Japanese symbol for “four”
四
し
Romaji: shi
four; 4
In Japanese, four is 四, read し (shi).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- num four; 4
Written forms: 四、４、肆. Readings: し、よん、よ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “four”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 四つ | よっつ yottsu | four; 4 |
| フォア | フォア foa | four |
| 四本 | よんほん yonhon | four (long cylindrical things) |
| クアトロ | クアトロ kuatoro | four |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 四季 | しき shiki | the four seasons |
| 四つ | よっつ yottsu | four; 4 |
| 四方 | しほう shihou | the four cardinal directions; north, east, south and west; all directions |
| 四球 | しきゅう shikyuu | base on balls; walk; pass |
| 四角い | しかくい shikakui | square; rectangular |
| 四半期 | しはんき shihanki | quarter (of a year) |
See also: Chinese symbol for “four”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.