駟 (sì) - A team of four horses & a chariot drawn by four horses

駟Tone 4

sì ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

树檀

駟 · sì

A team of four horses;

a chariot drawn by four horses;

ancient unit for a team of four horses.

A team of four horsesa chariot drawn by four horsesancient unit for a team of four horses.

Usage highlights

Team of four horsesFourCannot be taken backHigh chariotA word and a team of four horses

Synonyms

  • 马— horse (general term)
  • 乘— chariot; vehicle (in ancient context)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • A team of four horses (驷马) pulling a chariot.
  • The saying 'a word once spoken, a team of four horses cannot overtake it' (一言既出，驷马难追).
  • He rode in a carriage drawn by four horses (乘驷马之车).
  • Ancients used '驷' to count chariot teams.

Collocations

  • Team of four horses(驷马)
  • Four-horse chariot(驷马车)
  • Cannot be taken back(驷马难追)
  • High chariot(高驷)
  • A word and a team of four horses(一言驷马)

Idioms

  • A word once spoken, a team of four horses cannot overtake it(一言既出，驷马难追)
  • Chasing the shadow of a running team of four horses(追驷之影)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient China, a team of four horses (驷) represented high status and military power, as only nobility could afford such chariots.
  • The character is closely associated with the idiom about the irrevocability of spoken words, emphasizing the importance of keeping one's word.

FAQ