四

See also: 西, 匹, and 㓁

四	U+56DB, 四 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-56DB

← 囚

CJK Unified Ideographs

囜 →

㈣	U+3223, ㈣ PARENTHESIZED IDEOGRAPH FOUR

← ㈢

Enclosed CJK Letters and Months

㈤ →

㊃	U+3283, ㊃ CIRCLED IDEOGRAPH FOUR

← ㊂

Enclosed CJK Letters and Months

㊄ →

Translingual

Stroke order (Sans-serif)

Stroke order

Han character

四 (Kangxi radical 31, 囗+2, 5 strokes, cangjie input 田金 (WC), four-corner 6021₀, composition ⿴囗⿰丿㇄(GHTV) or ⿴囗儿(JK))

Shuowen Jiezi radical №503

Derived characters

伵呬怬柶泗牭訵䦉駟(驷) 囧圀𢏎𥹊𥿖𮕳𧣛𫪸𪯣𣳉𧶠

References

Kangxi Dictionary: page 216, character 22
Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 4682
Dae Jaweon: page 439, character 21
Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 710, character 16
Unihan data for U+56DB

Chinese

Wikipedia has articles on:

四 (Written Standard Chinese^?)
四 (Cantonese)

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 四
Shang		Western Zhou	Spring and Autumn	Warring States			Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)			Liushutong (compiled in Ming)	Libian (compiled in Qing)
Bronze inscriptions	Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Bronze inscriptions	Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Qin slip script	Shizhoupian script	Ancient script	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts	Clerical script

Characters in the same phonetic series (四) (Zhengzhang, 2003)

	Old Chinese
訵	*l̥ʰids
四	*hljids
泗	*hljids
駟	*hljids
柶	*hljids
牭	*hljids
呬	*hrids

The word "four" was written as 亖 (sì) before Western Zhou and 四 (sì) appeared in late Spring and Autumn period. This alternative form was used to prevent confusion of 亖 (sì) and 二 (“two”) or 三 (“three”) in vertical writing. It was standardized in Qin dynasty.

The bronzeware style of the character featured a repositioning of those four lines inside 口 (kǒu); this later evolved into the combination used today of 口 (kǒu, “mouth”) and 八 (bā, “divide”) which meant a dispersal of breath. It could thus be said that four is a borrowed meaning for this character. The original sense is preserved in 呬 (OC *hrids), by adding an extra 口.

Etymology 1

simp. and trad.		四
alternative forms		肆 financial 亖 ancient 皿龱𠁤肆 financial 亖 ancient 皿龱𠁤𠃢 ancient 𦉭

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *b-ləj.

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Standard)
(Pinyin): sì (si⁴)

(Zhuyin): ㄙˋ

(Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): si⁴

(Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): сы (sɨ, III)
Cantonese
(Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): sei³, si³

(Taishan, Wiktionary): lhei¹, lhu¹
Gan (Wiktionary): si⁴
Hakka
(Sixian, PFS): si

(Meixian, Guangdong): xi⁴
Jin (Wiktionary): si³
Northern Min (KCR): si̿
Eastern Min (BUC): sé / sé̤ṳ
Southern Min
(Hokkien, POJ): sì / sù / sìr

(Teochew, Peng'im): si³
Wu (Wugniu)
- (Northern): ⁵sy
Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): sr⁴

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: sì
  - Zhuyin: ㄙˋ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: sìh
  - Wade–Giles: ssŭ⁴
  - Yale: sz̀
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: syh
  - Palladius: сы (sy)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩⁵¹/
- (Chengdu)
  - Sichuanese Pinyin: si⁴
  - Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: s
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩²¹³/
- (Dungan)
  - Cyrillic and Wiktionary: сы (sɨ, III)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩⁴⁴/
  (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
  - Jyutping: sei³, si³
  - Yale: sei, si
  - Cantonese Pinyin: sei³, si³
  - Guangdong Romanization: séi³, xi³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sei̯³³/, /siː³³/

Note:

sei3 - vernacular;
si3 - literary (rare) and in 四正.

