八: the kanji for eight
八 is a JLPT N5 kanji that means eight. Below are its readings, 12 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
八 is written in 2 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
八 has 5 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 10 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ハチ (hachi)
On reading. It often becomes hap- or has- before other sounds.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 八月はちがつ · hachigatsu | August |
| 八時はちじ · hachiji | eight o'clock |
| 八人はちにん · hachinin | eight people |
| 八百はっぴゃく · happyaku | eight hundred |
| 八千はっせん · hassen | eight thousand |
| 八歳はっさい · hassai | eight years old |
| 八方美人はっぽうびじん · happōbijin | someone who tries to please everyone |
や (ya)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 八重桜やえざくら · yaezakura | double-flowered cherry blossoms |
やっつ (yattsu)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 八つやっつ · yattsu | eight (things) |
よう (you)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 八日ようか · yōka | the 8th of the month; eight days |
Special readings to learn as whole words
These words use 八, but their readings do not follow the readings above. The Jōyō Kanji Table lists them as special readings. Learn each one as a whole word.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 八百屋やおや · yaoya | greengrocer |
| 八百長やおちょう · yaochō | a fixed match |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 毎朝八時に家を出ます。Maiasa hachiji ni ie o demasu.I leave home at eight every morning.
- 夏休みは八月です。Natsuyasumi wa hachigatsu desu.Summer vacation is in August.
- 会議は八日の午後です。Kaigi wa yōka no gogo desu.The meeting is on the afternoon of the 8th.
- この部屋は八人まで使えます。Kono heya wa hachinin made tsukaemasu.Up to eight people can use this room.
- 八百屋で野菜を買いました。Yaoya de yasai o kaimashita.I bought vegetables at the greengrocer.
- このかばんは八千円でした。Kono kaban wa hassen-en deshita.This bag was 8,000 yen.
Questions about 八
How many strokes does 八 have?
八 is written in 2 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 八?
The on readings are hachi (ハチ). The kun readings are ya (や), yatsu (やつ), yattsu (やっつ), you (よう).
Why is 八百 read happyaku?
The sound changes when 八 (hachi) comes before 百 (hyaku): hachi and hyaku become happyaku. The same thing happens in 八千 (hassen, eight thousand).
What JLPT level is 八?
N5. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N5 is designed to match the former Level 4.
More JLPT N5 kanji
Numbers and money
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 八
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.