三

• Reading: さん
• Romaji: san
• Kanji breakdown: 三 (san/mi) — three
• Pronunciation: /saɴ/

Meaning

Three; 3. A number with cultural significance in Japan.

Read as さん in Sino-Japanese and み or みっ in the native system. Three is considered a lucky number in Japanese culture and appears in many set expressions. Common compounds include 三月 (sangatsu, March), 三角 (sankaku, triangle), and 三人 (sannin, three people).

Examples

1. 三時に会いましょう。 Let's meet at three o'clock.
2. 毎日三回ご飯を食べます。 I eat three meals every day.
3. 三月に日本へ行きます。 I'm going to Japan in March.

Usage Guide

Context: counting, time, dates

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 三 uses three horizontal strokes to represent the number three, following the same logic as 一 and 二.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal