三 (sān) - Three & several, many

三Tone 1

sān ｜ 3 strokes ｜ radical: 一

上万

三 · sān

Three;

several, many;

third;

repeatedly.

Threeseveral, manythird

Usage highlights

Three peopleThird dayThree timesThree KingdomsThree GorgesThree religions

Synonyms

  • 叁— three (financial form)
  • 多— many, several
  • 几— several, a few

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • There are three apples (三个苹果).
  • The third day of the month (三号).
  • He repeated it three times (说了三次).
  • Three Kingdoms period (三国时期).

Collocations

  • Three people(三人)
  • Third day(三号)
  • Three times(三次)
  • Three Kingdoms(三国)
  • Three Gorges(三峡)
  • Three religions(三教)

Idioms

  • Three humble visits to the thatched cottage(三顾茅庐)
  • Thrice daily introspection(三省吾身)
  • Three heads and six arms(三头六臂)
  • Three persons make a tiger(三人成虎)
  • Three times seven is twenty-one(不管三七二十一)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Considered a lucky number in Chinese culture, representing stability and completeness.
  • Appears in many philosophical concepts like 'Three Realms' (三界) and 'Three Teachings' (三教).
  • Used in historical references like the Three Kingdoms period (三国).

FAQ