Chinese · Numbers & Time
三
sān
Three
Beginnernumeral
Definition
The number three.
Example
我有三个朋友在上海。
I have three friends in Shanghai.
Etymology
The character '三' (sān) is derived from ancient scripts representing three horizontal lines, symbolizing the number three. Its origins can be traced back to the oracle bone script, where numbers were depicted in a more pictorial form.
How & Where It’s Used
'三' is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese across all regions. It is used in formal and informal contexts, often when counting, discussing time, or in conversations about quantity.