Chinese character for six: 六 (liù)

The Chinese character for six is 六 (liù). It means six and appears in 六月 (liùyuè, June). Six is a lucky number because 六 sounds like 流 (liú, to flow), meaning things go smoothly, as in 六六大顺.

How 六 is built

六 has a dot and a line on top, like a roof 亠, and 八 (two strokes) below. Ancient forms looked like a simple hut or shelter, and the number meaning is a borrowing of the sound. As a memory aid, picture a little house with a roof on two legs. It is identical in simplified and traditional Chinese and is also called 'lucky six' in phone numbers and plates.

六 liù · six

• 亠tóu — lid
  • 丶 — dot
  • 一 — horizontal stroke
• 八bā — eight

How 六 is used

Before you use it as a tattoo or design: 六 is identical in both scripts and considered lucky; 六六大顺 is a popular wish for smooth success.

Questions

Related

• 五five
• 七seven
• 八eight
• 运luck
• 十ten

Full page for 六 › All characters for words