About
The character 驷 is a phono-semantic compound, structured with the radical 马 on the left to indicate its semantic connection to horses or chariotry. The right component 四 serves both as the phonetic element and the literal meaning of "four". Its traditional form is 駟, using the unsimplified radical 馬. 驷 specifically refers to a team of four horses harnessed to a single carriage. In ancient times, such a chariot symbolized status, speed, and military strength, so the character frequently appears in historical texts and classical idioms to convey ideas of rapid movement or irrevocable action.
Etymology Hide
