四(よっ)つ

よっつ
noun, counter
four (things)
informalnumber
1. four (things)
The native Japanese numeral for counting four items, used with the native counting system for general objects.
りんごを四(よっ)つください。
Four apples, please.
机(つくえ)の上(うえ)に四(よっ)つのコップがある。
There are four glasses on the desk.
角(かど)が四(よっ)つある。
It has four corners.
選択肢(せんたくし)が四(よっ)つある。
There are four options.
窓(まど)が四(よっ)つある。
There are four windows.
ボタンが四(よっ)つついている。
There are four buttons attached.
2. four years old
Used to express the age of four, as in a child being four years old.
この子(こ)は四(よっ)つです。
This child is four years old.
娘(むすめ)が四(よっ)つになった。
My daughter turned four.
四(よっ)つ下(した)の弟(おとうと)がいる。
I have a younger brother four years younger.
四(よっ)つのときから習(なら)っている。
I've been learning since I was four.

四(よっ)つ is part of the native Japanese counting system (ひとつ、ふたつ、みっつ...) used for counting general objects.

Native counting series

Usage

  • Used when counting general objects without a specific counter
  • Also used for ages up to nine (informal)
  • 四(よっ)つ is safer than 四(し)つ since 四(し) sounds like 死(し) (death)

Related Words

Related: 四(よん) (Sino-Japanese four)
Related: 五(いつ)つ (five (things))
Related: 三(みっ)つ (three (things))
basic
Added 2026.1.11 20:12 · Revised 2026.9.2 11:55
03000/03039_yottsu