八 — Kanji Reference

八 (eight): 2 strokes, JLPT N5. On: ハチ. Kun: や、や-つ、やっ-つ、よう.

japanesekanjin5writing

八

Property Value
Meaning eight
Strokes 2
JLPT Level N5
On-reading (音読み) ハチ
Kun-reading (訓読み) や、や-つ、やっ-つ、よう
Radical 八 (hachigashira - U+516B)

Stroke Order

  1. Stroke 1: A short, downward-slanting stroke starting from the upper left.
  2. Stroke 2: A longer, downward-slanting stroke starting from the upper right, ending lower than the first stroke.

General Rule: Follows the top-to-bottom, left-to-right principle. Ensure the two strokes do not touch at the top; they should be separated to form the "eight" shape.

Radical Analysis

The kanji 八 is a pictograph representing the concept of "splitting" or "dividing" into two parts, which evolved to represent the number eight. As a radical (known as hachigashira), it often appears at the top of characters and frequently relates to concepts of separation, spreading out, or division (e.g., 分 - to divide).

Mnemonic

  • The Mountain Peak: Imagine a mountain peak or a tent. If you count the two sides of the tent, you have two sides, but the shape itself represents the number 8.
  • The Spreading Legs: Imagine a person standing with their feet spread apart in a wide stance. The shape looks like legs spreading out to the left and right.

On-readings (音読み) with Examples

ハチ (HACHI)

Word Reading Romaji English
八月 はちがつ hachigatsu August
八百屋 やおや yaoya Greengrocer
八分 はちぶ hachibu 80% / eight minutes
八回 はっかい hakkai Eight times

Kun-readings (訓読み) with Examples

や (YA)

Word Reading Romaji English
八つ やっつ yattsu Eight (general items)
八日 ようか youka 8th day of the month

よう (YOU)

Note: Used primarily in dates.

Word Reading Romaji English
八日 ようか youka 8th day of the month

JLPT N5 Words Using 八

Word Reading Romaji English JLPT
八 はち hachi Eight N5
八つ やっつ yattsu Eight (things) N5
八日 ようか youka 8th day N5
八月 はちがつ hachigatsu August N5
八百屋 やおや yaoya Greengrocer N4
八分目 はちぶんめ hachibunme 80% full N3

Example Sentences

Japanese Reading Romaji English
私は八時に起きます。 わたしははちじにおきます。 Watashi wa hachi-ji ni okimasu. I wake up at eight o'clock.
八月はとても暑いです。 はちがつはとてもあついです。 Hachigatsu wa totemo atsui desu. August is very hot.
りんごを八つ買いました。 りんごをやっつかいました。 Ringo o yattsu kaimashita. I bought eight apples.
今日は八日です。 きょうはようかです。 Kyou wa youka desu. Today is the 8th.
八百屋で野菜を買う。 やおやでやさいをかう。 Yaoya de yasai o kau. I buy vegetables at the greengrocer.
彼は八回も挑戦した。 かれははっかいもちょうせんした。 Kare wa hakkai mo chousen shita. He tried eight times.

Common Confusion Pairs

Kanji Reading Meaning How to distinguish
八 はち Eight The strokes are separated at the top.
入 にゅう Enter The left stroke is shorter and the right stroke is longer and curved; they touch at the top.
人 ひと Person The left stroke is longer and the right stroke is shorter; they touch at the top.

Usage Frequency Note

八 is one of the most fundamental kanji in the Japanese language. It is extremely common in daily life, appearing in dates, times, counting systems, and various compound words. It is taught in the first grade of elementary school (kyōiku kanji) and is essential for basic literacy.