<p>古文中这类数词多有虚指之意，例如“三番五次”是指“许多次”而非“3+5=8次”，“士别三日，当刮目相看”也不是真的隔了“3天”而是一段时间。“十面埋伏”应该也不是严格意义上的“十面”，而是到处都是埋伏的意思吧。 </p>

<hr>

<p><em>Translation</em>: In ancient China, these kinds of numbers have abstract meanings.  For example 三番五次 means "many times" not "3+5 = 8 times", and 士别三日，当刮目相看 also is not separation for 3 days, but rather a period of time.</p>

<p>十面埋伏 also should not be strictly interpreted as "10 faced" but rather ambushes are everywhere.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-09T02:12:30.273Z
“士别三日”是因为典故里面就是实打实的三天吧。。。十面埋伏是古曲，所以我想是不是也专门有个典故的说。
Joseph S WU
CC BY-SA 4.0
2014-04-08T23:51:59.830Z
2020-04-28T00:04:27.833Z
2020-04-28T00:04:27.833Z
孤影萍踪
<p>KEY defines:
十面
as:
(on) all sides, (from) all sides</p>

<p>Also from a Baidu Zhidao question:
十面指的东,南,西,北，东北，东南，西北，西南,上，下 </p>

<p>Ten sides: east, south, west, north, north-east, south-east, north-west, south-west, above, below</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-09T01:57:47.787Z
I think "十" meaning "complete, perfect" is the intention. The Baidu Zhidao theory sounds dubious because it's mixing 六合 and 八方 directions.
congusbongus
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-09T02:14:07.070Z
@congusbongus you have reason, but in real life we normally say 四面埋伏. I had had thought that there to be a specific story for that expression...
Joseph S WU
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-09T02:27:15.537Z
@user3685 "四面埋伏" isn't a chengyu. Sounds like an eggcorn or mistaken for 四面楚歌, which is a synonym. 十面埋伏 is often associated with 垓下之战.
congusbongus
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-09T00:51:45.900Z
2014-04-09T00:51:45.900Z
Mou某
<p>How does that count?</p>

<p>As we know, Chinese directions can be categorized as 六合八方, but none of them is related to the number 10?</p>

<culture>
Why is 十面埋伏 related to the number 10?
# Why is 十面埋伏 related to the number 10?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-04-08)

How does that count?

As we know, Chinese directions can be categorized as 六合八方, but none of them is related to the number 10?

**Tags:** culture

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-04-09. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

KEY defines:
十面
as:
(on) all sides, (from) all sides

Also from a Baidu Zhidao question:
十面指的东,南,西,北，东北，东南，西北，西南,上，下

Ten sides: east, south, west, north, north-east, south-east, north-west, south-west, above, below

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: I think "十" meaning "complete, perfect" is the intention. The Baidu Zhidao theory sounds dubious because it's mixing 六合 and 八方 directions.  
> **username_0**: @congusbongus you have reason, but in real life we normally say 四面埋伏. I had had thought that there to be a specific story for that expression...  
> **username_3**: @user3685 "四面埋伏" isn't a chengyu. Sounds like an eggcorn or mistaken for 四面楚歌, which is a synonym. 十面埋伏 is often associated with 垓下之战.  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2014-04-08. Score: 4

古文中这类数词多有虚指之意，例如“三番五次”是指“许多次”而非“3+5=8次”，“士别三日，当刮目相看”也不是真的隔了“3天”而是一段时间。“十面埋伏”应该也不是严格意义上的“十面”，而是到处都是埋伏的意思吧。

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*Translation*: In ancient China, these kinds of numbers have abstract meanings. For example 三番五次 means "many times" not "3+5 = 8 times", and 士别三日，当刮目相看 also is not separation for 3 days, but rather a period of time.

十面埋伏 also should not be strictly interpreted as "10 faced" but rather ambushes are everywhere.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: “士别三日”是因为典故里面就是实打实的三天吧。。。十面埋伏是古曲，所以我想是不是也专门有个典故的说。  

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