八 is the kanji for 8. Learn its shape and use its different readings in words you can actually say.
The idea
八 has 2 strokes. Draw the left-falling stroke, then the right-falling stroke; their tops do not meet. Read the table aloud: the independent number is はち, but the reading changes with the word. For example, 八月 is はちがつ, while 八日 as a calendar date is ようか.
| Japanese form | Meaning or situation |
|---|---|
| 八 | number: 8 |
| 八つ | general objects: 8 |
| 八人 | people: 8 |
| 八本（はちほん） | long objects: 8 |
| 八時 | time: 8 o’clock |
| 八日 | day of the month: 8 |
| 八月 | month: August |
Examples
- 今は八時です。It is 8 o’clock now.
- りんごを八つ買います。I buy 8 apples.
- 店に八人います。There are 8 people in the shop.
- 今日は八日です。Today is the 8th of the month.
- 八月に旅行します。I travel in August.
- 鉛筆を八本使います。I use 8 pencils.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No Japanese device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
Do not guess every reading from the number alone: 八人 is はちにん and 八本 is はっぽん. Compare the shape of 八 with 人; check the source for stroke order.
Try it yourself
Write the number 8 as a kanji.
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八
The number 8 is written 八; compare its shape with 人.
Write the reading of day 8 of the month in hiragana.
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ようか
For the day of the month, 八日 is read ようか; it is a complete date word.
Write the reading for 8 people in hiragana.
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はちにん
For people, 八人 is read はちにん; learn the counter as a whole.
As in the example: Write the reading for 8 pencils in hiragana.
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はっぽん
For long objects, 八本 is read はっぽん (also はちほん); 本 is the counter used for pencils.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
Write the number 8 as a kanji.
Write the reading of day 8 of the month in hiragana.
Write the reading for 8 people in hiragana.
As in the example: Write the reading for 8 pencils in hiragana.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write 八 three times in stroke order. Then say a date, a time and a quantity using this character; check each full reading in the table.