Where does “四” come from?

四 (Japanese) comes from Middle Chinese 四, from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *pV-lij — four.

四 (Japanese): four, 4; the fourth

Definitions

  1. four, 4; the fourth

Ancestry of “四”, step by step

四 traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle Chinese 四

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Chinese四—
2Proto-Sino-Tibetan*pV-lijfour

via Old Japanese 四

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Japanese四four, 4
2Proto-Japonicyəfour

Words derived from “四”

Every word from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *pV-lij →Every word from Middle Chinese 四 →