四 (sì) - Four — the number four & fourth in order

四Tone 4

sì ｜ 5 strokes ｜ radical: 囗

树檀

四 · sì

Four — the number four;

fourth in order;

all around;

everywhere.

Four — the number fourfourth in orderall around

Usage highlights

Four seasonsFour directionsFour seasFour treasures of the studyFour modernizationsFour

Synonyms

  • 肆— four (financial or formal numeral)

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • There are four seasons (四季).
  • I have four books (四本书).
  • The four directions are north, south, east, and west (四方).
  • He is the fourth child in the family (第四个孩子).

Collocations

  • Four seasons(四季)
  • Four directions(四方)
  • Four seas(四海)
  • Four treasures of the study(文房四宝)
  • Four modernizations(四个现代化)
  • Four-character idiom(四字成语)

Idioms

  • Covering all directions(四通八达)
  • Looking around in all directions(四顾茫然)
  • The four seas are like one family(四海一家)
  • Fleeing in all directions(四散奔逃)
  • Surrounded on all four sides(四面楚歌)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese culture, the number four (四, sì) is considered unlucky because it sounds similar to the word for death (死, sǐ).
  • Due to this homophony, the number four is often avoided in building floors, room numbers, and phone numbers, similar to the Western avoidance of the number 13.
  • Despite its negative association, four remains fundamental in many cultural concepts, such as the four cardinal directions, four seasons, and four classical beauties.

FAQ