九 – Meaning, Reading & Usage

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九

九 represents the number nine. Its curved shape is sometimes compared to a bent elbow or hook, and it is the last single-digit number before ten.

Reading

On’yomi:

キュウ (KYUU)、

ク (KU)

Kun’yomi:

ここの-つ (kokono-tsu)

Basic Information

Kanji 九
Meaning nine
Stroke Count 2
JLPT Level N5

How to Understand This Kanji

九 has two on’yomi readings: キュウ (most common in compounds) and ク (seen in 九月 and 九時). The native Japanese counting word ここのつ is used for general counting up to ten.

Common Words

  • 九つ
    （ここのつ）
    — nine (general counting)

  • 九月
    （くがつ）
    — September

  • 九時
    （くじ）
    — nine o’clock

  • 九十
    （きゅうじゅう）
    — ninety

  • 九人
    （きゅうにん）
    — nine people

  • 十九
    （じゅうく）
    — nineteen

Example Sentences

  • 今、九時です。

    いま、くじです。

    It is nine o’clock now.

  • 九月は涼しくなります。

    くがつはすずしくなります。

    It gets cool in September.

  • 九人でパーティーをしました。

    きゅうにんでパーティーをしました。

    We had a party with nine people.

Related Kanji

  • 八

    — Eight — the number immediately before nine; learned in sequence

  • 十

    — Ten — the number immediately after nine; completes the single-digit set

  • 百

    — Hundred — the next unit up, essential for numbers, prices, and counting

When Learners Usually See This Kanji

Nine has a cultural note: the reading ク sounds like 苦 (suffering), so it is considered an unlucky number in some contexts — similar to how 四 (four) sounds like 死 (death). Both are sometimes avoided in formal numbering.

Summary

九 means ‘nine’ and appears in numbers, dates, and time expressions. Note its two on’yomi readings: キュウ and ク.

Kanji 九
Meaning nine
On’yomi キュウ、ク (KYUU, KU)
Kun’yomi ここの-つ (kokono-tsu)
Strokes 2
JLPT N5