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肆 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
肆sìfour (banker's anti-fraud numeral)m, 13 strokes, radical 聿, rank #50302, Very Hard
肆sìunrestrainedm, 13 strokes, radical 聿, rank #50302, Very Hard
肆sìwantonm, 13 strokes, radical 聿, rank #50302, Very Hard
肆sì(literary) shopm, 13 strokes, radical 聿, rank #50302, Very Hard
肆sìto indulge; excess; four (bankers' anti-fraud numeral)m, 13 strokes, radical 聿, rank #50302, Very Hard
sì(si4)si T4
  1. 1four (banker's anti-fraud numeral)
  2. 2unrestrained
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March 24, 2026

肆sì(si4)

The character 肆 (sì) has several meanings, primarily denoting the number four in a banking context, specifically to prevent fraud. Additionally, it conveys notions of indulgence and excess, often used to describe unrestrained behavior. In literary contexts, it can also refer to a shop or establishment.

Strokes13Radical聿Frequency#50302DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, the number four is often considered unlucky, but in banking, 肆 serves as a crucial numeral to ensure clarity and prevent fraud during transactions, highlighting the importance of accuracy in financial dealings.

Memory tip

Imagine a shop (肆) that sells four times the usual amount of everything, overflowing with excess. The character has the radical for 'flesh' (月), suggesting indulgence in physical pleasures, and the pronunciation 'sì' sounds like 'see', as in seeing too much of something.

Meanings of 肆

sì(si4)
1four (banker's anti-fraud numeral)
2unrestrained
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 肆

肆Simplified
13Strokes
聿Radical
数词shùcínumeral (num.)Part of Speech
#50302Frequency Rank

Podcast: 肆

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Podcast: 肆

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AI study notes for 肆

Quick Contrast

肆 (sì) vs 斯 (sī) - use 肆 when referring to indulgence or the number four in banking; use 斯 for a sense of 'this' or 'such' in literary contexts.

Usage Notes

肆 is primarily used in formal or literary contexts, especially in financial documents. Common mistakes include confusing it with other characters for 'four', such as 四 (sì), which is used in everyday counting. Be mindful of its tonal pronunciation to avoid confusion.

HSK Study Tips

While 肆 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK 1's 四 (sì) and can be a useful addition for learners focusing on financial or literary language. Students should practice distinguishing it from similar characters.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 肆 with 四, using it inappropriately in casual counting situations. For example, saying 肆个苹果 (sì gè píngguǒ) instead of 四个苹果 (sì gè píngguǒ) for 'four apples' is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 肆

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Etymology of 肆

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

Having long 镸 hair 聿

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 肆?

Decomposition of 肆

IDS Structure⿰镸聿
肆Full character
=
镸chang2
left
聿yu4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 肆?

How to say four (banker's anti-fraud numeral) in Chinese

“four (banker's anti-fraud numeral)” in Chinese is肆sì

The character 肆 (sì) has several meanings, primarily denoting the number four in a banking context, specifically to prevent fraud. Additionally, it conveys notions of indulgence and excess, often used to describe unrestrained behavior. In literary contexts, it can also refer to a shop or establishment.

When to use 肆

肆 is primarily used in formal or literary contexts, especially in financial documents. Common mistakes include confusing it with other characters for 'four', such as 四 (sì), which is used in everyday counting. Be mindful of its tonal pronunciation to avoid confusion.

肆 or something close to it

肆 (sì) vs 斯 (sī) - use 肆 when referring to indulgence or the number four in banking; use 斯 for a sense of 'this' or 'such' in literary contexts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 肆 with 四, using it inappropriately in casual counting situations. For example, saying 肆个苹果 (sì gè píngguǒ) instead of 四个苹果 (sì gè píngguǒ) for 'four apples' is incorrect.

Write 肆

肆

Practice writing 肆 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 肆

肆 functions as a number. It almost always combines with a measure word before a noun (三个人, 五本书). Standalone numbers are rare outside of math or counting. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 5

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

这些图片大____渲染,会让一些比较年轻的读者们惶恐不安。

The pictures were sensationalist and could seriously disturb younger readers.

Example sentences for 肆 (10)

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1
这些图片大肆渲染,会让一些比较年轻的读者们惶恐不安。

zhèxiē túpiàn dàsì xuàn rǎn, huì ràng yìxiē bǐjiào niánqīng de dúzhě men huáng kǒng bù’ān。

The pictures were sensationalist and could seriously disturb younger readers.
2
他们被推来搡去,受到大肆的谩骂攻击。

tāmen bèi tuī lái sǎng qù, shòudào dàsì de mán mà gōngjī。

They were jostled and subjected to a torrent of verbal abuse.
3
当地的新闻机构因为对此事大肆渲染而备受指责。

dāngdì de xīnwén jīgòu yīnwèi duì cǐshì dàsì xuàn rǎn ér bèishòu zhǐzé。

Local news organizations are being criticized for sensationalizing the story.
4
放肆! 马上把你的手挪开.

fàngsì! mǎshàng bǎ nǐ de shǒu nuó kāi.

How dare you? Take your hand off me at once.
5
我今天放肆一回—我要了香槟了!

wǒ jīntiān fàngsì yī huí— wǒ yào le xiāng bīn le!

I'm being very naughty—I've ordered champagne!
6
一天天过去,哈里代的评论越来越肆无忌惮,越来越讨人嫌,越来越阴损了.

yī tiān tiān guòqù, Hā lǐ dài de pínglùn yuèláiyuè sìwújìdàn, yuèláiyuè tǎo rén xián, yuèláiyuè yīn sǔn le.

Halliday's comments grew daily more and more sparklingly disagreeable and disparaging.
7
记住,不要大肆宣扬,我们只要到那儿去干我们的活就行了。

jìzhu, búyào dàsì xuānyáng, wǒmen zhǐyào dào nàr qù gān wǒmen de huó jiù xíng le。

Remember, no heroics, we just go in there and do our job.
8
安卡拉整个肆意扩展的城区容纳了260多万人口。

Ān kǎ lā zhěnggè sì yì kuòzhǎn de chéngqū róngnà le260 duō wàn rénkǒu。

The whole urban sprawl of Ankara contains over 6m people.
9
你敢在我面前这么放肆地开玩笑.

nǐ gǎn zài wǒ miànqián zhème fàngsì dì kāiwánxiào.

You presume to jest with me in this free manner.
10
媒体会报道此事,小报则会大肆吹捧。

méitǐ huì bàodào cǐshì, xiǎo bào zé huì dàsì chuīpěng。

The media will report on it and the tabloids will build it up.

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Word Family of 肆

Compounds1
蕼sì
Words containing this character10
大肆dàsìwantonly
肆意sìyìwantonly
放肆fàngsìwanton
肆虐sìnüèto wreak havoc
肆无忌惮sìwújìdànunbridled肆無忌憚
肆sìwanton
酒肆jiǔsìwine shop
肆意妄为sìyìwàngwéito behave unscrupulously肆意妄為
恣肆zìsìunrestrained
肆行sìxíngto act recklessly
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 肆

What does 大肆 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 肆

In banking, 肆 represents the numeral four and is used to prevent fraud in financial documents.

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