四

Derived characters

 * 伵 呬 怬 柶 泗 牭 訵 䦉 駟(驷) 囧 圀 𢏎 𥹊 𥿖 𮕳 𧣛 𫪸 𪯣 𣳉 𧶠 𰉐

Glyph origin
The word "four" was written as before  and  appeared in late. This alternative form was used to prevent confusion of and  or  in vertical writing. It was standardized in.

The bronzeware style of the character featured a repositioning of those four lines inside ; this later evolved into the combination used today of and  which meant a dispersal of breath. It could thus be said that four is a borrowed meaning for this character. The original sense is preserved in, by adding an extra 口.

Etymology 1
From.

Definitions

 * 1) four
 * 2)  four directions; all directions
 * 3)  la (musical note)
 * 4)  English; The size of type between 小四 (little 4) and 小三 (little 3), standardized as 14 point.
 * 1)  la (musical note)
 * 2)  English; The size of type between 小四 (little 4) and 小三 (little 3), standardized as 14 point.
 * 1)  English; The size of type between 小四 (little 4) and 小三 (little 3), standardized as 14 point.

Usage notes
As superstition, is  because it is similar to  in sound.

Descendants
Others:

Etymology 1
→ * →

From, from.

In modern Japanese, Japonic is more common than Sinitic  outside fixed compounds, which is similar to  but different from other numerals. The reason may be a superstitious connection to, or simply avoiding confusion with similar sounding and.

Numeral

 * 1) four, 4

Etymology 2
Shift from yo above, influenced by analogy by the final sound of preceding number. The most common form as a stand-alone number.

Numeral

 * 1) four, 4

Etymology 3
→

From.

Compare modern 🇨🇬.

Numeral

 * 1) four, 4

Usage notes
Due to Chinese influence, is sometimes avoided as it is homonymous to.

Noun

 * 1) the fourth

Affix

 * 1) four
 * 2) fourth
 * 3) quadruple
 * 4) here and there

Etymology 4
From.

Numeral

 * 1)  four, 4

Etymology
From.

Etymology
From.

Also used as kana for.

Numeral

 * 1) four, 4