九 — Kanji Meaning, Readings & Example Words (JLPT N5)
What it means
九 simply means "nine." It's the last single-digit number before 十 (ten), and you'll use it constantly for counting, prices, phone numbers, dates, and telling time. The shape is short — only two strokes — but don't let that fool you: 九 is a little trickier than most numbers because it has two different on'yomi that both turn up in very common words. Get the readings sorted early and 九 will never trip you up again.
Readings
| Type | Reading | Used in |
|---|---|---|
| on'yomi | キュウ | 九 (nine), 九州 (きゅうしゅう, Kyushu) |
| on'yomi | ク | 九月 (くがつ, September), 九時 (くじ, 9 o'clock) |
| kun'yomi | ここの.つ | 九つ (here are nine things) |
| kun'yomi | ここの | 九日 (ここのか, the 9th — irregular) |
The standalone number is usually read キュウ (or sometimes く). But two everyday words break to ク: 九月 (くがつ, September) and 九時 (くじ, 9 o'clock). Memorize those two as a pair — they're the readings that catch learners out. When you count physical objects you switch to the kun'yomi ここの.つ (九つ), and the date 九日 (the 9th) is ここのか, an irregular reading worth learning by heart.
Stroke order & radical
- Strokes: 2. Write the short slanting stroke from the top-left first, then the long stroke that sweeps down and hooks to the left.
- Radical: 九 is filed under 乙 (おつ, the "second" radical), the same radical you'll find in a handful of other simple characters. With only two strokes, the whole kanji is barely more than the radical itself.
A handy contrast: 九 (nine) and 力 (power) look similar to beginners. Notice that 九 has a stroke crossing through near the top, while 力 does not — checking that crossing tells the two apart at a glance.
Common words using 九
Watch the reading flips in this list: 九 alone is きゅう, but 九月 is くがつ and 九時 is くじ — both use ク. Then 九つ (counting) is ここのつ and 九日 is the irregular ここのか. Four readings, all in one tiny kanji.
Example sentences
ヤッタンは九つのボールを持っています。
ヤッタンは ここのつの ボールを もっています。
Yattan has nine balls.
九つ — the kun'yomi ここの.つ, used for counting things.
モチの誕生日は九月九日です。
モチの たんじょうびは くがつ ここのかです。
Mochi's birthday is September 9th.
Two readings at once: 九月 (くがつ, the ク reading) and 九日 (ここのか, irregular).
先生は「授業は九時に始まります」と言いました。
せんせいは「じゅぎょうは くじに はじまります」と いいました。
Sensei said, 'Class starts at nine o'clock.'
九時 — read くじ with the ク reading, not きゅう.
Quick recap
- 九 = nine; just 2 strokes; filed under the 乙 ("second") radical.
- Standalone it's キュウ (九 = きゅう); counting things uses ここの.つ (九つ = ここのつ).
- Watch the ク words: 九月 = くがつ (September) and 九時 = くじ (9 o'clock).
- The date 九日 = ここのか (the 9th) is irregular — learn it by heart.
Your turn
Choose the correct reading of 九 in each word.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
Is 九 read きゅう or く?
Both are on'yomi. きゅう is the everyday reading for the number on its own (九 = きゅう). But く appears in a few set words, most importantly 九月 (くがつ, September) and 九時 (くじ, 9 o'clock).
How do I read 九月 and 九時?
九月 is くがつ (September) and 九時 is くじ (nine o'clock). Both use the ク reading, not きゅう — these are the two words learners mix up most.
Why is 九日 read ここのか?
ここのか is an irregular reading used for the 9th of the month (and 'nine days'). It comes from the kun'yomi ここの and doesn't follow the usual compound pattern, so it's best memorized.
How many strokes does 九 have?
九 has just 2 strokes: a short slanting stroke first, then a longer stroke that sweeps down and hooks to the left. It's classified under the 乙 ('second') radical.