123.午


1. Meaning and Reading

  • noon, midday
  • Onyomi :

2. Kanji Explanation

  • 牛 : cow
  • 午 : noon

Derived from the time when people worked the fields by leading oxen (牛), thus representing noon. The character 牛 has upward horn-like strokes, whereas 午 lacks these raised strokes.

kanji illustration

3. Example Words

午後 ごご
afternoon

I meet a friend in the afternoon.

午前 ごぜん
morning (a.m.)

Finish homework in the morning.