十
Simplified 十
Chinese character for ten: 十 (shí)
The Chinese character for ten is 十 (shí). It means ten and also complete or perfect, as in 十全十美 (shíquán shíměi, perfect in every way). It appears in 十月 (shíyuè, October).
How 十 is built
十 is a horizontal stroke crossed by a vertical one. In ancient writing it was a single vertical line with a dot, a knot in a counting string marking ten; the dot later became the crossbar. As a memory aid, see all four directions and the center: something complete. Larger numbers are built with it, as in 二十 (twenty). It is identical in simplified and traditional Chinese.
十 shí · ten
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 丨 — vertical stroke
How 十 is used
十全十美shíquán shíměiperfect in every way
十月shíyuèOctober
Before you use it as a tattoo or design: 十 can look like a cross or plus sign to non-readers, so think about how it will be seen before choosing it alone.
Questions
What is the Chinese character for ten?
十 (shí) means “ten”.
How do you pronounce 十?
十 is pronounced shí.