午
noon; sign of the horse
Kanji 110
Thank you for visiting this Character Home Page. Below you'll find a synopsis of the essay. If you wish to read the full text, the PDF of the essay is available for purchase to the right.
See why 午 means both “noon” and “sign of the horse,” thanks to its role in a number system based on 12, not 10. (Jupiter inspired the system!) Learn to say, “first thing in the afternoon” and “I slept the whole afternoon away.” Find out about the Hour of the Horse, the Year of the Fire Horse (and its link to murderous wives), and the significance of the first Day of the Horse in February.
Revision history:
Jan. 10, 2025: p. 1, Character Profile: Deleted the line about when this kanji is taught in Japan, as I'm phasing that out.
Dec. 4, 2020: Originally published.
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