Back

On'yomi
ハチ・ハツ
HACHI / HATSU
Kun'yomi
や・や.つ・やっ.つ・よう
ya / yatsu / yattsu / you

eight · eight radical (no. 12)

Details

Strokes2
Frequency#92
Radicaleight(2)

Stroke Order

Loading...
Strokes2

Cultural Context

Etymology

Shape of dividing something in two. Opening to both sides.

Symbolism

Spreading prosperity, good fortune. Eight is an auspicious number.

Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

四苦八苦

しくはっく

being in dire distress; being hard put to it; being hard pressed (for money); being in dire distress

四通八達

しつうはったつ

traffic network extending in all directions; traffic network extending in all directions

四方八方

しほうはっぽう

in all directions; in all directions

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

八紘一宇

はっこういちう

universal brotherhood; all eight corners of the world under one roof; universal brotherhood

八方美人

はっぽうびじん

everybody's friend; people pleaser; person who is affable to everybody; everybody's friend

八面玲瓏

はちめんれいろう

beautiful from all sides; perfect serenity; affability; beautiful from all sides

八面六臂

はちめんろっぴ

competent in all fields; jack of all trades; very active in many fields; competent in all fields

岡目八目

おかめはちもく

bystander's vantage point; outsider's better grasp of the situation; onlookers see more of the game than the players do; bystander's vantage point

七転八倒

しちてんばっとう

tossing oneself about in great pain; writhing in agony; tossing oneself about in great pain

七難八苦

しちなんはっく

the Seven Misfortunes and Eight Pains; a series of disasters; the Seven Misfortunes and Eight Pains

永字八法

えいじはっぽう

Eight Principles of Yong; principles for writing the eight basic brush strokes in Chinese characters; Eight Principles of Yong

八大地獄

はちだいじごく

The Eight Greater Hells; The Eight Greater Hells

百八煩悩

ひゃくはちぼんのう

the 108 kleshas; the 108 afflictions; the 108 kleshas

八月大名

はちがつだいみょう

the 8th month (of the lunar calendar) is the quietest for farmers; the 8th month (of the lunar calendar) is the quietest for farmers

七転八起

しちてんはっき

not giving up; keeping at it until one succeeds; not giving up

Poetry

和歌(百人一首) (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

わたの原 八十島かけて 漕ぎ出でぬと 人には告げよ あまのつり舟

Poem #11 from Hyakunin Isshu

参議篁Sangi Takamura
9th century
和歌(百人一首) (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

八重むぐら しげれる宿の さびしきに 人こそ見えね 秋は来にけり

Poem #47 from Hyakunin Isshu

恵慶法師Ekyō Hōshi
10th century
和歌(百人一首) (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

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

伊勢大輔Ise no Taifu
11th century