dei6 zi1地支
Jyutpingdei6 zi1
Yaledeih jī
Definition
The twelve Earthly Branches, a Chinese system of symbols used to order time, days, and directions.
neutraltimeother
How it's used
These twelve symbols are deeply embedded in traditional Chinese culture, primarily used for tracking years, months, days, and hours in the lunar calendar. While most people recognize them through the Chinese zodiac animals, they are also fundamental to concepts like feng shui and fortune telling. They function as a cyclical system that repeats every twelve years.
Examples
Do you know which earthly branch this year corresponds to?
Fortune tellers often ask people about their earthly branches.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse the twelve branches with the twelve zodiac animals, but they are distinct systems that happen to overlap. Remember that the branches themselves are the abstract symbols, whereas the animals are the mnemonic devices used to represent them.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
