Usage of the character 四

four
4

sìjiǎo

四角

[四角]

the four corners (of a rectangle)
the eaves that the four corners of a building

sìxiàng

四象

[四象]

four divisions (of the twenty-eight constellations 二十八宿 (èrshíbāxiù) of the sky into groups of seven mansions), namely: Azure Dragon 青龍／青龙 ( Qīnglóng), White Tiger 白虎 ( Báihǔ), Vermilion Bird 朱雀 ( Zhūquè), Black Tortoise 玄武 ( Xuánwǔ)

sìshí

四时

[四時]

the four seasons, namely: spring 春 (chūn), summer 夏 (xià), autumn 秋 (qiū) and winter 冬 (dōng)

sìqiáng

四强

[四強]

the top four

sìdé

四德

[四德]

four Confucian injunctions 孝悌忠信 (for men), namely: piety 孝 to one's parents, respect 悌 to one's older brother, loyalty 忠 to one's monarch, faith 信 to one's male friends
the four Confucian virtues for women of morality 德 (dé), physical charm 容, propriety in speech 言 and efficiency in needlework 功

sìbiān

四边

[四邊]

four sides

sìdì

四谛

[四諦]

the Four Noble Truths (Budd.), covered by the acronym 苦集滅道／苦集灭道 (kǔjímièdào): all life is suffering 苦 (kǔ), the cause of suffering is desire 集 (jí), emancipation comes only by eliminating passions 滅／灭 (miè), the way 道 (dào) to emancipation is the Eight-fold Noble Way 八正道 (bāzhèngdào)

Sìguó

四国

[四國]

Shikoku (one of the four main islands of Japan)

Hésì

核四

[核四]

Fourth Nuclear Power Plant near New Taipei City 新北市 ( Xīnběishì), Taiwan
also called Lungmen Nuclear Power Plant

sìchù

四处

[四處]

all over the place
everywhere and all directions

sìmiàn

四面

[四面]

all sides

sìjiù

四旧

[四舊]

the Four Olds (target of the Cultural Revolution)

fēngsì

封四

[封四]

back cover

sìshēng

四声

[四聲]

the four tones of Middle Chinese: level tone 平聲／平声, rising tone 上聲／上声, departing tone 去聲／去声 and entering tone 入聲／入声
the four tones of Modern Standard Mandarin

sìhài

四害

[四害]

"the four pests", i.e. rats, flies, mosquitoes, and sparrows
see also 打麻雀運動／打麻雀运动 ( Dǎ Máquè Yùndòng)

sìshè

四射

[四射]

to radiate all around

Sìyuè

四月

[四月]

April
fourth month (of the lunar year)

sìjiàn

四溅

[四濺]

(of droplets, sparks etc) to fly about in all directions
to splatter everywhere

wǔsì

五四

[五四]

fourth of May, cf 五四運動／五四运动, national renewal movement that started with 4th May 1919 protest against the Treaty of Versailles

sìtǐ

四体

[四體]

one's four limbs
two arms and two legs

dàsì

大四

[大四]

fourth-year university student

sìhú

四胡

[四胡]

sihu (or "khuurchir" in Mongolian), a bowed instrument with four strings, primarily associated with Mongolian and Chinese culture

sìzhěn

四诊

[四診]

(TCM) the four methods of diagnosis, namely 望診／望诊 (wàngzhěn) (observation), 聞診／闻诊 (wénzhěn) (auscultation and olfaction), 問診／问诊 (wènzhěn) (interrogation), 切診／切诊 (qièzhěn) (pulse feeling and palpation)

sìjí

四级

[四級]

grade 4
fourth class
category D

shísì

十四

[十四]

fourteen; 14

sìdú

四渎

[四瀆]

(archaic) the four rivers (Yangtze 長江／长江 ( Cháng Jiāng), Yellow 黃河／黄河 ( Huáng Hé), Huai 淮河 ( Huái Hé), Ji 濟水／济水 ( Jǐ Shuǐ))
(TCM) acupuncture point SJ-9

sìxià

四下

[四下]

everywhere

bènsì

奔四

[奔四]

to be pushing 40

sìzhī

四肢

[四肢]

the four limbs of the body

Sìshū

四书

[四書]

Four Books, namely: the Great Learning 大學／大学, the Doctrine of the Mean 中庸, the Analects of Confucius 論語／论语, and Mencius 孟子

sìjìng

四境

[四境]

all the borders

sìqǐ

四起

[四起]

to spring up everywhere
from all around

sìfāng

四方

[四方]

four-way
four-sided
in all directions
everywhere

sìcì

四次

[四次]

fourth
four times
quartic

sìzhōu

四周

[四周]

all around

sìmín

四民

[四民]

