Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 九 | kyū | [kʲɨː] (narrow) [kɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 九つ | kokonotsu | [ko̞ko̞no̞t͡sɨ] (narrow) |
| ナイン | nain | [na̠ĩɴ] (narrow) |
In Japanese, there are different ways to say nine depending on whether you are counting physical objects, expressing abstract numbers or using specialized terminology.
Which one should you use?
The form kokonotsu is a native Japanese reading used specifically when counting physical objects. In contrast, the reading kyū is the Sino-Japanese reading used for abstract numbers, mathematical counting, phone numbers and when reading dates or times. The katakana form ナイン is a loanword used in specific contexts like pop culture or sports, such as baseball innings.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The reading kyū is the standard choice for mathematical contexts, phone numbers and specific measurements of time or dates. For counting discrete, physical items, the form kokonotsu is used.
How do you pronounce it?
kyū
Did you know?
- The number 九 is often avoided in Japan because its reading ku is a homophone for the word 'suffering' or 'agony'.
- Because of its association with suffering, 九 is frequently omitted from floor numbering in hospitals and hotels, similar to how some Western buildings skip the thirteenth floor.
- In certain contexts, the katakana spelling ナイン can be a phonetic borrowing of the English word 'nine', but it can also be a play on the German word 'nein', meaning 'no'.
Examples in context
- 猫に九生あり。A cat has nine lives.This sentence uses 九 to express the concept of nine lives.Tatoeba #121984 by KK_kaku_, translation #282019 by CM
- 九ページを開きなさい。Open your book to page nine.This sentence uses 九 to refer to a specific page number.Tatoeba #179548 by small_snow, translation #18406 by CK
- ふだん九時には寝るよ。I usually go to bed at nine.This sentence uses 九 to indicate a specific time of day.Tatoeba #8912309 by small_snow, translation #261507 by Zifre
- 28 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Hiroto are checking the inventory of a small shop.
- 結衣 Yui九個ありますよ。kyūko arimasu yo.There are nine items.
- 大翔 Hiroto本当ですか？hontō desu ka?Really?
- 結衣 Yuiはい、九個です。hai, kyūko desu.Yes, there are nine.
- 大翔 Hiroto助かります。tasukarimasu.That helps a lot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nine” translations and entries 九, 九つ, ナイン, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ナイン, 九, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
