三
sān
Three
三 (sān) is the number three in Mandarin Chinese. It is used for counting, indicating quantity, and in various common expressions.
What does 三 (sān) mean?
三 (sān) means “three” in English.
When to use it
Neutral and universally applicable. When counting items, it's often followed by a measure word, e.g., 三个 (sān ge) for "three of something."
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “SAHN,” with a high, flat tone.
Other ways to say it
- 三个sān gethree (of something)
- 第三dì sānthird
- 三月sān yuèMarch (third month)
Examples
我有三本书。
wǒ yǒu sān běn shū.
I have three books.
这是第三次了。
zhè shì dì sān cì le.
This is the third time.
三加三等于六。
sān jiā sān děngyú liù.
Three plus three equals six.
Pro tip: When counting objects or people, 三 is almost always followed by a measure word, such as 三个 (sān ge) for general items, or 三本 (sān běn) for books.
Related phrases
零 · Zero六 · Six七 · Seven
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