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On'yomi
ジュウ・ジッ・ジュッ
JUU / JI / JU
Kun'yomi
とお・と・そ
too / to / so

ten

Details

Strokes2
Frequency#8
Radicalten(2)

Stroke Order

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Strokes2

Cultural Context

Etymology

Vertical and horizontal lines crossing. All directions, complete number.

Symbolism

Perfection, sufficiency, full marks. Also represents diversity as in 'ten people, ten colors'.

Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

三十六計

さんじゅうろっけい

the 36 (ancient Chinese military) strategies (of which the last resort was said to be beating a retreat); the 36 (ancient Chinese military) strategies (of which the last resort was said to be beating a retreat)

十字砲火

じゅうじほうか

cross fire; cross fire

十人十色

じゅうにんといろ

several men, several minds; everyone has his own (ideas, tastes, interests, etc.); different strokes for different folks; several men, several minds

十中八九

じっちゅうはっく

in 8 or 9 cases out of ten; in all probability; in 8 or 9 cases out of ten

十年一日

じゅうねんいちじつ

without intermission for ten (long) years; with constancy of purpose for ten (long) years; in the same old rut for years on end; without intermission for ten (long) years

十万億土

じゅうまんおくど

eternity; paradise; eternity

十年一昔

じゅうねんひとむかし

the pace of change makes ten years back seem like ancient history; the pace of change makes ten years back seem like ancient history

九十九折

つづらおり

winding; meandering; sinuous; winding

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

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

四十不惑

しじゅうふわく

at age forty, one has no doubts; at age forty, one has no doubts

一暴十寒

いちばくじっかん

bursts of exertion will fail to bear fruit if interrupted by long periods of idleness; strenuous efforts, unless sustained, are to no avail; bursts of exertion will fail to bear fruit if interrupted by long periods of idleness

一目十行

いちもくじゅうぎょう

outstanding reading ability; one glance, ten lines; outstanding reading ability

十死一生

じっしいっしょう

narrow escape from the jaws of death; there being barely a chance of escaping death; narrow escape from the jaws of death

Proverbs & Idioms

十を聞いて一を知る

じゅうをきいていちをしる

Hear ten, understand one

Unable to grasp even a fraction of what is taught

Poetry

和歌(百人一首) (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

わたの原 八十島かけて 漕ぎ出でぬと 人には告げよ あまのつり舟

Poem #11 from Hyakunin Isshu

参議篁Sangi Takamura
9th century