Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
四 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
四
sì
four
HSK 1, m, 5 strokes, radical 囗, rank #481, Easy
四
sì
4
HSK 1, m, 5 strokes, radical 囗, rank #481, Easy
sì(si4)si T4
1four
24
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
四sì(si4)
四 (sì) means 'four' in Mandarin and is a fundamental numeral used in counting and basic arithmetic. It appears frequently in contexts such as telling time, dates, and quantities, and is essential for daily communication and transactions.
Strokes5Radical囗Frequency#481DifficultyEasy
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the number four is often associated with bad luck due to its phonetic similarity to the word for 'death' (死, sǐ). This cultural nuance makes it less favored in certain contexts, such as in building floor numbers or license plates.
Memory tip
Imagine the character 四 as a person standing on four legs, representing stability. The horizontal lines at the top can remind you of a roof, while the vertical lines form a strong base, emphasizing the idea of four as a solid foundation.
Meanings of 四
sì(si4)
1four
24
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 四 means.
About 四
四Simplified
5Strokes
囗Radical
数词shùcínumeral (num.)Part of Speech
#481Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L1HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 四
Podcast: 四
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 四
Usage Notes
It's important to remember that when counting, the tone must be accurate, as saying 'si' instead of 'sì' can lead to misunderstandings. In formal contexts, it's common to see '四' used in written documents, while in casual speech, people might use it in phrases like '四个' (sì ge) to indicate 'four of something.'
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 四 (sì) serves as a building block for learners to form basic phrases and sentences involving quantities. Students should practice its pronunciation and usage in counting objects or people to strengthen their number recognition.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse the pronunciation of 四 (sì) with the similar-sounding words that have different meanings, such as '死' (sǐ) meaning 'to die.' A common mistake is saying 'si' instead of the correct 'sì,' which changes the meaning entirely.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 四
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 四, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 四 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 四?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 四 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
四 (sì) means 'four' in Mandarin and is a fundamental numeral used in counting and basic arithmetic. It appears frequently in contexts such as telling time, dates, and quantities, and is essential for daily communication and transactions.
When to use 四
It's important to remember that when counting, the tone must be accurate, as saying 'si' instead of 'sì' can lead to misunderstandings. In formal contexts, it's common to see '四' used in written documents, while in casual speech, people might use it in phrases like '四个' (sì ge) to indicate 'four of something.'
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse the pronunciation of 四 (sì) with the similar-sounding words that have different meanings, such as '死' (sǐ) meaning 'to die.' A common mistake is saying 'si' instead of the correct 'sì,' which changes the meaning entirely.
Write 四
四
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 四 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar patterns of 四
四 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 2 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.
He barnstormed across the nation, rallying the people to the cause.
9
她的孩子们的生日聚会在街坊四邻里是最好、最讲究的。
tā de háizi men de shēngrì jùhuì zài jiēfang sì lín lǐ shì zuìhǎo、 zuì jiǎngjiu de。
Her children had the best, most elaborate birthday parties in the neighborhood.
10
荨麻长有四方茎和细小茸毛。
xún má cháng yǒu sìfāng jīng hé xì xiǎo rōng máo。
The stinging nettle has a square stem and little hairs.
11
我有四个苹果。
Wǒ yǒu sì gè píngguǒ.
I have four apples.
12
他每天跑四公里。
Tā měitiān pǎo sì gōnglǐ.
He runs four kilometers every day.
13
我们星期四见面吧。
Wǒmen xīngqīsì jiànmiàn ba.
Let's meet on Thursday.
14
桌子上有四本书。
Zhuōzi shàng yǒu sì běn shū.
There are four books on the table.
15
我家里有四口人。
Wǒ jiā lǐ yǒu sì kǒu rén.
There are four people in my family.
16
他有四只猫。
Tā yǒu sì zhī māo.
He has four cats.
17
我有四个苹果。
Wǒ yǒu sì gè píngguǒ.
I have four apples.
18
他每天跑四公里。
Tā měitiān pǎo sì gōnglǐ.
He runs four kilometers every day.
19
我们星期四见面吧。
Wǒmen xīngqīsì jiànmiàn ba.
Let's meet on Thursday.
20
桌子上有四本书。
Zhuōzi shàng yǒu sì běn shū.
There are four books on the table.
21
我家里有四口人。
Wǒ jiā lǐ yǒu sì kǒu rén.
There are four people in my family.
22
他有四只猫。
Tā yǒu sì zhī māo.
He has four cats.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 四?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Word Family of 四
Compounds9
驷sìa team of four horses
呬xì
柶sì
泗sìmucus; to sniffle; a river in Shandong province
伵xù
怬xì
牭sì
訵chī
駟sìa team of four horses
Words containing this character20
四sì4
四川sìchuānSichuan province (Szechuan) in southwest China, abbr. 川 or 蜀, capital Chengdu 成都
四处sìchùall over the place四處
四周sìzhōuall around
周四zhōusìThursday週四
四月sìyuèApril
四川省sìchuānshěngSichuan province (Szechuan) in southwest China, abbr. 川[Chuān] or 蜀[Shǔ], capital Chengdu 成都[Chéngdū]
四人帮sìrénbāngGang of Four: Jiang Qing 江青, Zhang Chunqiao 張春橋, Yao Wenyuan 姚文元, Wang Hongwen 王洪文, who served as scapegoats for the excesses of the cultural revolution四人幫
星期四xīngqīsìThursday
四肢sìzhīthe four limbs of the body
四季sìjìfour seasons, namely: spring 春, summer 夏, autumn 秋 and winter 冬
四分之一sìfēnzhīyīone-quarter
四方sìfāngfour-way
四面sìmiànall sides
四十sìshíforty
四化sìhuàabbr. for 四個現代化|四个现代化[sìgèxiàndàihuà], Deng Xiaoping's four modernizations
四面八方sìmiànbāfāngin all directions
四起sìqǐfrom all around
十四shísì14
四合院sìhéyuàncourtyard house with a fully enclosed courtyard (type of Chinese residence)
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 四
What does 驷 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 四
Make sure to use the fourth tone; it should sound sharp and falling: sì.
Yes, due to its association with death, many people avoid using the number four in certain situations.
Practice writing the character by starting with the top horizontal line, then adding the two vertical lines, and finishing with the bottom line.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 四?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.
A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.
