十 calligraphy

十

ten; 10

Closest English meanings

ten

The Calligrapher — Liáng Tóngshū 梁同书

Qing elegant running-script master of the imperial academy.

Qing calligrapher (), master of running script — known for 清四家. Qing dynasty

Cultural Story

Confucius marks his life by tens: “三十而立,四十而不愚” — at thirty he stood, at forty he doubted no more. 十 was the full count, a cross that closed the fingers; 十万 the host a general feared, 十二月 the cold month the Odes sing. The word measures a life and an army with one stroke.

Common words & phrases

  • 十分 very · extremely · quite
  • 十年 ten years · decade
  • 十万 one hundred thousand
  • 十字 cross · the character ten
  • 十二月 December
  • 十足 full · complete · downright

Read the story behind the character

In the modern world

A child learns 十 before 百; 十分 is the “very” a review pins to a good meal. 十年 is the prison line in a court report, and 十万 the followers a small brand buys. 十字 marks the junction a driver turns at, and 十足 the discount a shop swears is real. The word counts from the abacus to the like.

Own this character

Purchase delivers the original SVG of this glyph, brushed by Liáng Tóngshū 梁同书, ready to place on skin, paper, or screen.