三sān

三

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Simplified · Today

简体

Simplified Chinese

Simplified Chinese (簡體). 三 (sān, "three") remains unchanged from its traditional form — three parallel horizontal strokes that have represented the concept of "three" since oracle bone times. This simplest of numerals requires no radical compounds, standing alone as one of the most ancient and unchanged characters in the entire script.

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Shuowen

三. The oracle bone form is as straightforward as it gets—three horizontal strokes, each slightly different in length, carved to represent the concept of three. It is written this way because three is simply three ones stacked together, the most natural numerical progression from unity to multiplicity.

Pinyin

sān· HSK 1

三sān

Character evolution

Shuowen

Pinyin