"the four classes" of ancient China, i.e. scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants

zàisì

再四

[再四]

repeatedly
over and over again

sìkù

四库

[四庫]

the four book depositories, namely: classics 經／经, history 史, philosophy 子 (zǐ), belles-lettres 集

sìlíng

四灵

[四靈]

four divinities
four divine emperors
four mythical creatures symbolic of prosperity and longevity, namely the phoenix 鳳／凤 (fèng), turtle 龜／龟 (guī), dragon 龍／龙 (lóng) and Chinese unicorn 麒麟 (qílín)
also 四象 (sìxiàng), the four division of the sky

Lǐ Sì

李四

[李四]

Li Si, name for an unspecified person, second of a series of three: 張三／张三 ( Zhāng Sān), 李四, 王五 ( Wáng Wǔ) Tom, Dick and Harry

sìdà

四大

[四大]

the four elements: earth, water, fire, and wind (Buddhism)
the four freedoms: speaking out freely, airing views fully, holding great debates, and writing big-character posters, 大鳴大放／大鸣大放 (dàmíngdàfàng), 大辯論／大辩论 (dàbiànlùn), 大字報／大字报 (dàzìbào) (PRC)

Sìpíng

四平

[四平]

Siping, prefecture-level city in Jilin province 吉林省 in northeast China

Zhōusì

周四

[週四]

Thursday

sìtiáo

四条

[四條]

four of a kind
quads (poker)

sìhuà

四化

[四化]

abbr. for 四個現代化／四个现代化 (sìgèxiàndàihuà), Deng Xiaoping's four modernizations

sìwéi

四围

[四圍]

all around
on all sides
encircled

Sìqīng

四清

[四清]

the Four Cleanups Movement (1963-66)
abbr. for 四清運動／四清运动 ( Sìqīng Yùndòng)

Sìhuì

四会

[四會]

Sihui, county-level city in Zhaoqing 肇慶／肇庆 ( Zhàoqìng), Guangdong

sìjì

四季

[四季]

four seasons, namely: spring 春 (chūn), summer 夏 (xià), autumn 秋 (qiū) and winter 冬 (dōng)

sìgēng

四更

[四更]

fourth of the five night watch periods 01:00-03:00 (old)

sìgù

四顾

[四顧]

to look around

sìjiāo

四郊

[四郊]

suburb
outskirts (of town)

sìyì

四溢

[四溢]

(of a perfume or a foul odor) permeating the whole place
(of grease etc) dripping everywhere
flowing all over the place

sìshí

四十

[四十]

forty
40

Sìchuān

四川

[四川]

Sichuan province (Szechuan) in southwest China, abbr. 川 or 蜀, capital Chengdu 成都

Sìhú

四湖

[四湖]

Sihu (or Ssuhu) township in Yunlin county 雲林縣／云林县 ( Yúnlínxiàn), Taiwan

sìlín

四邻

[四鄰]

one's nearest neighbors

sìjìn

四近

[四近]

nearby

Liù Sì

六四

[六四]

refers to Tiananmen incident of 4th June 1989

sìwéi

四维

[四維]

the four social bonds: propriety, justice, integrity and honor
see 禮義廉恥／礼义廉耻 (lǐyìliánchǐ)
the four directions
the four limbs (Chinese medicine)
four-dimensional

sìsàn

四散

[四散]

to disperse
to scatter in all directions

sìpáng

四旁

[四旁]

nearby regions

Mùwèi Sì

木卫四

[木衛四]

Callisto (moon of Jupiter), aka Jupiter IV

sìhuánsù

四环素

[四環素]

tetracycline

Lǐbàisì

礼拜四

[禮拜四]

Thursday

Sòngsìjiā

宋四家

[宋四家]

four famous Song calligraphers, namely: Su Shi 蘇軾／苏轼 ( Sū Shì), Huang Tingjian 黃庭堅／黄庭坚 ( Huáng Tíngjiān), Mi Fu 米芾 ( Mǐ Fú) and Cai Xiang 蔡襄 ( Cài Xiāng)

sìqiángsài

四强赛

[四強賽]

semifinals

sìjìdòu

四季豆

[四季豆]

green bean
French bean
runner bean

Sìzǐwáng

四子王

[四子王]

Siziwang banner or Dörvön-xüüxed khoshuu in Ulaanchab 烏蘭察布／乌兰察布 ( Wūlánchábù), Inner Mongolia

sìjiǎoshé

四脚蛇

[四腳蛇]

lizard

sìfēnlì

四分历

[四分曆]

"quarter remainder" calendar, the first calculated Chinese calendar, in use from the Warring States period until the early years of the Han dynasty

sìyuánshù

四元数

[四元數]

quaternion (math.)

Sì Xiǎolóng

四小龙

[四小龍]

Four Asian Tigers
East Asian Tigers
Four Little Dragons (East Asian economic powers: Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong)

sìhéyuàn

四合院

[四合院]

courtyard house with a fully enclosed courtyard (type of Chinese residence)

sìqūchē

四驱车

[四驅車]

four-by-four (vehicle)
4x4

sìshèngdì

四圣谛

[四聖諦]

the Four Noble Truths (Buddhism)
see also 四諦／四谛 (sìdì) and 苦集滅道／苦集灭道 (kǔjímièdào)

sìbùxiàng

四不像

[四不像]

common name for 麋鹿 (mílù), Père David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus), which is said to resemble an amalgam of animals such as a cow, deer, donkey and horse
an odd mixture of disparate elements
hodgepodge
farrago

dìsìtái

第四台

[第四臺]

fourth channel
(in Taiwan) cable TV, FTV

sìfāngbù

四方步

[四方步]

a slow march

sìtóujī

四头肌

[四頭肌]

quadriceps muscle group
thigh muscles

sìjiǎoxíng

四角形

[四角形]

square
quadrilateral

Sìchuān Shěng

四川省

[四川省]

Sichuan province (Szechuan) in southwest China, abbr. 川 ( Chuān) or 蜀 ( Shǔ), capital Chengdu 成都 ( Chéngdū)

sìyī'èr

四一二

[四一二]

12th April
refers to Chiang Kai-shek's coup of 12th April 1927 against the communists in Shanghai

pòsìjiù

破四旧

[破四舊]

Destroy the Four Olds (campaign of the Cultural Revolution)

Xīnsìjūn

新四军

[新四軍]

New Fourth army of Republic of China, set up in 1937 and controlled by the communists

Sìfāngqū

四方区

[四方區]

Sifang district of Qingdao city 青島市／青岛市, Shandong

sìxúnzhāi

四旬斋

[四旬齋]

Lent (Christian period of forty days before Easter)

sìxiàli

四下里

[四下裡]

all around

Sìhúxiāng

四湖乡

[四湖鄉]

Sihu (or Ssuhu) township in Yunlin county 雲林縣／云林县 ( Yúnlínxiàn), Taiwan

Sìxiànqiāng

四县腔

[四縣腔]

Sixian dialect of Hakka Chinese

Sìhuìshì

四会市

[四會市]

Sihui, county-level city in Zhaoqing 肇慶／肇庆 ( Zhàoqìng), Guangdong

sìyuèfèn

四月份

[四月份]

April

sìguóquǎn

四国犬

[四國犬]

Shikoku (dog)

Sìrénbāng

四人帮

[四人幫]

Gang of Four: Jiang Qing 江青 ( Jiāng Qīng), Zhang Chunqiao 張春橋／张春桥 ( Zhāng Chūnqiáo), Yao Wenyuan 姚文元 ( Yáo Wényuán), Wang Hongwen 王洪文 ( Wáng Hóngwén), who served as scapegoats for the excesses of the cultural revolution

dìsìjì

第四季

[第四季]

fourth quarter

sìtàntáng

四碳糖

[四碳糖]

tetrose (CH2O)4, monosaccharide with four carbon atoms

sìfāngmào

四方帽

[四方帽]

see 方帽 (fāngmào)

Sìfāngtái

四方台

[四方臺]

Sifangtai district of Shuangyashan city 雙鴨山／双鸭山 ( Shuāngyāshān), Heilongjiang

sìyècǎo

四叶草

[四葉草]

four-leaf clover

sìfēnwèi

四分卫

[四分衛]

quarterback (QB) (American football)

sìjiǎokù

四角裤

[四角褲]

boxer shorts

sìfāngliǎn

四方脸

[四方臉]

square-jawed face

Sìrìshì

四日市

[四日市]

Yokkaichi, city in Mie Prefecture, Japan

sìxúnjié

四旬节

[四旬節]

First Sunday of Lent

sìwùtāng

四物汤

[四物湯]

four-substance decoction (si wu tang), tonic formula used in Chinese medicine

Sìpíngshì

四平市

[四平市]

Siping, prefecture-level city in Jilin province 吉林省 in northeast China

sìmiàntǐ

四面体

[四面體]

tetrahedron

Hànsìjùn

汉四郡

[漢四郡]

four Han commanderies in north Korea 108 BC-c. 300 AD

niànsìshǐ

廿四史

[廿四史]

twenty four dynastic histories (or 25 or 26 in modern editions)
same as 二十四史 ( Ershísì Shǐ)

dìsìshēng

第四声

[第四聲]

fourth tone in Mandarin
falling tone

Lǐ Sìguāng

李四光

[李四光]

Li Siguang (1889-1971), Mongol-born, Japanese-trained geologist, prominent in early PRC oil exploration

sìchóngzòu

四重奏

[四重奏]

quartet (musical ensemble)

dìsìjì

第四纪

[第四紀]

fourth period
quaternary (geological period covering the recent ice ages over the last 180,000 years)

sìbiānxíng

四边形

[四邊形]

quadrilateral

sìbùqǔ

四部曲

[四部曲]

tetralogy

Xīngqīsì

星期四

[星期四]

Thursday

mùkōngsìhǎi

目空四海

[目空四海]

the eye can see nothing worthwhile all around (idiom); arrogant
condescending
supercilious

sìshìtóngtáng

四世同堂

[四世同堂]

four generations under one roof (idiom)

sìsànbēntáo

四散奔逃

[四散奔逃]

to scatter in all directions

Sìqīng Yùndòng

四清运动

[四清運動]

the Four Cleanups Movement (1963-66), which aimed to cleanse the politics, economy, organization and ideology of the Communist Party

sìfēnwèishù

四分位数

[四分位數]

quartile (statistics)

sìhǎijiēzhǔn

四海皆准

[四海皆准]

appropriate to any place and any time (idiom); universally applicable
a panacea

zàisānzàisì

再三再四

[再三再四]

repeatedly
over and over again

sìfēnyīnfú

四分音符

[四分音符]

crotchet (music)

sìlúnqūdòng

四轮驱动

[四輪驅動]

four-wheel drive

sìdàfāmíng

四大发明

[四大發明]

the four great Chinese inventions: paper, printing, magnetic compass and gunpowder

sìyǎntiánjī

四眼田鸡

[四眼田雞]

four-eyes (facetious term for a person who wears glasses)

sìfēnzhīyī

四分之一

[四分之一]

one-quarter

Ershísì Shǐ

二十四史

[二十四史]

the Twenty-Four Histories (25 or 26 in modern editions), collection of books on Chinese dynastic history from 3000 BC till 17th century
fig. a long and complicated story

sìmiàn Chǔgē

四面楚歌

[四面楚歌]

lit. on all sides, the songs of Chu (idiom)
fig. surrounded by enemies, isolated and without help

sìdàtiānwáng

四大天王

[四大天王]

the four heavenly kings (Sanskrit vajra)
the four guardians or warrior attendants of Buddha

Chū Táng Sìjié

初唐四杰

[初唐四傑]

the Four Great Poets of the Early Tang, namely Wang Bo 王勃 ( Wáng Bó), Yang Jiong 楊炯／杨炯 ( Yáng Jiǒng), Lu Zhaolin 盧照鄰／卢照邻 ( Lú Zhàolín), and Luo Binwang 駱賓王／骆宾王 ( Luò Bīnwáng)

shísìhángshī

十四行诗

[十四行詩]

sonnet

sìhàodiànchí

四号电池

[四號電池]

AAA battery (Tw)
PRC equivalent: 七號電池／七号电池 (qīhàodiànchí)

Sìfāngtáiqū

四方台区

[四方臺區]

Sifangtai district of Shuangyashan city 雙鴨山／双鸭山 ( Shuāngyāshān), Heilongjiang

zhāosānmùsì

朝三暮四

[朝三暮四]

lit. say three in the morning but four in the evening (idiom); to change sth that is already settled upon
indecisive
to blow hot and cold

diūsānlàsì

丢三落四

[丟三落四]

forgetful
empty-headed

sìjiǎozhùtǐ

四角柱体

[四角柱體]

cuboid
rectangular prism (math.)

mèilìsìshè

魅力四射

[魅力四射]

glamorous; charming; seductive

kuángsānzhàsì

狂三诈四

[狂三詐四]

to deceive and swindle across the board (idiom)

chuánsānguòsì

传三过四

[傳三過四]

to spread rumors
to gossip

sìdàměinü

四大美女

[四大美女]

the four legendary beauties of ancient China, namely: Xishi 西施 ( Xīshī), Wang Zhaojun 王昭君 ( Wáng Zhāojūn), Diaochan 貂蟬／貂蝉 ( Diāo Chán) and Yang Yuhuan 楊玉環／杨玉环 ( Yáng Yùhuán)

sìménjiàochē

四门轿车

[四門轎車]

sedan (motor car)

sìbìxiāorán

四壁萧然

[四壁蕭然]

four bare walls

zhìzàisìfāng

志在四方

[志在四方]

to aspire to travel far and make one's mark (idiom)

sìhǎipiāolíng

四海飘零

[四海飄零]

drifting aimlessly all over the place (idiom)

shuōsāndàosì

说三道四

[說三道四]

to make thoughtless remarks (idiom)
to criticize
gossip

sìfēnwǔliè

四分五裂

[四分五裂]

all split up and in pieces (idiom); disunity (in an organization)
complete lack of unity
to disintegrate
falling apart
to be at sixes and sevens

wénfángsìbǎo

文房四宝

[文房四寶]

Four Treasures of the Study, namely 筆／笔 (bǐ), 墨 (mò), 紙／纸 (zhǐ) and 硯／砚 (yàn)
the essentials of calligraphy and scholarship (idiom)

Sìchuānlínxiāo

四川林鸮

[四川林鴞]

(bird species of China) Sichuan wood owl (Strix davidi)

sìchūwénqián

四出文钱

[四出文錢]

coin minted in the reign of Emperor Ling of Han 漢靈帝／汉灵帝 ( Hàn Líng Dì), with a square hole in the middle and four lines radiating out from each corner of the square (hence the name 四出文)

sìfúhuàyóu

四氟化铀

[四氟化鈾]

uranium tetrafluoride (UF4)

sāncóngsìdé

三从四德

[三從四德]

Confucian moral injunctions for women, namely: obey in turn three men father, husband and son, plus the four virtues of morality 德 (dé), physical charm 容, propriety in speech 言 and efficiency in needlework 功

tiāosānjiǎnsì

挑三拣四

[挑三揀四]

to be picky
to be choosy

sìyǎngbāchā

四仰八叉

[四仰八叉]

sprawled out on one's back (idiom)

sìtōngbādá

四通八达

[四通八達]

roads open in all directions (idiom); accessible from all sides

sìlín-bāshè

四邻八舍

[四鄰八舍]

(idiom) the whole neighborhood

yángmíngsìhǎi

扬名四海

[揚名四海]

known throughout the country (idiom); world-famous

Sìchuān Rìbào

四川日报

[四川日報]

Sichuan Daily

Sìchuānpéndì

四川盆地

[四川盆地]

Sichuan basin

dīsānxiàsì

低三下四

[低三下四]

servile

sìlühuàtàn

四氯化碳

[四氯化碳]

carbon tetrachloride

yǔjīngsìzuò

语惊四座

[語驚四座]

to make a remark that startles everyone present (idiom)
(of a remark) startling

wēijīsìfú

危机四伏

[危機四伏]

danger lurks on every side (idiom)

sìdàxūshēng

四大须生

[四大鬚生]

Four great beards of Beijing opera, namely: Ma Lianliang 馬連良／马连良, Tan Fuying 譚富英／谭富英, Yang Baosen 楊寶森／杨宝森, Xi Xiaobo 奚嘯伯／奚啸伯

sìwéikōngjiān

四维空间

[四維空間]

four-dimensional space (math.)

diānsāndǎosì

颠三倒四

[顛三倒四]

confused
disorderly
incoherent

wǔhúsìhǎi

五湖四海

[五湖四海]

all parts of the country

sìlúnmǎchē

四轮马车

[四輪馬車]

chariot

sìdàmíngzhù

四大名著

[四大名著]

the Four Classic Novels of Chinese literature, namely: A Dream of Red Mansions 紅樓夢／红楼梦 ( Hónglóu Mèng), Romance of Three Kingdoms 三國演義／三国演义 ( Sānguó Yǎnyì), Water Margin 水滸傳／水浒传 ( Shuǐhǔ Zhuàn), Journey to the West 西遊記／西游记 ( Xīyóu Jì)

Liù Sì Shìjiàn

六四事件

[六四事件]

Tiananmen Incident of June 4, 1989

sìlúndìngwèi

四轮定位

[四輪定位]

wheel alignment (automobile maintenance)

gǔsìtóujī

股四头肌

[股四頭肌]

quadriceps muscle group
thigh muscles

sìdàjiēkōng

四大皆空

[四大皆空]

lit. the four elements are vanity (idiom)
this world is an illusion

sìmiànbāfāng

四面八方

[四面八方]

in all directions
all around
far and near

Sìchuān Dàxué

四川大学

[四川大學]

Sichuan University

Zhāng Sān Lǐ Sì

张三李四

[張三李四]

(lit.) Zhang Three and Li Four; (fig.) any Tom, Dick or Harry

sìjìrúchūn

四季如春

[四季如春]

four seasons like spring
favorable climate throughout the year

lángyānsìqǐ

狼烟四起

[狼煙四起]

fire beacons on all sides (idiom); enveloped in the flames of war

Xuānyuánshísì

轩辕十四

[軒轅十四]

Regulus (constellation)

sìpíngbāwěn

四平八稳

[四平八穩]

everything steady and stable (idiom); overcautious and unimaginary

tuīsānzǔsì

推三阻四

[推三阻四]

to use all sorts of excuses

dìsìjìdù

第四季度

[第四季度]

fourth quarter (of financial year)

jiēfangsìlín

街坊四邻

[街坊四鄰]

neighbors
the whole neighborhood

gōusāndāsì

勾三搭四

[勾三搭四]

to make hanky-panky
to seduce women

Sìkù Quánshū

四库全书

[四庫全書]

Siku Quanshu (collection of books compiled during Qing dynasty)

míngyángsìhǎi

名扬四海

[名揚四海]

to become known far and wide (idiom)
famous

bāsānlǎnsì

巴三览四

[巴三覽四]

to talk about this and that (idiom); to ramble incoherently

liùshísìguà

六十四卦

[六十四卦]

the 64 hexagrams of the Book of Changes (I Ching or Yi Jing) 易經／易经

Jīnzhuān Sì Guó

金砖四国

[金磚四國]

Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC)

Sìzǐwángqí

四子王旗

[四子王旗]

Siziwang banner or Dörvön-xüüxed khoshuu in Ulaanchab 烏蘭察布／乌兰察布 ( Wūlánchábù), Inner Mongolia

Sìchuānzhìchún

四川雉鹑

[四川雉鶉]

(bird species of China) buff-throated monal-partridge (Tetraophasis szechenyii)

bùsānbùsì

不三不四

[不三不四]

(idiom) dubious; shady; neither one thing nor the other; neither fish nor fowl; nondescript

sìshěwǔrù

四舍五入

[四捨五入]

(math.) to round up or down
to round off

sìjíshìguān

四级士官

[四級士官]

sergeant first class

Sì Shì Tóngtáng

四世同堂

[四世同堂]

Four Generations Under One Roof, novel by Lao She 老舍 ( Lǎo Shě)

sìdàpéndì

四大盆地

[四大盆地]

four great basin depressions of China, namely: Tarim 塔里木盆地 in south Xinjiang, Jungar 準葛爾盆地／准葛尔盆地 and Tsaidam or Qaidam 柴達木盆地／柴达木盆地 in north Xinjiang Sichuan 四川盆地

sìlüyǐxī

四氯乙烯

[四氯乙烯]

tetrachloroethylene

sìjiǎocháotiān

四脚朝天

[四腳朝天]

four legs facing the sky (idiom); flat on one's back

sìzéyùnsuàn

四则运算

[四則運算]

the four basic operations of arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division)

qīzhèngsìyú

七政四余

[七政四餘]

seven heavenly bodies and four imaginary stars (in astrology and feng shui)

huólìsìshè

活力四射

[活力四射]

dynamic
enthusiastic
energetic

fēimòsìjiàn

飞沫四溅

[飛沫四濺]

to spray in all directions

sìhǎishēngpíng

四海升平

[四海升平]

(idiom) the whole world is at peace

sìdàshíkū

四大石窟

[四大石窟]

the four great caves, namely: Longmen Grottoes 龍門石窟／龙门石窟 ( Lóngmén Shíkū) at Luoyang, Henan, Yungang Caves 雲岡石窟／云冈石窟 ( Yúngāng Shíkū) at Datong, Shanxi, Mogao Caves 莫高窟 ( Mògāokū) at Dunhuang, Gansu, and Mt Maiji Caves 麥積山石窟／麦积山石窟 ( Màijī Shān Shíkū) at Tianshui, Gansu

chuánbōsìfāng

传播四方

[傳播四方]

to disseminate in every direction (idiom)

sìshēngdùjuān

四声杜鹃

[四聲杜鵑]

(bird species of China) Indian cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus)

tiáosānwōsì

调三窝四

[調三窩四]

to sow the seeds of discord everywhere (idiom)

héngsānshùsì

横三竖四

[橫三豎四]

in disorder
in a tremendous mess

yīniánsìjì

一年四季

[一年四季]

all year round

sìfúhuàguī

四氟化硅

[四氟化硅]

silicon tetrafluoride SiF4

sìjìdòufu

四季豆腐

[四季豆腐]

four seasons beancurd

Sìrìshì Shì

四日市市

[四日市市]

Yokkaichi, city in Mie Prefecture, Japan

sāncuīsìqǐng

三催四请

[三催四請]

to coax and plead

sìhǎiwéijiā

四海为家

[四海為家]

to regard the four corners of the world all as home (idiom)
to feel at home anywhere
to roam about unconstrained
to consider the entire country, or world, to be one's own

fēngyānsìqǐ

烽烟四起

[烽煙四起]

lit. fire beacons in all four directions (idiom); the confusion of war

tiǎosānwōsì

挑三窝四

[挑三窩四]

to sow discord everywhere

Wǔsì Yùndòng

五四运动

[五四運動]

May Fourth Movement
Chinese national renewal movement that started with 4th May 1919 protest against the Treaty of Versailles

Sòngsìdàshū

宋四大书

[宋四大書]

Four great compilations of Northern Song dynasty, namely: Extensive records of the Taiping era (978) 太平廣記／太平广记, Imperial readings of the Taiping era 太平御覽／太平御览, Prime tortoise of the record bureau 冊府元龜／册府元龟, Finest blossoms in the garden of literature 文苑英華／文苑英华

Sìge Quánmiàn

四个全面

[四個全面]

Four Comprehensives (political guidelines announced by President Xi Jinping, 2015)

jiātúsìbì

家徒四壁

[家徒四壁]

lit. with only four bare walls for a home (idiom)
fig. very poor
wretched

sānpéngsìyǒu

三朋四友

[三朋四友]

friends; cronies

Ershísì Xiào

二十四孝

[二十四孝]

the Twenty-four Filial Exemplars, classic Confucian text on filial piety from Yuan dynasty

fēnghuǒsìqǐ

烽火四起

[烽火四起]

the fire of war in all four directions (idiom); the confusion of war

huángùsìzhōu

环顾四周

[環顧四周]

to look around

Sìchuānliǔyīng

四川柳莺

[四川柳鶯]

(bird species of China) Sichuan leaf warbler (Phylloscopus forresti)

liánsānbìngsì

连三并四

[連三併四]

one after the other
in succession (idiom)

sìjiǎohàomǎ

四角号码

[四角號碼]

four corner code (input method for Chinese characters)

Sìshí'èr Zhāngjīng

四十二章经

[四十二章經]

The Sutra in Forty-two Sections Spoken by the Buddha, the first Chinese Buddhist text, translated in 67 AD by Kasyapa-Matanga 迦葉摩騰／迦叶摩腾 ( Jiāyè Móténg) and Gobharana 竺法蘭／竺法兰 ( Zhúfǎlán) (Dharmaraksha)

sìyī'èrshìbiàn

四一二事变

[四一二事變]

the coup of 12th Mar 1927, an attempt by Chiang Kai-shek to suppress the communists
called 反革命政變／反革命政变 or 慘案／惨案 in PRC literature

liùshísìwèiyuán

六十四位元

[六十四位元]

64-bit (computing)

Yuánqǔ Sì Dàjiā

元曲四大家

[元曲四大家]

Four Great Yuan Dramatists, namely: Guan Hanqing 關漢卿／关汉卿 ( Guān Hànqīng), Zheng Guangzu 鄭光祖／郑光祖 ( Zhèng Guāngzǔ), Ma Zhiyuan 馬致遠／马致远 ( Mǎ Zhìyuǎn) and Bai Pu 白樸／白朴 ( Bái Pǔ)

sìyī'èrcǎn'àn

四一二惨案

[四一二慘案]

the massacre of 12th Mar 1927
the Shanghai coup of 12th Mar 1927 by Chiang Kai-shek against the communists

Sìchuānxuánmùquè

四川旋木雀

[四川旋木雀]

(bird species of China) Sichuan treecreeper (Certhia tianquanensis)

sìzhīzhīchēngshì

四肢支撑式

[四肢支撐式]

low plank (yoga pose)

Liù Cháo Sì Dàjiā

六朝四大家

[六朝四大家]

Four Great Painters of the Six Dynasties, namely: Cao Buxing 曹不興／曹不兴 ( Cáo Bùxīng), Gu Kaizhi 顧愷之／顾恺之 ( Gù Kǎizhī), Lu Tanwei 陸探微／陆探微 ( Lù Tànwēi) and Zhang Sengyou 張僧繇／张僧繇 ( Zhāng Sēngyóu)

Pītóusì Yuètuán

披头四乐团

[披頭四樂團]

the Beatles

Zájù Sì Dàjiā

杂剧四大家

[雜劇四大家]

Four Great Yuan Dramatists, namely: Guan Hanqing 關漢卿／关汉卿 ( Guān Hànqīng), Zheng Guangzu 鄭光祖／郑光祖 ( Zhèng Guāngzǔ), Ma Zhiyuan 馬致遠／马致远 ( Mǎ Zhìyuǎn) and Bai Pu 白樸／白朴 ( Bái Pǔ)

Tángchū Sì Dàjiā

唐初四大家

[唐初四大家]

Four Great Calligraphers of early Tang
refers to Yu Shinan 虞世南 ( Yú Shìnán), Ouyang Xun 歐陽詢／欧阳询 ( Oūyáng Xún), Chu Suiliang 褚遂良 ( Chǔ Suìliáng) and Xue Ji 薛稷 ( Xuē Jì)

gānbiānsìjìdòu

干煸四季豆

[乾煸四季豆]

fried beans, Sichuan style

píngxíngsìbiānxíng

平行四边形

[平行四邊形]

parallelogram

Yuánshīsìdàjiā

元诗四大家

[元詩四大家]

the four masters of Yuan poetry, namely 虞集 ( Yú Jí), 範梈／范梈 ( Fàn Pēng), 楊載／杨载 ( Yáng Zài) and 揭傒斯 ( Jiē Xīsī)

èrshísìjiéqi

二十四节气

[二十四節氣]

the 24 solar terms, calculated from the position of the sun on the ecliptic, that divide the year into 24 equal periods

hésìyǐchěgōng

合四乙尺工

[合四乙尺工]

names of the five notes of the Chinese pentatonic scale, corresponding roughly to do, re, mi, sol, la

sìliǎngbōqiānjīn

四两拨千斤

[四兩撥千斤]

lit. four ounces can move a thousand catties (idiom)
fig. to achieve much with little effort

jùsìfúyǐxī

聚四氟乙烯

[聚四氟乙烯]

polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), trademarked as Teflon

Sìchuānshānzhègū

四川山鹧鸪

[四川山鷓鴣]

(bird species of China) Sichuan partridge (Arborophila rufipectus)

bǎnbǎnliùshísì

板板六十四

[板板六十四]

unaccommodating
rigid

Sìchuān Dàdìzhèn

四川大地震

[四川大地震]

Great Sichuan Earthquake (2008)

sìqīngdàmáfēn

四氢大麻酚

[四氫大麻酚]

Tetrahydrocannabinol, THC

sìgexiàndàihuà

四个现代化

[四個現代化]

Deng Xiaoping's four modernizations practiced from the 1980s (possibly planned together with Zhou Enlai), namely: modernization of industry, agriculture, national defense and science and technology
abbr. to 四化 (sìhuà)

Jiāngnánsìdàcáizǐ

江南四大才子

[江南四大才子]

Four great southern talents of the Ming, namely: Tang Bohu 唐伯虎, Zhu Zhishan 祝枝山, Wen Zhengming 文徵明／文征明 and Xu Zhenqing 徐禎卿／徐祯卿

Sìdà Fójiào Míngshān

四大佛教名山

[四大佛教名山]

Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism, namely: Mt Wutai 五臺山／五台山 in Shanxi, Mt Emei 峨眉山 in Sichuan, Mt Jiuhua 九華山／九华山 in Anhui, Mt Potala 普陀山 in Zhejiang

wǔsì'àiguóyùndòng

五四爱国运动

[五四愛國運動]

May Fourth Movement
Chinese national renewal movement that started with 4th May 1919 protest against the Treaty of Versailles

Sìxiàng Jīběn Yuánzé

四项基本原则

[四項基本原則]

the Four Cardinal Principles enunciated by Deng Xiaoping 鄧小平／邓小平 ( Dèng Xiǎopíng) in 1979: to uphold the socialist road, the dictatorship of the proletariat, the leadership of the CCP, and Maoism and Marxism-Leninism

Běi Sòngsìdàbùshū

北宋四大部书

[北宋四大部書]

Four great compilations of Northern Song dynasty, namely: Extensive records of the Taiping era (978) 太平廣記／太平广记, Imperial readings of the Taiping era 太平御覽／太平御览, Prime tortoise of the record bureau 冊府元龜／册府元龟, Finest blossoms in the garden of literature 文苑英華／文苑英华

bùguīzésìbiānxíng

不规则四边形

[不規則四邊形]

irregular quadrilateral
trapezium

sìhǎizhīnèijiēxiōngdì

四海之内皆兄弟

[四海之內皆兄弟]

all men are brothers

Sìchuān Wàiguóyǔ Dàxué

四川外国语大学

[四川外國語大學]

Sichuan International Studies University (SISU)

rùnsìyuè,chīshùyè

闰四月，吃树叶

[閏四月，吃樹葉]

an intercalary fourth month brings food shortages

wǔjiǎngsìměisānrè'ài

五讲四美三热爱

[五講四美三熱愛]

the five emphases, four beauties and three loves (PRC policy introduced in 1981, including emphasis on manners, beauty of language and love of socialism)

fàngzhīsìhǎi'érjiēzhǔn

放之四海而皆准

[放之四海而皆準]