Meaning
四 is the number four in Mandarin Chinese. It is one of the most basic numbers and appears frequently in daily counting, dates, addresses, and phone numbers. The character shows four horizontal strokes enclosed in a frame, originally representing the concept of dividing or separating into four parts.
Usage
In spoken Mandarin, 四 is sometimes avoided in certain contexts (especially phone numbers, addresses, and floors) because it sounds similar to 死 (sǐ, death), which is considered inauspicious. Many buildings skip the fourth floor. When reciting phone numbers, people might say it more carefully or use alternative phrasing to distinguish it from 十 (shí, ten).
Examples
- 01我家有四口人。.There are four people in my family.
- 02他今年四岁了。.He is four years old this year.
Common collocations
- 四个人four people
- 星期四Thursday
- 四点four o'clock
- 四川Sichuan (province)
Origin
The character 四 originally depicted four objects or divisions. In oracle bone script, it showed a pictographic representation of four items. The modern form evolved to show compartments or sections, representing the abstract concept of 'four'.