五(ご)

ご
number
five
1. five
The number five. A central number in Japanese culture, found in many traditional concepts. Straightforward to use with most counters.
五(ご)時(じ)に起(お)きます。
I wake up at five o'clock.
五(ご)人(にん)家族(かぞく)です。
It's a family of five.
五(ご)月(がつ)は気持(きも)ちいい季節(きせつ)です。
May is a pleasant season.
友達(ともだち)と約束(やくそく)があるから、五(ご)時(じ)までに家(いえ)に帰(かえ)らなければなりません。
I have plans with a friend, so I have to be home by five o'clock.
日本(にほん)の会社(かいしゃ)では週(しゅう)に五(ご)日(にち)働(はたら)くのが普通(ふつう)で、土曜日(どようび)と日曜日(にちようび)は休(やす)みになっています。
In Japanese companies, it's normal to work five days a week, with Saturday and Sunday off.

五(ご) is the Sino-Japanese reading for five, used with most counters and in compounds.

READINGS:

COMMON USES:

  • 五(ご)時(じ): 5 o'clock
  • 五(ご)月(がつ): May
  • 五(ご)日(にち): the 5th (of the month)
  • 五(ご)人(にん): five people
  • 五(いつ)つ: five (objects)

CULTURAL:

  • 五(ご)感(かん): the five senses
  • 五(ご)輪(りん): the Olympic rings; also Buddhist five elements
  • 五(ご)十(じゅっ)音(おん): the Japanese syllabary order

NOTE:
Five is considered a balanced number in East Asian cultures, associated with the five elements.

basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:58 · Revised 2026.2.13 21:00
00500/00697_go