Kanji 九 - nine
Kanji 九 means nine. Onyomi readings are ク (ku), キュウ (kyuu) . Kunyomi readings are ここの (kokono).
Stroke order animation (2 strokes)
Stroke Order Diagram
Each box shows the kanji up to that stroke. Red dot indicates stroke start point.
Readings of 九
音On'yomi (音読み)
訓Kun'yomi (訓読み)
九 in different fonts
Vocabulary with 九
| Audio | English  | Romaji | Japanese | Kana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nine | kyuu | 九 | きゅう | |
| September | kugatsu | 九月 | くがつ |
More Information about 九
Common words with 九 (kyū/ku)
- 九つ (kokonotsu)（ここのつ）: nine (general counter)
- 九人 (kyūnin)（きゅうにん）: nine people
- 九月 (kugatsu)（くがつ）: September
- 九日 (kokonoka)（ここのか）: the 9th day; nine days
- 九州 (Kyūshū)（きゅうしゅう）: Kyūshū (the “nine provinces” island)
- 九九 (kuku)（くく）: the multiplication table (learned in elementary school)
Cultural/official form: what is 玖 (kyū)?
In formal money writing, Japanese use special number forms (大字・だいじ (daiji)) to prevent tampering. The daiji for 九 (kyū) is 玖 (kyū)—it’s more complex and harder to alter than 九 (kyū). Example: 玖万円 (kyū man'en) (90,000 yen).
Why do some people avoid 9?
The reading く (ku) of 九 (ku) can sound like 苦 (ku, suffering), so the number 9 may be avoided in room numbers, hospital floors, or gifts. (This is like avoiding 4 for 死 (shi).)
Idioms and expressions with 九 (kyū/ku)
- 九死に一生 (kyūshi ni isshō)（きゅうしにいっしょう）: a narrow escape from death
- 九分九厘 (kubu kurin)（くぶくりん）: almost certain (99% sure)
- 九牛の一毛 (kyūgyū no ichimō)（きゅうぎゅうのいちもう）: a drop in the bucket; something very small compared to the whole