(Taishanese, Taicheng)
- Wiktionary: lhei¹, lhu¹
- Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɬei³³/, /ɬu³³/

Gan
- (Nanchang)
  - Wiktionary: si⁴
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩³⁵/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: si
  - Hakka Romanization System: xi
  - Hagfa Pinyim: xi⁴
  - Sinological IPA: /si⁵⁵/
- (Meixian)
  - Guangdong: xi⁴
  - Sinological IPA: /si⁵³/
Jin
- (Taiyuan)⁺
  - Wiktionary: si³
  - Sinological IPA (old-style): /sz̩⁴⁵/
Northern Min
- (Jian'ou)
  - Kienning Colloquial Romanized: si̿
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /si³³/
Eastern Min
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: sé / sé̤ṳ
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sɛi²¹³/, /søy²¹³/

Note:

sé - vernacular;
sé̤ṳ - literary.

Southern Min
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, Hui'an, Changtai, Zhangpu, Longyan, General Taiwanese, Singapore, Penang, Philippines)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sì
  - Tâi-lô: sì
  - Phofsit Daibuun: six
  - IPA (Zhangpu, Taipei): /si¹¹/
  - IPA (Longyan): /si²¹³/
  - IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Hui'an, Changtai, Kaohsiung, Singapore, Penang): /si²¹/
  - IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Philippines): /si⁴¹/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Changtai, Zhangpu, General Taiwanese, Singapore, Penang)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sù
  - Tâi-lô: sù
  - Phofsit Daibuun: sux
  - IPA (Zhangpu, Taipei): /su¹¹/
  - IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Changtai, Kaohsiung, Singapore, Penang): /su²¹/
- (Hokkien: Quanzhou, Hui'an, Longyan, Singapore)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sìr
  - Tâi-lô: sìr
  - IPA (Hui'an, Singapore): /sɯ²¹/
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /sɯ⁴¹/
  - IPA (Longyan): /sz̩²¹³/

Note:

Xiamen, Quanzhou, Hui'an, Zhangzhou, Changtai, Zhangpu, Longyan, Taiwan, Singapore, Penang:
- sì - vernacular;
- sù/sìr - literary.
Jinjiang, Philippines:
- sì - vernacular and literary.

(Teochew)
- Peng'im: si³
- Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: sì
- Sinological IPA ^(key): /si²¹³/

Wu
- (Shanghai, Suzhou)
  - Wugniu: ⁵sy
  - MiniDict: sy^去
  - Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ²sr
  - Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /sz̩³⁴/
  - Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /sz̩⁵²³/
Xiang
- (Changsha)
  - Wiktionary: sr⁴
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩⁴⁵/

Middle Chinese: sijH

Rime
Character	四
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	心 (16)
Final (韻)	脂 (15)
Tone (調)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	息利切
Baxter	sijH
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/siɪ^H/
Pan Wuyun	/si^H/
Shao Rongfen	/sjɪ^H/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/si^H/
Li Rong	/si^H/
Wang Li	/si^H/
Bernard Karlgren	/si^H/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	sì
Expected Cantonese Reflex	si³

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*s.li-s/

(Zhengzhang): /*hljids/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	四
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	sì
Middle Chinese	‹ sij^H ›
Old Chinese	/*s.li-s/
English	four
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. * as coda may in fact be -t or -p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	四
Reading #	1/1
No.	12022
Phonetic component	四
Rime group	至
Rime subdivision	1
Corresponding MC rime	四
Old Chinese	/*hljids/

Definitions

四

four
(literary) four directions; all directions
Synonym: 四方 (sìfāng)
- 1853, 陳逢衡 , edited by 荒木謇, 𠸄咭唎紀略 ‎:
  
  三個月水路、四無所見、唯天與水耳 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
  三个月水路、四无所见、唯天与水耳 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
  sān ge yuè shuǐlù, sì wú suǒjiàn, wéi tiān yǔ shuǐ ěr
  3 months at sea, naught in the four directions, but sky and water
(music) la (musical note)
(printing) English; The size of type between 小四 (little 4) and 小三 (little 3), standardized as 14 point.

Usage notes

Wikipedia has an article on:

Numbers in Chinese culture (English)

As superstition, 四 (MC siɪ^H) is avoided because it is similar to 死 (MC sˠiɪ^X, “death”) in sound.

