三 (sān) Three
Three horizontal lines represent the number three. It’s often written with the top line being the second longest, the middle line the shortest, and the bottom line being the longest.
If you know three, there is no reason you should not also know the Chinese characters for one and two!
Meaning | Chinese | Pinyin | Note |
1 | 一 | yī | one line |
2 | 二 | èr | two lines |
3 | 三 | sān | three lines |
4 | 四 | sì | a rectangular shape, therefore has "four" sides |
5 | 五 | wǔ | |
6 | 六 | liù | |
7 | 七 | qī | |
8 | 八 | bā | |
9 | 九 | jiǔ | |
10 | 十 | shí | It looks like a cross. Think about "ten" commandments |
Remember, we have learned that one of the meanings of 月 (yuè) is month. So 三月 (sān yuè), three and month, the third month, is March.
You can use the above one to ten characters to form:
Meaning | Chinese | Pinyin |
January | 一月 | Yī yuè |
February | 二月 | Èr yuè |
March | 三月 | Sān yuè |
April | 四月 | Sì yuè |
May | 五月 | Wǔ yuè |
June | 六月 | Liù yuè |
July | 七月 | Qī yuè |
August | 八月 | Bā yuè |
September | 九月 | Jiǔ yuè |
October | 十月 | Shí yuè |
November | 十一月 | Shíyī yuè |
December | 十二月 | Shí'èr yuè |
Take Chinese Alphabet with you everywhere you go.
Introducing Chinese Alphabet Translator iOS app:
You can now translate directly from written English to the Chinese “alphabet.” Type English sentences and this app will translate them to a Chinese “alphabet.” You can then e-mail the translation or copy and paste it to your own notes or documents. It's the complete Good Characters’ Chinese Alphabet in your pocket or backpack that you have access to offline anywhere and anytime, even without an Internet connection.
Chinese Alphabet Translator: Tap and type. Translate.
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Chinese Alphabet Translator: Support both portrait and landscape modes. iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.
Chinese Alphabet Translator: Animated character. Tap to hear the pronunciation. Learn the true meaning behind each Chinese alphabet character with one touch.
Download Chinese Alphabet Translator on the App Store
Symbols were selected based on their visual similarity to corresponding English alphabet letters. Only real Chinese characters are used. Only characters that are positive or neutral in meaning are included.
The translation provided by Chinese Alphabet is intended for personal use and entertainment only. Not recommended for tattoo artists to use this to tattoo their clients, iPhone app developers to localize Chinese apps, CIA agents to communicate national secrets, or security professionals to encrypt passwords.