巳 (sì): the sixth of the twelve Earthly…

Meanings

1 the sixth of the twelve Earthly Branches (associated with the Snake)
2 the hours 9-11 a.m. (in the traditional Chinese double-hour system)
3 the fourth lunar month

Characters

巳

sì

sixth Earthly Branch; the Snake; 9-11 a.m.

Examples

今年是辛巳年。

Jīnnián shì xīn sì nián.

This year is the year of Xīn-Sì (in the sexagenary cycle).

古人在巳时开始处理公务。

Gǔrén zài sìshí kāishǐ chǔlǐ gōngwù.

The ancients started attending to official business at the Sì hour (9-11 a.m.).

Tips

culture

Sixth of the 十二地支 (twelve Earthly Branches), paired with the snake 蛇 in the zodiac. Combined with the ten Heavenly Stems 天干, 巳 forms part of names for years (辛巳, 癸巳…), months, and double-hours in the traditional sexagenary calendar. The double-hour 巳时 covers 9-11 a.m.

mistakes

Visually nearly identical to 已 ('already') and 己 ('self') — students mix them up constantly. Mnemonic: 巳 is fully closed at the top (a snake curled in an egg, sealed shut); 已 is half-open; 己 is fully open. The folk rhyme is 开口己，半口已，闭口巳.

Components

pictograph

巳 sì

sixth Earthly Branch; fetus (Kangxi #49)

Pictograph of a curled fetus with large head and folded limbs — the original image behind the sixth Earthly Branch. Also identified with the zodiac snake, fitting the coiled posture of both fetus and serpent. Marks the hours 9–11 a.m., the mid-morning slot of peak sunlight. Self-radical: stands alone, not decomposable.