五 is the kanji for 5. Learn its shape and use its different readings in words you can actually say.
The idea
五 has 4 strokes. Draw the top line, the two middle strokes, then the bottom line. Read the table aloud: the independent number is ご, but the reading changes with the word. For example, 五月 is ごがつ, while 五日 as a calendar date is いつか.
| Japanese form | Meaning or situation |
|---|---|
| 五 | number: 5 |
| 五つ | general objects: 5 |
| 五人 | people: 5 |
| 五本 | long objects: 5 |
| 五時 | time: 5 o’clock |
| 五日 | day of the month: 5 |
| 五月 | month: May |
Examples
- 今は五時です。It is 5 o’clock now.
- りんごを五つ買います。I buy 5 apples.
- 店に五人います。There are 5 people in the shop.
- 今日は五日です。Today is the 5th of the month.
- 五月に旅行します。I travel in May.
- 鉛筆を五本使います。I use 5 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: 五人 is ごにん and 五本 is ごほん. Compare the shape of 五 with 二; check the source for stroke order.
Try it yourself
Write the number 5 as a kanji.
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五
The number 5 is written 五; compare its shape with 二.
Write the reading of day 5 of the month in hiragana.
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いつか
For the day of the month, 五日 is read いつか; it is a complete date word.
Write the reading for 5 people in hiragana.
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ごにん
For people, 五人 is read ごにん; learn the counter as a whole.
Write the reading for 5 pencils in hiragana.
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ごほん
For long objects, 五本 is read ごほん; 本 is the counter used for pencils.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
Write the number 5 as a kanji.
Write the reading of day 5 of the month in hiragana.
Write the reading for 5 people in hiragana.
Write the reading for 5 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 五 three times in stroke order. Then say a date, a time and a quantity using this character; check each full reading in the table.