Sinograph Addenda · Signs

five

Namefive
Reads
Meansfive
Taught in04 · Counting the world

Where it comes from

Strokes crossed between an upper and a lower bar — the stated reading sees a tally-knot: past four, adding bars stops working, so the count ties itself off between heaven and earth. Taught in the counting chapter.

How to remember it

A knot between two lines: five, the hand’s full count.

In the wild

Analects 2.4. urn:nabu:kanripo:KR1h0004:002:4a · license: attribution.