<p>九因歌 using synonyms words instead of using one character universally is to make it 押韻 rhyme better, easier for children to 'sing' to remember it better</p>
<p>如 = as same as</p>
<p>得 = get</p>
<p>中 = together</p>
<p>~</p>
<p>二五得一十 ( 2 X 5 get 10 )</p>
<p>二三如六 (2 X 3  is as same as 6)</p>
<p>四五中二十 (4 X 5 together is 20)</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em>歸 = end up with</em></p>
<p><em>三三歸九 (3 X 3 end up with 9) is a variant of 三三如九. No other set of numbers is using 歸</em></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-18T15:18:36.030Z
Thank you for your answer! I still fail to see why these characters make it rhyme better.
Zuriel
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-18T15:21:41.353Z
rhyme better with up and down tones instead of the universal 得
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-21T15:29:21.323Z
Thanks! Why is 歸 so special that it is only used once? Also 得 is used only for 10 but no where else.
Zuriel
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-18T15:16:37.650Z
2020-04-18T15:38:17.607Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Tang Ho
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/JJlrc.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/JJlrc.jpg" alt=""></a></p>

<p>It seems to me that the following rules apply:</p>

<ol>
<li>When the answer is a one-digit number, the character 如 is used.</li>
<li>When the answer is 10, the character 得 is used.</li>
<li>When the answer is a multiple of 10, other than 10 itself, the word 中 is used.</li>
<li>When it is 3×3=9, the character 歸 is sometimes used (though not on this picture here).</li>
<li>In all other cases, no additional character is inserted.</li>
</ol>

<p>I am wondering why there are such rules? Do we use these rules anywhere else?</p>

<word-choice><characters>
Why in the multiplication table, different characters such as 如，得，歸，中 are used?
# Why in the multiplication table, different characters such as 如，得，歸，中 are used?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-04-18)

[![](https://i.sstatic.net/JJlrc.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/JJlrc.jpg)

It seems to me that the following rules apply:

1. When the answer is a one-digit number, the character 如 is used.
2. When the answer is 10, the character 得 is used.
3. When the answer is a multiple of 10, other than 10 itself, the word 中 is used.
4. When it is 3×3=9, the character 歸 is sometimes used (though not on this picture here).
5. In all other cases, no additional character is inserted.

I am wondering why there are such rules? Do we use these rules anywhere else?

**Tags:** word-choice, characters


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-04-18. Score: 1

九因歌 using synonyms words instead of using one character universally is to make it 押韻 rhyme better, easier for children to 'sing' to remember it better

如 = as same as

得 = get

中 = together

~

二五得一十 ( 2 X 5 get 10 )

二三如六 (2 X 3 is as same as 6)

四五中二十 (4 X 5 together is 20)

> *歸 = end up with*
>
> *三三歸九 (3 X 3 end up with 9) is a variant of 三三如九. No other set of numbers is using 歸*

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you for your answer! I still fail to see why these characters make it rhyme better.  
> **username_1**: rhyme better with up and down tones instead of the universal 得  
> **username_0**: Thanks! Why is 歸 so special that it is only used once? Also 得 is used only for 10 but no where else.  

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