three

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 三 represents three with three horizontal strokes.
• Basic usage: Its basic on reading is さん; counting forms such as 三つ use みっ instead.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The small っ
  • 三つ is みっつ, and 三日 is みっか.
  • Both contain the small っ; they are not the shorter pronunciations みつ or みか.
• Three days and the third
  • 三日 can mean a period of three days or the third day of a month.
  • 三日かかる means to take three days; 来月の三日 means the third of next month.
• Counting abstract items
  • 三つ counts not only visible objects but also items such as questions.
  • 三つの質問 means three questions, not specifically three separate occasions of asking.