七 Kanji: Meaning, Readings and Stroke Order

七: seven; seventh. JLPT N5; 2 strokes.

Readings

On readings

シチ

Kun readings

なな、なな.つ、なの

Romaji

shichi, nana, nano

Study notes

七 is the number seven; it also indicates 'seventh'.

On reading: シチ in 七月 (しちがつ, July), 七時 (しちじ, seven o'clock), 七五三 (しちごさん, a festival for children aged three, five and seven).

Kun readings: なな, very commonly used in counting: 七つ (ななつ, seven objects), 七十 (ななじゅう, seventy), 七人 (ななにん or しちにん, seven people). なの in 七日 (なのか, the 7th of the month; seven days).

Special readings: 七夕 (たなばた, Star Festival, the 7th of the seventh month) is read as a whole word.

Remember: シチ is easily confused with イチ (one), especially on the phone; for this reason in counting なな is often used.

Example words

• 七時半 (しちじはん) — seven thirty
• 七月 (しちがつ) — July
• 七つ (ななつ) — seven things
• 七日 (なのか) — seven days; the seventh day of the month

Example sentences

七時半に家を出ます。

shichiji han ni ie wo demasu.

I leave home at seven thirty.

Stroke order

Follow the steps in order. Each new stroke is highlighted.

Stroke paths: KanjiVG, CC BY-SA 3.0. Sequential diagrams derived from the original paths.