mǎo

4th terrestrial branch

Original meaning: 

butcher's knife

Depicts two knives side-by-side. Based on the original meaning "butcher's knife". The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

Evolution

卯 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
卯 Bronze script Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze script

Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
卯 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
卯 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
卯 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

mǎo

4th terrestrial branch; period from 5-7 a.m.; mortise (slot cut into wood to receive a tenon); 4th earthly branch: 5-7 a.m., 2nd solar month (6th March-4th April), year of the Rabbit; ancient Chinese compass point: 90° (east); variant of |[mǎo]; to exert one's strength

() 

mǎo

variant of [mǎo]

() 

mǎo

old variant of [mǎo]

Most common words with 卯
Freq.
Word
Meaning

to fasten with rivets

辛卯

twenty-eighth year H4 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 2011 or 2071

丁卯

fourth year D4 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 1987 or 2047

乙卯

fifty-second year B4 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 1975 or 2035

癸卯

fortieth year J4 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 1963 or 2023

Component uses

Sound component in 12 characters (5 verified)

貿