四 is the kanji for 4. Learn its shape and use its different readings in words you can actually say.
The idea
四 has 5 strokes. Draw the left side and the top-right stroke, add the two inside strokes, then close the bottom. Read the table aloud: the independent number is よん / し, but the reading changes with the word. For example, 四月 is しがつ, while 四日 as a calendar date is よっか.
| Japanese form | Meaning or situation |
|---|---|
| 四 | number: 4 |
| 四つ | general objects: 4 |
| 四人 | people: 4 |
| 四本（しほん） | long objects: 4 |
| 四時 | time: 4 o’clock |
| 四日 | day of the month: 4 |
| 四月 | month: April |
Examples
- 今は四時です。It is 4 o’clock now.
- りんごを四つ買います。I buy 4 apples.
- 店に四人います。There are 4 people in the shop.
- 今日は四日です。Today is the 4th of the month.
- 四月に旅行します。I travel in April.
- 鉛筆を四本使います。I use 4 pencils.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No Japanese device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
Do not guess every reading from the number alone: 四人 is よにん and 四本 is よんほん. Compare the shape of 四 with 日; check the source for stroke order.
Try it yourself
Write the number 4 as a kanji.
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四
The number 4 is written 四; compare its shape with 日.
Write the reading of day 4 of the month in hiragana.
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よっか
For the day of the month, 四日 is read よっか; it is a complete date word.
Write the reading for 4 people in hiragana.
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よにん
For people, 四人 is read よにん; learn the counter as a whole.
As in the example: Write the reading for 4 pencils in hiragana.
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よんほん
For long objects, 四本 is read よんほん (also しほん); 本 is the counter used for pencils.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
Write the number 4 as a kanji.
Write the reading of day 4 of the month in hiragana.
Write the reading for 4 people in hiragana.
As in the example: Write the reading for 4 pencils in hiragana.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write 四 three times in stroke order. Then say a date, a time and a quantity using this character; check each full reading in the table.