What does 八 mean in Japanese?
八 means “eight” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 八 (eight), 八つ (eight things), and 八月 (August).
For learners, the key is to study 八 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: ハチ (hachi)
Kun’yomi: やっ-つ (yatsu-tsu), やつ (yatsu), や- (ya-)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 八 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | eight |
| Stroke Count | 2 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
How to Understand This Kanji
八 is not limited to one English translation. In 八 (はち), it means eight; in 八つ (やっつ), it points to eight things; and in 八月 (はちがつ), it is used for August. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 八（はち / hachi） — eight
- 八つ（やっつ / yattsu） — eight things
- 八月（はちがつ / hachigatsu） — August
- 八日（ようか / yōka） — the eighth day; eight days
- 八百（はっぴゃく / happyaku） — eight hundred
- 八人（はちにん / hachinin） — eight people
Example Sentences
-
八時に学校へ行きます。
はちじにがっこうへいきます。 / Hachi-ji ni gakkō e ikimasu.
I go to school at eight o’clock.
-
八月に海へ行きました。
はちがつにうみへいきました。 / Hachigatsu ni umi e ikimashita.
I went to the sea in August.
-
八つの箱を並べました。
やっつのはこをならべました。 / Yattsu no hako o narabemashita.
I lined up eight boxes.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 八 (はち / hachi) because it keeps the core meaning of 八 clear. Then add 八つ and 八月 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 八 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
八 means “eight” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 八, 八つ, and 八月.