The term 五行 (wǔ xíng), commonly encountered in daily life, has recently prompted fans to inquire about its pronunciation. Many may not know whether to pronounce it as xing or hang. Today, I will provide a brief explanation, so let’s take a look.
How to Pronounce the Five Elements
The Five Elements can be pronounced as: [ wǔ háng ] [ wǔ xíng ].
五行 (wǔ háng)
1. Generally refers to various industries.
2. Used in the phrase “五行并下、五行聚下” (describing someone who reads quickly and can also see the five elements).
五行 (wǔ xíng)
1. Refers to the five substances: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Ancient Chinese philosophers used these five substances to explain the origin of all things in the world. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), they are used to explain various physiological and pathological phenomena. Superstitious individuals use the principles of the five elements’ interactions to predict a person’s fate.
About the Character 行
1. Pinyin
háng, xíng
2. Basic Meaning
The basic meaning of “行” is to line up, as in the spaces between words or to arrange in rows; it also extends to certain businesses, such as banks and trading houses.
In everyday usage, “行” often serves as a measure word for things arranged in rows, such as tears flowing in two lines.
3. Evolution of the Character
The character “行” first appeared in the oracle bone script of the Shang Dynasty, representing a pictogram. The character clearly depicts an intersection. It later appeared in bronze inscriptions, Chu-style silk manuscripts, Qin Dynasty small seal script, and eventually evolved into the regular script and the simplified version of “行.” The evolution of the character is illustrated below:
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