four

In ancient texts the character (four horizontal strokes) was used. The current form depicts breathing through the nose and is the original form of . The use of as a number is a phonetic loan.

Evolution

四 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
四 Bronze script Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze script

Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
四 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
四 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
四 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

four; 4

Most common words with 四
Freq.
Word
Meaning

4

四川

Sichuan province (Szechuan) in southwest China, abbr. 川 or 蜀, capital Chengdu 成都

四处

all over the place

四周

all around

周四

Thursday

Component uses

Meaning component in 2 characters (0 verified)

Sound component in 4 characters (1 verified)

Iconic component in 1 character (1 verified)