四 (sì) — four
HSK 1 | number | the digit four; considered unlucky in Chinese culture due to resemblance to 死 (death)
四 (sì)
The number four; culturally, 四 is associated with bad luck in Chinese-speaking regions because sì sounds similar to 死 (sǐ, to die), so it is often avoided in addresses, floors, and phone numbers.
Meanings
- [number] Four, the digit 4.
Example Sentences
她家有四口人。 Tā jiā yǒu sì kǒu rén. Her family has four members.
四月的天气很好。 Sì yuè de tiānqì hěn hǎo. The weather in April is very nice.
这栋楼没有四楼。 Zhè dòng lóu méiyǒu sì lóu. This building has no fourth floor. (cultural avoidance)
我们下午四点见。 Wǒmen xiàwǔ sì diǎn jiàn. Let's meet at four in the afternoon.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 四个 (sì gè) | four (general) |
| 四月 (Sì yuè) | April |
| 四十 (sìshí) | forty |
| 四点 (sì diǎn) | four o'clock |
| 第四 (dì sì) | fourth (ordinal) |
| 四季 (sìjì) | four seasons |
Memory Hook
四 sounds like "suh" — but in Chinese culture it rhymes with "死" (death). Remember four as "the unlucky number," and you will never forget it is 四 (sì).