Water element tattoo
Water in Chinese is 水 (shuǐ), one of the five elements, 五行 (wǔ xíng). It stands for wisdom, depth and flow, like a river finding its way.
shuǐ
Water · one of the five elements
What 水 means.
水 began as a picture of a flowing stream.
- Character
- 水water; the same in simplified and traditional Chinese
- Virtue
- wisdom (智 zhì)
- Colours
- blacknavydeep blue
- Season
- Winter
- Direction
- North
- Numbers
- 1 and 6
- In nature
- Rivers, lakes, rain and the sea
- Years
- Years ending in 2 and 3
Yang and yin Water
- 壬Yang Waterthe great river
- 癸Yin Waterthe rain and dew
Each element has a yang and a yin side, written with two of the ten Heavenly Stems. In a Chinese birth chart, the stem of the day you were born is your day master: your own element.
In the cycles
- Metal carries Water, and Water nourishes Wood in the generating cycle.
- Earth dams Water, and Water puts out Fire in the controlling cycle.
Your element isn't just your birth year.
Years ending in 2 and 3 are Water years, but in Chinese astrology your own element is your day master, from the day you were born. The free calculator reads your full birth chart and shows how the five elements balance in it.
About water in Chinese
What is the Chinese character for water?
水 (shuǐ), meaning water. It is one of the five elements, 五行 (wǔ xíng), and is written the same in simplified and traditional Chinese.
What does the Water element stand for?
Water stands for wisdom, depth and flow, like a river finding its way. Its virtue is wisdom (智 zhì), its season winter, its direction north, and its colours black, navy, deep blue.
How do I know if Water is my element?
Many people go by their birth year: years ending in 2 and 3 are Water years. In Chinese astrology, though, your own element is your day master, the element of the day you were born, and it often differs from your year. The free element calculator finds it from your birth date.
Which zodiac signs belong to Water?
The Rat and Pig have Water as their fixed element. Each zodiac year also takes an element from its last digit, so there are Water years of every sign.
How does Water relate to the other elements?
Metal carries Water and Water nourishes Wood in the generating cycle. Earth dams Water and Water puts out Fire in the controlling cycle.
Is 水 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes. 水 is a simple, well-known character, and every Chinese reader will recognise it as water. With few strokes it stays clear even at small sizes. Choose a readable style such as Kaishu, bring a clean reference to your artist, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.