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四日 (sì rì) — fourth day (of the month); (in compounds) four-day (duration)

Definition

In classical or formal writing 四日 means 'the fourth day of the month'; in modern compounds it means a four-day duration. Both senses appear in set phrases rather than everyday speech.

noun
fourth day (of the month)(in compounds) four-day (duration)

Examples

  • 四日。
    Jīn tiān shì sì yuè sì rì.
    Today is April 4th.
  • 四日。
    Wǒ men cān jiā le yí gè sì rì yóu.
    We joined a four-day tour.
  • 四日。
    Huì yì dìng zài sì rì jǔ xíng.
    The meeting is scheduled for the fourth day.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

四sìfour
日rìday

四 is four and 日 is day, so it names the fourth day or a four-day period.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 四 was drawn as a nose breathing out. It later came to be used for the word four.

Open 四 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

日 originally drew the sun. A mark was added inside to tell it apart from similar square shapes.

Open 日 →
Appears in
Days & WeeksNumbers & Counting

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