六

• Pinyin: liù
• Hanzi breakdown: 六 = ancient character, possibly depicting a shelter — the number six

Meaning

Six. The number 6.

Used in counting, dates, time, and as a lucky number. In modern internet slang, 六 or 666 means 'awesome' or 'cool' because it sounds like 溜 (smooth, skilled). June is 六月, Saturday is 星期六.

Examples

1. 现在六点了。 It's six o'clock now.
2. 我们班有六个男生。 There are six boys in our class.
3. 六月是夏天。 June is summer.

Usage Guide

Context: numbers, time, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 今天星期六。(Today is Saturday.)
• 六点半下课。(Class ends at half past six.)

Don't Say

• 六月六号六点。(While grammatically fine, saying too many 六 in a row can be a tongue twister — just be aware)

Origin & History

An ancient character dating back to oracle bone inscriptions. The original form may have depicted a simple shelter or hut structure.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal