五 (wǔ) - five & the fifth

五Tone 3

wǔ ｜ 4 strokes ｜ radical: 二

万响

五 · wǔ

five;

the fifth;

a musical note in the Chinese pentatonic scale.

fivethe fiftha musical note in the Chinese pentatonic scale.

Usage highlights

FiveFive ElementsFive ContinentsFive FlavorsFive SensesFive Classics

Synonyms

  • 伍— five (formal or financial usage); squad of five

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • There are five people (五个人).
  • I am five years old (我五岁).
  • The fifth day of the month (五号).
  • The Five Elements (五行).

Collocations

  • Five(五)
  • Five Elements(五行)
  • Five Continents(五大洲)
  • Five Flavors(五味)
  • Five Senses(五官)
  • Five Classics(五经)

Idioms

  • The four directions and the center(四面八方)
  • Three times five divided by two(三下五除二)
  • Five colors and six hues(五颜六色)
  • Five internal organs and six hollow organs(五脏六腑)
  • Five generations under one roof(五世同堂)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • One of the fundamental numbers in Chinese culture, appearing in many philosophical and cosmological concepts.
  • Central to the theory of the Five Elements (五行 wǔxíng) which describes the interactions and relationships between phenomena.

FAQ