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駟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
駟sìa team of four horsesx, 15 strokes, radical 馬
sì(si4) T4
  1. 1a team of four horses
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

駟sì(si4)

The character 駟 (sì) refers to a team of four horses. This term is often used in historical contexts, particularly in ancient China, to symbolize power, speed, and the ability to cover great distances quickly. It can also represent a metaphor for a group working in harmony towards a common goal.

Strokes15Radical馬
Cultural Note

In ancient China, a team of four horses represented wealth and status, often associated with the nobility and their ability to travel swiftly across the empire. The significance of horses in Chinese culture is reflected in literature and art, symbolizing strength and loyalty.

Memory Tip

Imagine a majestic chariot pulled by four powerful horses galloping across the plains. The character 駟 combines the radical for 'horse' (馬) with the number 'four' (四), reminding you that this word signifies a formidable team of four horses working together.

Meanings of 駟

sì(si4)
1a team of four horses
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 駟

駟Simplified
15Strokes
馬Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 駟

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Podcast: 駟

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AI Study Notes for 駟

Usage Notes

While 駟 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it may appear in historical texts or literature. Be cautious with its pronunciation, as confusing it with similar-sounding words can lead to misunderstandings. It's also important to understand the context in which it is used, as it typically conveys a sense of grandeur or historical significance.

HSK Study Tips

Although 駟 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects to HSK vocabulary related to horses (馬) and numbers (四). Students should focus on recognizing this character in historical texts and understanding its cultural implications.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 駟 with other horse-related characters like 馬 (mǎ), which means 'horse' in general. For example, saying 駟 when you simply mean 'a horse' is incorrect; use 馬 instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 駟

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Etymology of 駟

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Four 四 horses 馬; 四 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 駟

  1. 1The giveawayFour 四 horses 馬; 四 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 駟? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 駟?

Decomposition of 駟

IDS Structure⿰馬四
駟Full Character
=
馬ma3
left
四si4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 駟?

How to say a team of four horses in Chinese

“a team of four horses” in Chinese is駟sì

The character 駟 (sì) refers to a team of four horses. This term is often used in historical contexts, particularly in ancient China, to symbolize power, speed, and the ability to cover great distances quickly. It can also represent a metaphor for a group working in harmony towards a common goal.

When to use 駟

While 駟 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it may appear in historical texts or literature. Be cautious with its pronunciation, as confusing it with similar-sounding words can lead to misunderstandings. It's also important to understand the context in which it is used, as it typically conveys a sense of grandeur or historical significance.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 駟 with other horse-related characters like 馬 (mǎ), which means 'horse' in general. For example, saying 駟 when you simply mean 'a horse' is incorrect; use 馬 instead.

Write 駟

駟

Practice writing 駟 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 駟

Words Containing This Character1
驷sìteam of 4 horses駟
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 驷 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 駟

The pronunciation is 'sì', with a falling tone. Practice saying it with emphasis on the tone to distinguish it from other similar-sounding characters.

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