4 in Chinese = 四 (sì)

The number 4 in Chinese is pronounced "suh" (like "sir" without the "r", with a falling tone), written in pinyin as "sì", and the character is 四.

Quick Answer

Pronunciation

Sì (四) uses Mandarin's fourth tone—the "falling tone." Your voice starts high and drops sharply down.

Step by step:

1. Start at a high pitch
2. Drop your voice sharply and firmly down
3. Say "suh" (like "sir" without the "r") with that sharp downward motion

Think of it like giving a firm command—short, sharp, and decisive.

Common mistakes:

• Pronouncing it like English "see"—it should be "suh" with a neutral vowel
• Not making the falling tone sharp enough—it should drop quickly and decisively
• Confusing it with 死 (sǐ) which means "death" and has a different tone

The Character 四

The Chinese character 四 is composed of five strokes forming a box-like shape with elements inside. While it doesn't visually represent "four" like 一, 二, and 三 do, it's still a relatively simple character to write.

In traditional Chinese, you'll see the same character 四. This character is identical in simplified and traditional forms.

Cultural Significance: The Unlucky Number

Four is considered the unluckiest number in Chinese culture.

Why is 4 unlucky? The number 四 (sì) sounds nearly identical to 死 (sǐ), which means "death." This phonetic similarity makes 4 deeply unpopular in Chinese-speaking cultures.

Real-world impact:

• Buildings: Many buildings skip the 4th floor, 14th floor, and any floor with 4 in it
• Phone numbers: People pay to avoid phone numbers containing 4
• License plates: Cars with 4s in the license plate are less desirable and cheaper
• Rooms: Hotels often skip room numbers with 4 (no room 4, 14, 24, 44, etc.)
• Prices: Some retailers avoid prices ending in 4
• Gifts: Never give gifts in sets of 4—it's considered extremely unlucky

Tetraphobia: The fear of the number 4 is called "tetraphobia" and is prevalent throughout East Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

Practical Usage

Counting: Despite being unlucky, 四 is still used normally when counting:

• 四个 (sì gè) = four (general items)
• 四本书 (sì běn shū) = four books
• 四杯茶 (sì bēi chá) = four cups of tea

Prices:

• 4元 = 四块 (sì kuài)
• 40元 = 四十元 (sì shí yuán)
• 400元 = 四百元 (sì bǎi yuán)

However, savvy sellers might price items at 3.99 or 5 yuan instead of 4 yuan.

Times and dates:

• 4:00 = 四点 (sì diǎn)
• April = 四月 (sì yuè)
• Thursday = 星期四 (xīng qī sì)
• The 4th day = 四号 (sì hào)

Important note: When the date naturally falls on the 4th, people still say it normally—the superstition mainly affects choices people can control.

Regional Variations

The pronunciation of 四 (sì) remains consistent across Mandarin-speaking regions, but other Chinese dialects have their own pronunciations:

Cantonese: sei³ (still sounds similar to "death" in Cantonese, maintaining the unlucky association) Hokkien/Taiwanese: sì Shanghainese: sy

The unlucky association exists across all these dialects because of the similar sound to "death."

Common Phrases with 4

第四 (dì sì): Fourth, number four

四季 (sì jì): Four seasons

四川 (sì chuān): Sichuan Province (literally "four rivers")

四面八方 (sì miàn bā fāng): All sides, from all directions

四海为家 (sì hǎi wéi jiā): Make one's home wherever one is (literally "the four seas are home")

说四道三 (shuō sì dào sān): Gossip, talk irresponsibly

How to Avoid Offending

If you're giving gifts or making arrangements in Chinese culture:

• Never give 4 of something as a gift
• Avoid addresses or dates with 4 if you have a choice
• Don't suggest meeting at 4:00 for important events if alternatives exist
• Be aware that many elevators in Chinese buildings won't have a 4th floor button

However, don't worry too much—Chinese people understand that 4 appears naturally in life, and they won't be offended if you accidentally use it in unavoidable contexts.

Quick Takeaways

• 4 in Chinese is 四 (sì) with a sharp falling fourth tone
• It's pronounced like "suh" with a decisive downward tone
• Four is the unluckiest number in Chinese culture because it sounds like "death"
• Buildings often skip floors with 4, people avoid phone numbers with 4
• Despite the superstition, 四 is still used normally in everyday counting
• Never give gifts in sets of 4
• The fear of 4 is called tetraphobia and exists throughout East Asia

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If you're in China and want to avoid the unlucky number 4, TravelNum helps you understand how numbers are used and perceived in real Chinese contexts.