十 stroke order 十 chinese writing meaning 十 chinese character tattoos

The Chinese Character: 十 (shí)

1. Basic Meaning and Structure

The character "十" is one of the simplest and most ancient Chinese characters, yet it carries immense cultural weight.

  • Pronunciation: shí (sounds like "sher" with a rising tone).

  • Character Origin: It is an ideogram. Its original form was a simple vertical line, sometimes with a dot in the middle, which evolved into the current cross-shaped symbol. It represents the number ten.

  • Stroke Order: Two strokes.

    1. First, the horizontal stroke (一), from left to right.

    2. Second, the vertical stroke (丨), from top to bottom, crossing through the middle of the horizontal stroke.

2. Deeper Meanings and Cultural Significance

While its primary meaning is the number 10, its symbolism is profound:

  • Completeness and Perfection: In Chinese culture, ten is seen as a complete, perfect, and round number. It signifies a full cycle or a comprehensive whole, much like the "top ten" lists in English. This is rooted in the ancient Chinese decimal system and the use of ten Heavenly Stems (天干).

  • Totality and Wholeness: It implies "all" or "everything." For example, "十全十美" (shí quán shí měi) is an idiom meaning "perfect in every way; complete and excellent."

  • The Cross Shape: The form of the character is a balanced cross. In a Chinese context, this shape is not inherently religious (like the Christian cross) but rather symbolizes structure, foundation, center, and the intersection of opposites (e.g., heaven and earth, horizontal and vertical, yin and yang).


"十" as a Tattoo: Meanings and Interpretations

As a tattoo, "十" is a powerful choice due to its minimalist aesthetic and deep, layered meanings.

1. Core Symbolic Meanings

  • Perfection and Completeness: It represents a personal goal of achieving a complete and perfect life, or it can symbolize a journey that has reached a significant, fulfilling milestone (e.g., a decade of sobriety, a 10-year anniversary).

  • A Solid Foundation: The character symbolizes something that is whole, stable, and foundational. It can represent a person's core values, a strong family unit, or a solid beginning.

  • The Center and Balance: As a cross, it can represent being at the center of one's own universe, the point of balance where all things meet. It signifies harmony and equilibrium.

  • Good Fortune and Fulfillment: In many East Asian cultures, the number 10 is considered very auspicious, representing fullness and good luck.

  • Simplicity and Essence: Like the tattoo for "大" (big), "十" embodies the idea that the most profound truths are simple, fundamental, and essential.

2. Personal Interpretations

  • A Milestone Marker: It's an excellent way to commemorate a 10-year period—a marriage, a business, a personal transformation, or a memorial for a decade of life.

  • A Personal Creed: It can serve as a reminder to strive for wholeness in all aspects of life: mental, physical, and spiritual.

  • A Symbol of Connection: The intersecting lines can represent the connection between two important things in one's life, such as two cultures, two families, or two passions.

3. Aesthetic Appeal

The aesthetic of "十" is a major reason for its popularity.

  • Minimalist and Bold: Its two-stroke structure is clean, sharp, and highly recognizable. It makes a strong graphic statement with minimal ink.

  • Versatile Placement: Its symmetrical shape looks excellent on the wrist, behind the ear, on the ankle, the back of the neck, or over the heart.

  • Stylization: It can be rendered in a strict, typeface style for a modern look, or with brushstroke calligraphy (with subtle "flying white" effects) for a more traditional and artistic feel.

Important Considerations Before Getting the Tattoo

  1. Clarity of Intent: Be clear on what the number 10 and the concept of "completeness" mean to you. This personal connection will make the tattoo truly powerful.

  2. Cultural and Religious Context: Be aware that in many parts of the world, a simple cross tattoo like "十" will be immediately interpreted as a Christian cross. If this is not your intention, you should be prepared to explain its Chinese numerological and cultural meaning.

  3. Combining with Other Characters: "十" is very often combined with other characters to create specific phrases for tattoos. Some powerful examples include:

    • 力量 (lì liàng): Power, strength. "十" could be seen as the foundation of this strength.

    • 十全十美 (shí quán shí měi): As mentioned, "perfect in every way." This is an extremely popular and positive phrase.

    • 十一 (shí yī): Eleven. This could represent a new beginning after a complete cycle (10+1), or a specific important number (like a sports jersey number).

Summary of Tattoo Meanings:

  • Primary Meaning: The number Ten.

  • Symbolic Meaning: Completeness, Perfection, Foundation, Totality, Balance, and Good Fortune.

  • Aesthetic Meaning: A minimalist, symmetrical, and bold graphic design.

In conclusion, a "十" tattoo is a deceptively simple mark that carries a universe of meaning. It is a symbol of perfection, a celebration of milestones, and a testament to the beauty of fundamental, balanced strength.

十字意思【meaning】

十字基本字义解释【Basic meaning】

十shí（ㄕˊ）

⒈  数名，九加一（在钞票和单据上常用大写“拾”代）。

⒉  表示多、久：十室九空。

⒊  表示达到顶点：十足。十成。

十的异体字【Variant】

  • 什

  • 拾

十字汉英互译【Chinese-English Translation】

decade、ten、topmost

造字法【Character Creation】

指事

十的英文翻译【English Translation】

ten, tenth; complete; perfect

十字组词【Word Grouping】

花十八;十帝;十三辙;十道;十伦;十族;十八房;三十六;十八公;十九;十二女;十二衣;十全;十朋;十愆;

十字取名的寓意【The meaning of the name】

十字取名寓指十全十美、美好、极致之意。中性字，用字频率为百分名字中使用了1674次，点击查看十字起名

十字取名的含义是什么【What does the name mean?】：

十字取名义指安康,安康,多才之义;

十配什么字最好【What word is best?】

起名十配什么字最好【What word is best?】?十配什么字最好【What word is best?】男孩可配八、拓、球、浙、毕等字起名大气好听的。女孩十字配什么字好听可配茵、芸、淑、婧、琴等字起名最好听。

与十字搭配的最佳男孩名字【Best boy names that go with this word】

  • hao shi浩十

  • shao shi少十

  • shi jin十锦

  • shi yue十月

  • shi yi十一

  • shi xiang十祥

与十字搭配的最佳女孩名字【Best girl names that go with this word】

十字起名没有名字，该字不适合或很少用来起女孩名

chinese characters

Chinese words