五
five
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Shape connecting heaven and earth. Fundamental number in Five Elements philosophy.
Symbolism
Harmony, five senses, five elements. Represents balance and completeness.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
九寸五分
くすんごぶ
dagger; dagger
五臓六腑
ごぞうろっぷ
the five viscera and the six internal organs; inside one's body; in one's heart; the five viscera and the six internal organs
五分五分
ごぶごぶ
as likely as not; fifty-fifty; even match; as likely as not
五里霧中
ごりむちゅう
totally at a loss; lose one's bearings; in a maze; totally at a loss
四分五裂
しぶんごれつ
torn asunder; disrupted and disorganized; torn asunder
三三五五
さんさんごご
in groups of twos and threes; in small groups; (in groups of) threes and fives; in groups of twos and threes
四書五経
ししょごきょう
the Four Books and Five Classics of Confucianism; the Nine Chinese Classics; the Four Books and Five Classics of Confucianism
五風十雨
ごふうじゅうう
seasonable rains and winds; halcyon weather; halcyon times of peace; seasonable rains and winds
陰陽五行
いんようごぎょう
the cosmic dual forces (yin and yang) and the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire and earth) in Chinese cosmology; the cosmic dual forces (yin and yang) and the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire and earth) in Chinese cosmology
五穀豊穣
ごこくほうじょう
huge harvest (of the five grains); bumper crop; abundant crop; huge harvest (of the five grains)
五十知命
ごじゅうちめい
at age fifty, one comes to know the will of Heaven; at age fifty, one comes to know the will of Heaven
四肢五体
ししごたい
the whole body; the whole body
五陰盛苦
ごおんじょうく
pain caused by the five skandhas; pain caused by the five skandhas
五族協和
ごぞくきょうわ
five races under one union (Han, Manchurians, Mongolians, Hui, Tibetans; founding principle of the Republic of China); harmony of the five races (Manchurians, Han, Mongolians, Koreans, Japanese; official policy of Manchukuo); five races under one union (Han, Manchurians, Mongolians, Hui, Tibetans; founding principle of the Republic of China)
五体投地
ごたいとうち
prostration; placing knees, hands and forehead on the ground to show utmost respect; prostration
Proverbs & Idioms
五十歩百歩
ごじっぽひゃっぽ
Fifty steps or a hundred steps
The difference is negligible