八 — Kanji Meaning, Readings & Example Words (JLPT N5)
What it means
八 simply means "eight." It's one of the ten basic number kanji you'll learn right at the start of N5, and you'll use it constantly — for counting, telling time, giving dates, and saying prices. Like the other number kanji, it switches between two reading styles: the on'yomi ハチ for most compounds (八月, 八時, 八百), and the native kun'yomi やっ.つ when you count plain objects (八つ). The shape itself is just two strokes that spread outward, so once you can write 八 you can write it in a second.
Readings
| Type | Reading | Used in |
|---|---|---|
| on'yomi | ハチ | 八 (eight), 八月 (August), 八時 (8 o'clock) |
| kun'yomi | やっ.つ | 八つ (eight things) |
| kun'yomi | や | 八百屋 (やおや, greengrocer — irregular) |
Here's the rule of thumb for number kanji: use the on'yomi ハチ when 八 sits in a compound (八月 "August," 八時 "eight o'clock," 八百 "eight hundred"), and use the kun'yomi やっ.つ when you're counting general objects (八つ "eight things"). Two readings break the pattern and just have to be memorized: 八日 = ようか ("the 8th of the month") and 八百屋 = やおや ("greengrocer").
Stroke order & radical
- Strokes: 2. Write the left stroke first (a short downward sweep to the left), then the right stroke (a downward sweep to the right). The two strokes lean apart and never touch at the top.
- Radical: 八 is its own radical, the "eight" radical (はち). You'll also see it sitting at the top or bottom of other kanji as a pair of little legs or wings — for example in 六 (six) and 公 (public). Spotting that "two strokes spreading apart" shape helps you break bigger kanji into parts.
Because it's only two clean strokes, 八 is a great kanji to practice your brush or pen direction on: left-then-right, both leaning outward.
Common words using 八
Notice the reading split in action: the lone number 八 and the compounds 八月 and 八時 all take ハチ, while counting objects (八つ) uses やっ.つ. Then two words refuse to follow either rule — 八日 (ようか) and 八百屋 (やおや) — so flag those in your memory now.
Example sentences
ヤッタンは八時に起きます。
ヤッタンは はちじに おきます。
Yattan gets up at eight o'clock.
八時 — the on'yomi ハチ reading in a time word.
モチはりんごを八つ買いました。
モチは りんごを やっつ かいました。
Mochi bought eight apples.
八つ — the kun'yomi やっ.つ, used for counting plain objects.
先生は「八日に八百屋へ行きましょう」と言いました。
せんせいは「ようかに やおやへ いきましょう」と いいました。
Sensei said, Let's go to the greengrocer on the 8th.
Two irregular readings here: 八日 = ようか and 八百屋 = やおや.
Quick recap
- 八 = eight; just 2 strokes; it's the "eight" radical itself.
- ハチ in compounds (八月, 八時); やっ.つ when counting objects (八つ).
- Memorize the irregulars: 八日 = ようか and 八百屋 = やおや.
Your turn
Choose the correct reading of 八 in each word.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
How do you read 八 in 八月 vs 八つ?
In 八月 it's the on'yomi ハチ (八月 = はちがつ, 'August'). In 八つ it's the kun'yomi やっ.つ (八つ = やっつ, 'eight things'). As a rule, number compounds take the on'yomi, while counting plain objects uses the kun'yomi.
Why is 八日 read ようか and not はちにち?
八日 (ようか) is a special date reading you simply memorize, like 八つ's relative や. It means 'the 8th of the month' or 'eight days.' Most days of the month from the 1st to the 10th have these irregular kun-based readings.
What does 八百屋 mean and why is it やおや?
八百屋 (やおや) means 'greengrocer' or 'vegetable shop.' 八百 literally reads as 'eight hundred' (はっぴゃく) elsewhere, but in this word it's an old expression for 'very many things,' and the whole shop name is read やおや — an irregular reading to memorize.
How many strokes does 八 have?
八 has just 2 strokes: a left sweep, then a right sweep, leaning apart. It is also the 'eight' radical and appears inside kanji like 六 (six) and 公 (public).