九 Kanji: Meaning, Readings and Stroke Order

九: nine; ninth. JLPT N5; 2 strokes.

Readings

On readings

ク、キュウ

Kun readings

ここの、ここの.つ

Romaji

ku, kyuu, kokono

Study notes

九 is the number nine; it also indicates 'ninth'.

On reading: キュウ in 九十 (きゅうじゅう, ninety), 九百 (きゅうひゃく, nine hundred), 九州 (きゅうしゅう, Kyūshū island). ク in 九月 (くがつ, September), 九時 (くじ, nine o'clock), 九分九厘 (くぶくりん, almost certainly).

Kun reading: ここの, in 九つ (ここのつ, nine, nine objects) and 九日 (ここのか, the 9th of the month; nine days).

Remember: in simple counting きゅう is usually used. ク is pronounced as 苦 (く, suffering) and for this reason the 9, like the 4, is sometimes avoided.

Example words

• 九時 (くじ) — nine o'clock
• 九月 (くがつ) — September
• 九十 (きゅうじゅう) — ninety
• 九つ (ここのつ) — nine things

Example sentences

九時に出ます。

kuji ni demasu.

I leave at nine.

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.