Word

四 (sì) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 1

Meaning of 四

数 shù numeral

four

我有四个苹果。

wǒ yǒu sì gè píng guǒ

I have four apples.

Word breakdown

四 sì — four

1 四季 sì jì — four seasons HSK 3
- 四 four (the number)
- 季 season (division of the year)
Example

我喜欢四季的变化。

wǒ xǐ huan sì jì de biàn huà

I like the changes of the four seasons.
2 四周 sì zhōu — surroundings HSK 5
- 四 four (representing the four directions)
- 周 around, circumference
Example

四周一片寂静。

sì zhōu yī piàn jì jìng

The surroundings were completely silent.
3 四处 sì chù — everywhere HSK 5
- 四 four (implies multiple directions)
- 处 place, location
Example

他四处寻找丢失的钱包。

tā sì chù xún zhǎo diū shī de qián bāo

He searched everywhere for the lost wallet.
4 丢三落四 diū sān là sì — forgetful and careless HSK 7
- 丢 to lose
- 三 three (symbolic number indicating frequency)
- 落 to drop, to leave behind
- 四 four (symbolic number indicating frequency)
Example

他总是丢三落四，今天又忘带钥匙了。

tā zǒng shì diū sān là sì jīn tiān yòu wàng dài yào shi le

He's always forgetful and careless; today he forgot to bring his keys again.
5 五湖四海 wǔ hú sì hǎi — all corners of the country HSK 7
- 五 five (representing numerous)
- 湖 lakes (inland regions)
- 四 four (cardinal directions)
- 海 seas (vast expanses)
Example

五湖四海的人们聚集在这里庆祝节日。

wǔ hú sì hǎi de rén men jù jí zài zhè lǐ qìng zhù jié rì

People from all corners gathered here to celebrate the festival.

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6 四方 sì fāng — all directions HSK 7
- 四 four (indicating all four cardinal directions)
- 方 direction, side (spatial orientation)
Example

客人从四方来参加婚礼。

kè rén cóng sì fāng lái cān jiā hūn lǐ

Guests came from all directions to attend the wedding.
7 四肢 sì zhī — limbs HSK 7
- 四 four (indicating the number of limbs)
- 肢 limb (body parts: arms and legs)
Example

她感到四肢无力。

tā gǎn dào sì zhī wú lì

She felt weakness in her limbs.
8 四通八达 sì tōng bā dá — extending in all directions; well-connected HSK 7
- 四 four; representing multiple directions
- 通 through; connected, passable
- 八 eight; representing even more directions
- 达 reach; extend to, arrive at
Example

这个城市的交通四通八达，去哪里都很方便。

zhè ge chéng shì de jiāo tōng sì tōng bā dá qù nǎ lǐ dōu hěn fāng biàn

This city's transportation extends in all directions, it's very convenient to go anywhere.
9 四面八方 sì miàn bā fāng — from all directions HSK 7
- 四 four (representing the four cardinal directions)
- 面 side/face (referring to sides or surfaces)
- 八 eight (representing the eight directions)
- 方 direction/side (referring to directions or areas)
Example

人们从四面八方赶来参加庆祝活动。

rén men cóng sì miàn bā fāng gǎn lái cān jiā qìng zhù huó dòng

People came from all directions to participate in the celebration.
10 朝三暮四 zhāo sān mù sì — fickle; changeable; inconsistent HSK 7
- 朝 morning
- 三 three
- 暮 evening
- 四 four
Example

别朝三暮四的，要专心做好一件事。

bié zhāo sān mù sì de yào zhuān xīn zuò hǎo yī jiàn shì

Don't be fickle; focus on doing one thing well.

Structure & writing

1 四 sì — four (the number after three)

四 is not used as a component in any other character.

四 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order

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Meaning of 四

四 sì — four