Compounds

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (四):

→ Japanese: 四(し) (shi)
→ Korean: 사(四) (sa)
→ Vietnamese: tứ (四)

Others:

Wutunhua: se
→ Proto-Tai: *siːᴮ (“four”)
- Northern Tai
  - Bouyei: sis
  - Zhuang: seiq
- Central Tai
  - Nong Zhuang: siq
  - Nùng: slỉ
  - Tày: slí
- Proto-Southwestern Tai: *siːᴮ
  - Thai: สี่ (sìi)
  - Northern Thai: ᩈᩦ᩵
  - Lao: ສີ່ (sī)
  - Phake: ꩬီ (sī)
  - Lü: ᦉᦲᧈ (ṡii¹)
  - Tai Dam: ꪎꪲ꪿
  - Shan: သီႇ (sìi)
  - Tai Laing: ꩬီ
  - Tai Nüa: ᥔᥤᥱ (sǐ)
  - Khamti: ꩬီ
  - Ahom: 𑜏𑜣 (sī)
  - Aiton: ꩬီ (sī)
→ Vietnamese: tư (“four”)

Etymology 2

simp. and trad.		四

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): sì (si⁴)

(Zhuyin): ㄙˋ

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: sì
  - Zhuyin: ㄙˋ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: sìh
  - Wade–Giles: ssŭ⁴
  - Yale: sz̀
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: syh
  - Palladius: сы (sy)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩⁵¹/

Definitions

四

(music) Kunqu gongche notation for the note low la (6̣).
Synonym: 士 (shì) (Cantonese opera)

Japanese

Kanji

四

(grade 1 “Kyōiku” kanji)

Readings

Go-on: し (shi, Jōyō)
Kan-on: し (shi, Jōyō)
Kun: よ (yo, 四, Jōyō); よつ (yotsu, 四つ, Jōyō); よっつ (yo'tsu, 四つ, Jōyō); よん (yon, 四, Jōyō)
Nanori: あ (a); つ (tsu); ひろ (hiro); もち (mochi); よつ (yotsu)

Compounds

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
四
よ Grade: 1
kun’yomi

⟨yo₂⟩ → */jə/ → /jo/

From Old Japanese, from Proto-Japonic *yə.

In modern Japanese, Japonic よ (yo) is more common than Sinitic し (shi, see Etymology 3) outside fixed compounds, which is similar to 七(なな) (nana) but different from other numerals. The reason may be a superstitious connection to 死(し) (shi), or simply avoiding confusion with similar sounding 一(いち) (ichi) and 七(しち) (shichi).

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) よ (Atamadaka – )
IPA^(key):

Numeral

四(よ) • (yo)

**Japanese cardinal numbers**
< 3	4	5 >
Cardinal : 四

four, 4

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
四
よん Grade: 1
kun’yomi

Shift from yo above, influenced by analogy by the final sound of preceding number 三 (san, “three”). The most common form as a stand-alone number.

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) よん (Atamadaka – )
IPA^(key):
Audio (file)

Numeral

四(よん) • (yon)

four, 4

Derived terms

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
四
し Grade: 1
on’yomi

/si/ → /ɕi/

From Middle Chinese 四 (MC siɪ^H).

Compare modern Hakka 四 (si).

Alternative forms

(financial form) 肆

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) し (Atamadaka – )
IPA^(key):
Audio (file)

Numeral

四(し) • (shi)

four, 4

Usage notes

Due to Chinese influence, 四 (shi) is sometimes avoided as it is homonymous to 死 (shi, “death”).

Derived terms

Noun

四(し) • (shi)

the fourth

Affix

四(し) • (shi)

Derived terms

Etymology 4

Kanji in this term
四
すう Grade: 1
irregular

From Mandarin 四 (sì).

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) スー (Atamadaka – )
IPA^(key):

Numeral

四(スー) • (sū)

(mahjong) four, 4

Coordinate terms

Derived terms

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 (in Japanese), Third edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 (in Japanese), First edition, Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
^ Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典（新装版） [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN

The Japan Times (March 17, 2010). You can count on the tales behind number-kanji. Accessed March 23, 2010.

