also: いっし · おっし
noun
Wood Snake; 42nd term of the sexagenary cycle
Refers to the 42nd year in the 60-year cycle, combining the celestial stem 乙 (きのと, yin wood) and the earthly branch 巳 (み, snake). Used in traditional calendar contexts and for years like 1905, 1965, 2025.
See also: 干支
2025年は乙巳の年です。
2025 is the year of the Wood Snake.
乙巳は干支の42番目にあたります。
Kinotomi is the 42nd term of the sexagenary cycle.
Alternate on'yomi reading; rarely used.
干支 is the general term for the sexagenary cycle or Chinese zodiac signs, while 乙巳 specifically refers to one of the 60 combinations.
Combination of the celestial stem 乙 (きのと, 'younger brother of wood') and the earthly branch 巳 (み, 'snake'). The reading きのとみ is the native Japanese kun'yomi, while いっし and おっし are on'yomi variants.