九
nine
Details
Description
Nine - a bent arm, the last of the single digits. In Japan it echoes the word for lasting a long time.
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Pictograph of a bent arm. Represents the limit of numbers.
Symbolism
Supreme, longevity, pinnacle of yang numbers. '九' sounds like '久' meaning eternity.
Words & Expressions
Words written with 九
Four-Character Compounds
九牛一毛
きゅうぎゅうのいちもう
small fraction (of); drop in the bucket; drop in the ocean
九死一生
きゅうしいっしょう
narrow escape from the jaw of death
九寸五分
くすんごぶ
dagger
九分九厘
くぶくりん
almost certainly; in all probability; ten to one
三拝九拝
さんぱいきゅうはい
kowtowing; bowing repeatedly; three kneelings and nine prostrations
十中八九
じっちゅうはっく
in 8 or 9 cases out of ten; in all probability
九十九折
つづらおり
winding; meandering; sinuous
薬九層倍
くすりくそうばい
there is a huge markup in medicines, making it a profitable field; medicines sell for ten times the cost of their ingredients
面壁九年
めんぺきくねん
facing a wall for nine years in meditation (by Bodhidharma at Shaolin Temple)
Proverbs & Idioms
九死に一生を得る
きゅうしにいっしょうをえる
To survive against all odds
To narrowly escape death
Poetry
いにしへの 奈良の都の 八重桜 けふ九重に にほひぬるかな
The double cherry blossoms of the old capital at Nara are in bloom today within the ninefold palace.
Anime & Manga
九龍ジェネリックロマンス
KOWLOON GENERIC ROMANCE
A well-known work with 九 in its Japanese title.
ヒメゴト ～十九歳の制服～
Himegoto: Juukyuusai no Seifuku
A well-known work with 九 in its Japanese title.
八月九日 僕は君に喰われる
Hachigatsu Kokonoka Boku wa Kimi ni Kuwareru.
A well-known work with 九 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
九鬼嘉隆
Name contains 九
Kuki Yoshitaka was a naval commander during Japan's Sengoku period, under Oda Nobunaga, and later, Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Wikipedia九条良経
Name contains 九
Kujō Yoshitsune , also known as Fujiwara no Yoshitsune, son of regent Kujō Kanezane and a daughter of Fujiwara no Sueyuki, was a kugyō or Japanese…
Wikipedia十返舎一九
Name contains 九
Jippensha or Juppensha Ikku was the pen name of Shigeta Sadakazu , a Japanese writer active during the late Edo period of Japan.
Wikipedia内田九一
Name contains 九
Uchida Kuichi was a pioneering Japanese photographer from Nagasaki.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 九 mean in Japanese?
九 means nine. Nine - a bent arm, the last of the single digits. In Japan it echoes the word for lasting a long time.
How do you read 九?
On'yomi: キュウ、ク (KYUU, KU). Kun'yomi: ここの、ここの.つ (kokono, kokonotsu).
How many strokes does 九 have?
九 has 2 strokes. Its radical is 乙 (second).
Is 九 a good kanji for a tattoo?
九 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means nine. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:nine