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On'yomi
サン・ゾウ
SAN / ZOU
Kun'yomi
み・み.つ・みっ.つ
mi / mitsu / mittsu

three

Details

Strokes3
Frequency#14
Radicalone(1)

Stroke Order

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Strokes3

Component Breakdown

=

one + two

Cultural Context

Etymology

Three horizontal strokes representing 'three'. Symbolizes heaven, earth, and humanity.

Symbolism

Completion, harmony, trinity. 'Three' is an auspicious number.

Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

再三再四

さいさんさいし

repeatedly; repeatedly

三位一体

さんみいったい

the Trinity; three parts; three components; the Trinity

三寒四温

さんかんしおん

alternation of three cold and four warm days (usu. in late winter and early spring); alternation of three cold and four warm days (usu. in late winter and early spring)

三十六計

さんじゅうろっけい

the 36 (ancient Chinese military) strategies (of which the last resort was said to be beating a retreat); the 36 (ancient Chinese military) strategies (of which the last resort was said to be beating a retreat)

三千世界

さんぜんせかい

the whole universe (of a billion worlds) that Buddha enlightened; the whole wide world; the whole universe (of a billion worlds) that Buddha enlightened

三段論法

さんだんろんぽう

syllogism; syllogism

三日天下

みっかてんか

short-lived rule; being in power only for a brief period; brief championship; short-lived rule

三日坊主

みっかぼうず

person who cannot stick to anything; unsteady worker; monk for three days; person who cannot stick to anything

三拝九拝

さんぱいきゅうはい

kowtowing; bowing repeatedly; three kneelings and nine prostrations; kowtowing

三百代言

さんびゃくだいげん

pettifogging lawyer; unscrupulous or unethical lawyer; shyster; pettifogging lawyer

三面六臂

さんめんろっぴ

rush of business; versatility; man who can do the work of many; rush of business

朝三暮四

ちょうさんぼし

being preoccupied with immediate (superficial) differences without realizing that there are no differences in substance; six of one and half a dozen of another; being preoccupied with immediate (superficial) differences without realizing that there are no differences in substance

二人三脚

ににんさんきゃく

three-legged race; cooperation with singleness of purpose (e.g. between companies); operating in tandem; three-legged race

無二無三

むにむさん

in earnest; single-minded; with intense concentration; in earnest

三三五五

さんさんごご

in groups of twos and threes; in small groups; (in groups of) threes and fives; in groups of twos and threes

二束三文

にそくさんもん

dirt cheap; very cheap; dirt cheap

読書三昧

どくしょざんまい

being absorbed in reading; being absorbed in reading

舌先三寸

したさきさんずん

eloquence or flattery designed to deceive; eloquence or flattery designed to deceive

贅沢三昧

ぜいたくざんまい

indulging in every possible luxury; indulging in every possible luxury

一日三秋

いちじつさんしゅう

(waiting) impatiently; (spending) many a weary day; each moment seeming like an eternity; (waiting) impatiently

三界流転

さんがいるてん

endless cycle of rebirth through the three worlds of past, present, and future existences; endless cycle of rebirth through the three worlds of past, present, and future existences

念仏三昧

ねんぶつざんまい

being deep in prayer; praying devoutly to Amida Buddha; being deep in prayer

風流三昧

ふうりゅうざんまい

taking delight in elegant pursuits; being absorbed in such elegant cultural pursuits as poetry, painting and calligraphy; taking delight in elegant pursuits

放蕩三昧

ほうとうざんまい

being absorbed in self-indulgent pleasures; giving oneself up to debauchery and dissipation; being absorbed in self-indulgent pleasures

孟母三遷

もうぼさんせん

the importance of creating an environment conducive to a child's learning; Mencius' mother, three moves; the importance of creating an environment conducive to a child's learning

冷汗三斗

れいかんさんと

breaking into cold sweat when one is very embarrassed or scared; breaking into cold sweat when one is very embarrassed or scared

一読三嘆

いちどくさんたん

a reading leaves one with ceaseless sighs of admiration; a reading leaves one with ceaseless sighs of admiration

一唱三嘆

いっしょうさんたん

one reading (of a poem aloud) leaves one with ceaseless sighs of admiration; one reading (of a poem aloud) leaves one with ceaseless sighs of admiration

韋編三絶

いへんさんぜつ

repeated reading; close (careful) reading; careful perusal; repeated reading

益者三友

えきしゃさんゆう

three kinds of beneficial friends: straightforward, sincere, and well-informed ones; three kinds of beneficial friends: straightforward, sincere, and well-informed ones

戯作三昧

げさくざんまい

being absorbed in writing popular novels (cheap fiction); being absorbed in writing something to amuse oneself; being absorbed in writing popular novels (cheap fiction)

狡兎三窟

こうとさんくつ

very shrewd in preparing a means of escape; being very good at escaping danger; very shrewd in preparing a means of escape

三者鼎立

さんしゃていりつ

three parties (forces) opposing one another; three-cornered contest; three parties (forces) opposing one another

垂涎三尺

すいぜんさんじゃく

avid desire; drooling over (something); watering at the mouth; avid desire

読書三到

どくしょさんとう

using mind, mouth and eyes to understand a book fully; using mind, mouth and eyes to understand a book fully

読書三余

どくしょさんよ

winter, night, and rainy weather; the ideal conditions for reading; winter, night, and rainy weather

南無三宝

なむさんぼう

Homage to the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha); oh no!; good heavens!; Homage to the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha)

二転三転

にてんさんてん

changing again and again; seesawing back and forth; being in a state of flux; changing again and again

六韜三略

りくとうさんりゃく

The Six Secret Teachings and The Three Strategies of Huang Shigong (two ancient Chinese military treatises); secrets (of the art of war, etc.); mysteries; The Six Secret Teachings and The Three Strategies of Huang Shigong (two ancient Chinese military treatises)

三者三様

さんしゃさんよう

each of the three being different from the other two; each of the three having his (her) own way; each of the three being different from the other two

張三李四

ちょうさんりし

the common run of men; the average Joe; good-for-nothing (person); the common run of men

損者三友

そんしゃさんゆう

three kinds of harmful friends: hypocritical, sycophantic, and glib-talking ones; three kinds of harmful friends: hypocritical, sycophantic, and glib-talking ones

歳寒三友

さいかんさんゆう

the three friends of winter (pine, bamboo and plum); the three friends of winter (pine, bamboo and plum)

一行三昧

いちぎょうざんまい

complete concentration on one subject (usu. prayer); one-practice absorption; complete concentration on one subject (usu. prayer)

Proverbs & Idioms

三度目の正直

さんどめのしょうじき

Third time is the charm

Success comes on the third attempt

三人寄れば文殊の知恵

さんにんよればもんじゅのちえ

Three heads are better than one

Collective wisdom exceeds individual thinking

石の上にも三年

いしのうえにもさんねん

Three years on a stone

Patience and perseverance lead to success

Poetry

和歌(百人一首) (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

天の原 ふりさけ見れば 春日なる 三笠の山に 出でし月かも

Poem #7 from Hyakunin Isshu

安倍仲麿Abe no Nakamaro
8th century