<p>The '四' in '四處' is a 虛數 (symbolic number) that represents 'All' </p>

<p>'<strong>四處</strong>' literally means 'all places/ every places' which means the same as '<strong>everywhere</strong>' It can also describe '<strong>all over the place</strong>' </p>

<p>'周圍' means 'around' , typically refer to the area around an object </p>

<p>For example: '周圍都是樹' (tree are all around) <em>the object is omitted here</em></p>

<p>'四周圍' means 'all around'</p>

<p>Consider the following:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>'房子裡<strong>四處</strong>都有你的書'(there are books <strong>everywhere</strong> in your house)</p></li>
<li><p>'房子裡<strong>四周圍</strong>都有你的書'(there are books <strong>all around</strong> in your house) </p></li>
<li><p>'房子<strong>四周圍</strong>都有樹 (there are trees <strong>all around</strong> the house)</p></li>
</ul>

<blockquote>
  <p>Which is more common to express the notion of "everywhere"</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The answer is 四處</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>young99 wrote: <em>I think you can consider 到處</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>'到處' literally means 'Everywhere (you go)'</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-01T10:13:37.330Z
2017-07-01T10:22:20.170Z
2017-07-01T10:22:20.170Z
Tang Ho
<p>四處 is better than 周圍 in this case. However, I think you can consider 到處.</p>

<p>The house will have your books everywhere.<br>
這房子將到處都有你的書。</p>

<p>From Google Translate:  </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>everywhere 副詞<br>
      到處<br>
      everywhere, throughout, in all places<br>
      隨處<br>
      everywhere, anywhere<br>
      遍<br>
      all over, everywhere<br>
      隨地<br>
      anywhere, everywhere<br>
      普<br>
      everywhere<br>
      廣泛地<br>
      abroad, diffusely, everywhere, large, at large, proverbially<br>
      在在<br>
      everywhere</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-16T21:17:51.150Z
My friend also said 到處 is more common. Thanks!
Crashalot
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-16T21:18:19.033Z
Are there cases where 周圍 is better than 四處?
Crashalot
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-20T09:00:56.533Z
周圍 means surrounding; ( around and nearby ).
四處 means everywhere.
I think they are different.
Some examples for 周圍:
大樓周圍有不少警察。
學校周圍要保持安靜。
We cannot use 四處 in these cases, but 四周 is ok.
young99
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-01T10:01:35.183Z
2017-07-01T10:01:35.183Z
young99
<p>Which is more common to express the notion of "everywhere": 四處 or 周圍?</p>

<p>Example: The house will have your books everywhere.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-01T10:55:17.817Z
users noting answer would like to also mention 处处 （is even in IME editor)＂汉语８００虚词用法词典＂： 处处（副）everywhere；in all aspects.1.表示各个地方（１）十月的田野，处处是盛开的鲜花、飘香的瓜果。（２）中央代表团来到雪城高原，处处受到西藏人民的热烈欢迎。（３）春节前夕，整个中国，处处都洋溢着节日的气象。（４）登上黄山，处处都是美丽的景色，让人流连忘返。（５）外国游客到了中国，处处都感到新鲜。（６）春节庙会上，处处人头攒动，人山人海。２。表示各个方面，6 samples,
comparison w 到处：＂处处＂指各个方面，包括具体和抽象两种处所：＂到处＂表示各个地方，只指具体的处所。(1)九月的北京处处／到处是鲜花。（２）每到春节，中国处处／到处是欢快、喜庆的场面。（３）老师处处／＊到处关心我们。（４）妈妈到中国来一次很不容易，我想陪她到处／＊处处看看。（５）他处处／＊到处严格要求自己。（６）我到处／＊处处找他也没找到。
user6065
<mandarin>
Which is more common in Mandarin: 四處 or 周圍?
# Which is more common in Mandarin: 四處 or 周圍?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-07-01)

Which is more common to express the notion of "everywhere": 四處 or 周圍?

Example: The house will have your books everywhere.

**Tags:** mandarin

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: users noting answer would like to also mention 处处 （is even in IME editor)＂汉语８００虚词用法词典＂： 处处（副）everywhere；in all aspects.1.表示各个地方（１）十月的田野，处处是盛开的鲜花、飘香的瓜果。（２）中央代表团来到雪城高原，处处受到西藏人民的热烈欢迎。（３）春节前夕，整个中国，处处都洋溢着节日的气象。（４）登上黄山，处处都是美丽的景色，让人流连忘返。（５）外国游客到了中国，处处都感到新鲜。（６）春节庙会上，处处人头攒动，人山人海。２。表示各个方面，6 samples, comparison w 到处：＂处处＂指各个方面，包括具体和抽象两种处所：＂到处＂表示各个地方，只指具体的处所。(1)九月的北京处处／到处是鲜花。（２）每到春节，中国处处／到处是欢快、喜庆的场面。（３）老师处处／＊到处关心我们。（４）妈妈到中国来一次很不容易，我想陪她到处／＊处处看看。（５）他处处／＊到处严格要求自己。（６）我到处／＊处处找他也没找到。  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-07-01. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

四處 is better than 周圍 in this case. However, I think you can consider 到處.

The house will have your books everywhere.  
這房子將到處都有你的書。

From Google Translate:

> everywhere 副詞  
> 到處  
> everywhere, throughout, in all places  
> 隨處  
> everywhere, anywhere  
> 遍  
> all over, everywhere  
> 隨地  
> anywhere, everywhere  
> 普  
> everywhere  
> 廣泛地  
> abroad, diffusely, everywhere, large, at large, proverbially  
> 在在  
> everywhere

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: My friend also said 到處 is more common. Thanks!  
> **username_0**: Are there cases where 周圍 is better than 四處?  
> **username_3**: 周圍 means surrounding; ( around and nearby ). 四處 means everywhere. I think they are different. Some examples for 周圍: 大樓周圍有不少警察。 學校周圍要保持安靜。 We cannot use 四處 in these cases, but 四周 is ok.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2017-07-01. Score: 3

The '四' in '四處' is a 虛數 (symbolic number) that represents 'All'

'**四處**' literally means 'all places/ every places' which means the same as '**everywhere**' It can also describe '**all over the place**'

'周圍' means 'around' , typically refer to the area around an object

For example: '周圍都是樹' (tree are all around) *the object is omitted here*

'四周圍' means 'all around'

Consider the following:

* '房子裡**四處**都有你的書'(there are books **everywhere** in your house)
* '房子裡**四周圍**都有你的書'(there are books **all around** in your house)
* '房子**四周圍**都有樹 (there are trees **all around** the house)

> Which is more common to express the notion of "everywhere"

The answer is 四處

> username_3 wrote: *I think you can consider 到處*

'到處' literally means 'Everywhere (you go)'


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