九
nine
Details
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
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; small fraction (of)
九死一生
きゅうしいっしょう
narrow escape from the jaw of death; narrow escape from the jaw of death
九寸五分
くすんごぶ
dagger; dagger
九分九厘
くぶくりん
almost certainly; in all probability; ten to one; almost certainly
三拝九拝
さんぱいきゅうはい
kowtowing; bowing repeatedly; three kneelings and nine prostrations; kowtowing
十中八九
じっちゅうはっく
in 8 or 9 cases out of ten; in all probability; in 8 or 9 cases out of ten
九十九折
つづらおり
winding; meandering; sinuous; winding
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; there is a huge markup in medicines, making it a profitable field
面壁九年
めんぺきくねん
facing a wall for nine years in meditation (by Bodhidharma at Shaolin Temple); 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
Poem #61 from Hyakunin Isshu
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 九 mean in Japanese?
九 means nine.
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?
Yes. 九 (nine) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
Explore by meaning:kanji for nine