The Kanji: 四 (Yot-/Yon/Shi) - The "Four" Kanji
The kanji "四" represents the number "four." Its history is particularly fascinating because, unlike the straightforward "一," "二," and "三," it underwent a major transformation to avoid confusion and superstition.
1. Meaning and Usage
Core Meaning: Four.
Readings:
Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): よ (yo-), よ.つ (yo.tsu), よっ.つ (yot.tsu), よん (yon)
On'yomi (Chinese reading): シ (shi)
Common Words and Compounds:
四つ (よっつ / yottsu) - Four things
四月 (しがつ / shigatsu) - April (The fourth month)
四人 (よにん / yonin) - Four people
四角 (しかく / shikaku) - Square (Four angles)
四国 (しこく / shikoku) - Shikoku (One of Japan's four main islands)
2. Writing and Stroke Order: An Enclosed Form
The correct kanji writing for "四" marks a departure from the simple horizontal lines of the first three numbers. It introduces a common enclosure structure.
Stroke Order:
Stroke 1: Left vertical stroke. Write from top to bottom.
Stroke 2: Top horizontal and right vertical stroke in one continuous motion. This forms a hollow, vertical rectangle.
Stroke 3: A left-falling stroke inside the box, attached to the top.
Stroke 4: A right-falling stroke inside the box, attached to the top and crossing the first inner stroke. (Strokes 3 and 4 form a small "V" or "八" shape inside).
Stroke 5: Bottom horizontal stroke. This final stroke closes the box from left to right.
Significance of Correct Kanji Writing:
The Enclosure Rule: "四" is a classic example of a kanji where you create the outer enclosure first (strokes 1-2), then fill the contents (strokes 3-4), and finally close it (stroke 5). This is a vital pattern for correct kanji writing.
Proportions: The character should be slightly wider than it is tall. The two internal strokes should be centered and balanced within the enclosure.
Distinguishing Feature: This structure is completely different from "一," "二," and "三," which helps prevent misreading.
3. Historical Origin and Evolution
The history of "四" reveals a practical solution to a linguistic problem.
Oracle Bone Script (甲骨文字):
The original form was, logically, four horizontal lines, just like "一," "二," and "三." It looked like this: "亖".
The Reason for Change:
This system became impractical. Writing four lines was tedious, and on ancient writing materials like bamboo slips, it could be easily confused with the lines for one, two, or three, especially if the writing was faint or worn. Furthermore, the word for "four" in Old Chinese sounded similar to the word for "death." To avoid this ominous homophone, a completely different character was borrowed.
Seal Script (篆書) & Modern Form (楷書):
The character that was borrowed was "四". Its original meaning was "breath" or "to exhale," and it was a pictogram of nostrils from which breath (the two internal strokes) is emanating. However, because its pronunciation matched the word for "four," it was permanently borrowed for that meaning, and its original meaning was forgotten.
The modern "四" is a stylized version of this "nostrils" pictogram, now universally understood only as the number four.
Cultural Connection:
In Japanese culture, the number four is often considered unlucky because its on'yomi reading, "し" (shi), is a homophone for the word for death (死, shi). This is why, in many contexts like counting people or objects, the native Japanese reading "よん" (yon) is preferred to avoid the negative connotation. For example, you say よにん (yonin) for "four people," not しにん (shinin), which sounds like "dead person."
Summary
The kanji "四" has a unique and clever history. It abandoned the simple tally-mark system of its predecessors to become a more distinct and practical symbol, even if it meant borrowing a character with a completely unrelated original meaning. Mastering its stroke order is a crucial step in Japanese kanji writing, as it teaches the important enclosure pattern. When you learn how to write kanji like "四," you are not just learning a number; you are learning a character shaped by practical necessity and cultural superstition, a symbol that successfully solved an ancient problem of clarity and remains in use thousands of years later.