grade: 6 Grade: 5
jukujikun

The combination of 兄 (え, e; elder brother) and 弟 (と, to; younger brother); the original meaning is 兄弟 (brother). Derived from this term, the elder is adopted as "positive" and "heavenly stems", the younger is adopted as "negative" and "earthly branches".

Pronunciation

Noun

干支(えと) • (eto) 

  1. the sexagenary cycle (especially sixty-year cycle)
    2000(にせん)年(ねん)の干支(えと)は庚(かのえ)辰(たつ)でした。
    Nisen-nen no eto wa kanoetatsu deshita.
    The sexagenary cycle of the year 2000 was the metal dragon.
  2. (narrowly): the twelve earthly branches
    1994(せんきゅうひゃくきゅうじゅうよ)年(ねん)の干支(えと)は戌(いぬ)でした。
    Senkyūhyakukyūjūyo-nen no eto wa inu deshita.
    The twelve earthly branches of the year 1994 was the dog.
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