Radical 一

4 strokes

You will remember that the number “eight” is represented in stories by an octopus. We will have similar representatives for the numbers 5, 7 and 9 (otherwise it would be difficult to distinguish in your mind between a story with say “7 trees” and a story with “9 trees” or “5 trees”). the character for “five” will be represented in stories by a starfish.

[五十 (4) wǔshí fifty]

[十五 (4) shíwǔ fifteen]

[五十五 (4) wǔshíwǔ fifty five]

/ Teddy is splashing in a rock pool and sees a five- spoked wheel but when he goes to pick it up it turns out to be a starfish and it wounds his paw.