What does 四 mean in Japanese?
四 means “four” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 四 (four), 四つ (four things), and 四月 (April).
For learners, the key is to study 四 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: シ (shi)
Kun’yomi: よ-つ (yo-tsu), よっ-つ (yotsu-tsu), よん (yon)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 四 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | four |
| Stroke Count | 5 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
How to Understand This Kanji
四 is not limited to one English translation. In 四 (よん), it means four; in 四つ (よっつ), it points to four things; and in 四月 (しがつ), it is used for April. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 四（よん / yon） — four
- 四つ（よっつ / yottsu） — four things
- 四月（しがつ / shigatsu） — April
- 四日（よっか / yokka） — the fourth day; four days
- 四人（よにん / yonin） — four people
- 四百（よんひゃく / yonhyaku） — four hundred
Example Sentences
-
四人で昼ご飯を食べました。
よにんでひるごはんをたべました。 / Yonin de hirugohan o tabemashita.
Four people ate lunch together.
-
四月に学校が始まります。
しがつにがっこうがはじまります。 / Shigatsu ni gakkō ga hajimarimasu.
School starts in April.
-
四つの答えから選んでください。
よっつのこたえからえらんでください。 / Yottsu no kotae kara erande kudasai.
Please choose from four answers.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 四 (よん / yon) because it keeps the core meaning of 四 clear. Then add 四つ and 四月 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 四 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
四 means “four” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 四, 四つ, and 四月.