The doctrine of five phases describes two cycles, a generating or creation (生, shēng) cycle, also known as "mother-son", and an overcoming or destruction (克/剋, kè) cycle, also known as "grandfather-nephew", of interactions between the phases.

Generating
The common memory jogs, which help to remind in what order the phases are, are:

• Wood feeds Fire;
• Fire creates/produces Earth (ash);
• Earth bears Metal;
• Metal carrie Water (as in a bucket or tap, or water condenses on metal);
• Water nourishes Wood.

Other common words for this cycle include "begets", "engenders" and "mothers."

Overcoming

• Wood parts Earth (such as roots);
• Earth absorbs (or muddies) Water;
• Water quenches Fire;
• Fire melts Metal;
• Metal chops Wood.

Also:

• Wood absorbs Water;
• Water rusts Metal;
• Metal breaks up Earth;
• Earth smothers Fire;
• Fire burns Wood.

This cycle might also be called "controls", "restrains" or "fathers".

Source: Wu Xing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia