四
four
Readings
On'yomi
- シ
Kun'yomi
- よ
- よ.つ
- よっ.つ
- よん
Nanori
- あ
- つ
- よつ
Meaning
四 represents the number four, a basic numeral with no extended abstract meanings.
Most common words using 四
23 of 409- 四しN5
four; 4
- 四国しこく
Shikoku (smallest of the four main islands of Japan)
- 四季しきN3
the four seasons
- 四つよっつN5
four; 4
- 四球しきゅう
base on balls; walk; pass
- 四方しほうN1
the four cardinal directions; north, east, south and west; all directions
- 四角いしかくいN2
square; rectangular
- 四半期しはんき
quarter (of a year)
- 四角しかくN3
quadrilateral; square
- 四肢しし
the (four) limbs; arms and legs
- 四畳半よじょうはん
four and a half tatami mats; four-and-a-half-mat room
- 四捨五入ししゃごにゅうN2
rounding (off; a number); rounding half away from zero
- 四隅よすみ
four corners
- 四死球ししきゅう
bases on balls and pitches striking the batsmen
- 四重奏しじゅうそう
instrumental quartet
- 十四じゅうし
fourteen; 14
- 二十四時間制にじゅうよじかんせい
around-the-clock system
- 六十四分音符ろくじゅうしぶおんぷ
64th note; hemidemisemiquaver; semidemisemiquaver
- 四本よんほん
four (long cylindrical things)
- 四輪車よんりんしゃ
automobile; car
- 四人よにんN5
four people
- 四つ角よつかどN2
four corners
- 真四角ましかくN1
square
Study
Etymology
四 originally depicted a different shape, possibly related to breath or division, but was borrowed early as the numeral four. The modern form is a stylized simplification.
Meaning mnemonic
Picture a closed fist with four fingers curled inside a box shape: the enclosure 囗 holds the four strokes of 儿, making four.
Reading mnemonic
For シ, imagine the number four written on a sheet of paper: sheet -> シ, and the four is right there.