四よっつ

numeric

four; four things

The native Japanese numeral for counting four items, especially in the traditional hitotsu–tō counting system. Used for concrete objects, abstract items, and age (see sense 2).

• りんごを四よっつください。

  Please give me four apples.

• この箱はこにはボタンが四よっつある。

  There are four buttons on this box.

noun

four years old

Used for the age of four, especially for children. The reading よっつ is standard; よつ is archaic or poetic.

• 娘むすめは今年ことしで四よっつになります。

  My daughter will be four this year.

noun

ten o'clock (old time system)

In the traditional Japanese temporal hour system, 四つ corresponded roughly to the modern 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. This usage is now historical and rarely encountered outside period contexts.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいには、四よっつは午ご前ぜん十じゅう時じごろを指さした。

  In the Edo period, 四つ referred to around ten in the morning.

noun

burakumin (derogatory)

A derogatory term for burakumin, historically associated with the four-legged animal metaphor. This is a slur and should be avoided in modern speech; it is included here for recognition only.

See also: 部落民

• 「四よっつ」は差さ別べつ語ごなので使つかってはいけない。

  "四つ" is a discriminatory term and must not be used.

noun

cross grips (sumo)

Abbreviation of 四つ身, a sumo grip where both wrestlers have an inside grip on each other's mawashi. Used in sumo terminology.

See also: 四つ身

• 横よこ綱づなは四よっつに組くんでから寄より切きった。

  The yokozuna locked into a cross grip and then forced his opponent out.