Related words 四つ is the native Japanese numeral used for counting concrete items (よっつ ), while 四 is the Sino-Japanese numeral used in math, dates, and compound words.
四 is the ordinary Japanese numeral for 4 used in everyday counting, while フォア is a katakana loan mostly limited to names, titles, and sports/entertainment terms.
Don't confuse with 死 (death) shares the reading し with 四 , which is why 四 is often read よん instead to avoid the association.
士 (as in 学士 , 弁護士 ) is pronounced し just like 四 but means a professional or scholar, not the number.
七 's reading しち can be confused with 四 's reading し , so なな is preferred for seven and よん for four in spoken counting.
Written forms 四 Usage 89% i Usage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
よん
Standard kanji spelling; the reading よん is the most common standalone pronunciation.
し
Common in counting, compounds, and set phrases; し is avoided in some contexts due to homophony with 死 (death).
よ
Rare standalone reading; mostly appears in specific compounds or traditional counting.
４ Usage 10% i Usage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
シ Usage <1%
よん Usage <1%
よ Usage <1%
ヨン Usage <1%
ヨ Usage 0%
肆し
Formal kanji used in legal and financial documents to prevent forgery.
Etymology Native Japanese numeral; the kanji 四 is a pictograph originally representing a square divided into four parts. The reading よん derives from the native Japanese counting system, while し is the Sino-Japanese reading.
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