| 韦编三绝 | wei2 bian1 san1 jue2 | fig. to study diligently |
| 精气神 | jing1 qi4 shen2 | the three energies of Chinese medicine: ç²¾[jing1], 氣气[qi4], and 神[shen2] |
| 三个女人一个墟 | san1 ge4 nv3 ren2 yi1 ge4 xu1 | three women makes a crowd |
| 三个臭皮匠，赛过一个诸葛亮 | san1 ge4 chou4 pi2 jiang5 sai4 guo4 yi1 ge4 zhu1 ge3 liang4 | fig. collective wisdom |
| 三件套式西装 | san1 jian4 tao4 shi4 xi1 zhuang1 | three-piece suit |
| 三农问题 | san1 nong2 wen4 ti2 | the three rural issues: agriculture, rural areas and peasants |
| 三原则 | san1 yuan2 ze2 | the Three Principles (in many contexts) |
| 三反运动 | san1 fan3 yun4 dong4 | Three Anti campaign (anti-corruption, anti-waste, anti-bureaucracy), early PRC purge of 1951-52 |
| 三大汽车巨头 | san1 da4 qi4 che1 ju4 tou2 | three big automakers |
| 三天两夜 | san1 tian1 liang3 ye4 | two nights and three evenings |
| 三头狗 | san1 tou2 gou3 | three-headed dog |
| 三对三斗牛 | san1 dui4 san1 dou4 niu2 | three-on-three basketball game |
| 三年计划 | san1 nian2 ji4 hua2 | three year plan |