Korean

**Korean numbers ^(edit)**
	40
← 3	4	5 →
Native isol.: 넷 (net) Native attr.: 네 (ne), (dated) 넉 (neok), (archaic) 너 (neo) Sino-Korean: 사 (sa) Hanja: 四 Ordinal: 넷째 (netjjae)

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 四 (MC siɪ^H).

Historical readings

Recorded as Middle Korean ᄉᆞᆼ〮 (Yale: só) in Dongguk Jeongun (東國正韻 / 동국정운), 1448.
Recorded as Middle Korean ᄉᆞ ( so)^訓 (Yale: so) in Hunmong Jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527.
Recorded as Middle Korean ᄉᆞ ( so)^訓 (Yale: so) in Gwangju Cheonjamun (光州千字文 / 광주천자문), 1575.
Recorded as Middle Korean ᄉᆞ ( so)^訓 (Yale: so) in Sinjeung Yuhap (新增類合 / 신증유합), 1576.

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):
Phonetic hangul:
- Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Hanja

Korean Wikisource has texts containing the hanja:

四

Wikisource

四 (eumhun 넉 사 (neok sa))

Hanja form^? of 사 (“four”).

Compounds

사각 (四角, sagak)
사계 (四季, sagye)
사구 (四球, sagu)
사방 (四方, sabang)
사서 (四書, saseo)
사시 (四時, sasi)
사십 (四十, sasip)
사월 (四月, sawol)
사지 (四肢, saji)
사천 (四川, Sacheon)
사촌 (四寸, sachon)
십사 (十四, sipsa)
사각형 (四角形, sagakhyeong)
사계절 (四季節, sagyejeol)
사천왕 (四天王, sacheonwang)
사불상 (四不像, sabulsang)
정사품 (正四品, jeongsapum)
사사오입 (四捨五入, sasaoip)
정사각형 (正四角形, jeongsagakhyeong)
정사면체 (正四面體, jeongsamyeonche)
재삼재사 (再三再四, jaesamjaesa)

References

국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典.

Old Japanese

Etymology

From Proto-Japonic *yə.

Also used as 借訓 (shakkun) kana for ⟨yo₂⟩.

Numeral

四 (yo₂) (kana よ)

four, 4

Derived terms

四人 (yo₂tari)

Descendants

Japanese: 四 (yo, yon)

Vietnamese

Han character

四: Hán Việt readings: tứ
四: Nôm readings: tớ, tứ, tư

chữ Hán form of tứ (“four”).
Nôm form of tư (“four; fourth”).

Derived terms

References

[DJR-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 (in Japanese), Third edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[DJS-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 (in Japanese), First edition, Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN

[3] Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典（新装版） [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN

[tdcndg-4] 1.0 ^1.1 Nguyễn (2014).

[tdcntd-5] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Nguyễn et al. (2009).

[gdhn-6] 3.0 ^3.1 Trần (2004).

[btcn-7] 4.0 ^4.1 Hồ (1976).

Chinese numbers
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	10²	10³	10⁴	10⁶	10⁸	10¹²
Normal (小寫／小写)	〇, 零, 空	一, 蜀	二, 兩／两	三	四	五	六	七	八	九	十	百	千	萬／万, 十千 (Malaysia, Singapore)	百萬／百万, 桶(Philippines), 面桶 (Philippines)	億／亿	兆 (Taiwan) 萬億／万亿 (Mainland China)
Financial (大寫／大写)	零	壹	貳／贰	參／叁	肆	伍	陸／陆	柒	捌	玖	拾	佰	仟	萬／万, 十千 (Malaysia, Singapore)	百萬／百万, 桶(Philippines), 面桶 (Philippines)	億／亿	兆 (Taiwan) 萬億／万亿 (Mainland China)

Playing cards in Mandarin · 撲克牌／扑克牌 (pūkèpái) (layout · text)

尖兒／尖儿 (jiānr)	二 (èr)	三 (sān)	四 (sì)	五 (wǔ)	六 (liù)	七 (qī)

八 (bā)	九 (jiǔ)	十 (shí)	鉤兒／钩儿 (gōur)	圈兒／圈儿 (quānr), 皮蛋 (pídàn, regional)	K	小王 (xiǎowáng, black), 大王 (red), 小鬼 (xiǎoguǐ, black), 大鬼 (dàguǐ, red)

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