from typing import List


def get_neighbors(strlist: List[str], x: int, y: int) -> List[str]:
  """Get a list of 4 neighbors of cell. May return '' as element if boundary."""
  max_y_idx = len(strlist) - 1
  max_x_idx = len(strlist[0]) - 1
  if x > 0:
    w = strlist[y][x-1]
  else:
    w = ''
  if x < max_x_idx:
    e = strlist[y][x+1]
  else:
    e = ''
  if y > 0:
    n = strlist[y-1][x]
  else:
    n = ''
  if y < max_y_idx:
    s = strlist[y+1][x]
  else:
    s = ''
  return [n, w, s, e]