四

• Pinyin: sì
• Hanzi breakdown: 四 = enclosure radical containing a simplified interior, representing the number four

Meaning

Four. The number 4.

One of the basic Chinese numerals. Culturally notable because its pronunciation is similar to 死 (death), making it considered unlucky in Chinese culture. Many buildings skip the fourth floor, and the number is often avoided in phone numbers and licence plates.

Examples

1. 我家有四口人。 My family has four people.
2. 现在是下午四点。 It is four o'clock in the afternoon now.
3. 他今年四岁了。 He is four years old this year.

Usage Guide

Context: numbers, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请给我四杯咖啡。(Please give me four cups of coffee.)
• 我们四个人一起去吧。(Let's go together, the four of us.)

Don't Say

• 我住在四层。(Less natural — say 我住在四楼; use 楼 when talking about which floor you live on)

Origin & History

The character originally depicted four horizontal lines. The modern form uses an enclosure with 儿 inside, a stylistic evolution from ancient script.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal