Definitions
(numeral)
three; 3
Etymology
Three horizontal strokes, representing the number three.
About
The character "三" for the number three originates from the fundamental method of representing quantities through tally marks, with its three horizontal lines offering a direct pictorial equivalent of the concept. Its structure is entirely ideographic, consisting solely of these strokes without phonetic components, a design that has ensured its visual consistency across millennia. While primarily retaining its numerical sense, the character has also acquired extended meanings in classical and compound usage, where it often suggests multiplicity or frequency, as seen in phrases that use "三" to imply "several" or "repeated action", reflecting a semantic expansion beyond simple enumeration.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
三个人在走路。
我家有三只小猫。
三角形有三个角。
他三天后就会回来。
我们分成三个小组。
这次考试我得了第三名。
三个月的时间很短。
大约三分之一的员工同意。