五 means “five”

ご · go

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

いつ, いつつ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ゴ

JLPT N5 · Taught in grade 1 · 4 strokes

The story

Five elements in Japanese philosophy: earth, water, fire, wind, and void, the cosmos in balance.

Also the name of the classic strategy board game Go

Its parts

• 五 Five · Entire character

Five elements between heaven (top) and earth (bottom)

More from Ancient Counting

• 六 six
• 七 seven
• 八 eight
• 九 nine
• 十 ten
• 百 hundred
• 千 thousand
• 万 ten thousand
• 半 half
• 零 zero
• 数 number
• 一番 first

Learn 五 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.