七 is the kanji for 7. Learn its shape and use its different readings in words you can actually say.
The idea
七 has 2 strokes. Draw the horizontal first, then the vertical that bends right at the bottom. Read the table aloud: the independent number is なな / しち, but the reading changes with the word. For example, 七月 is しちがつ, while 七日 as a calendar date is なのか.
| Japanese form | Meaning or situation |
|---|---|
| 七 | number: 7 |
| 七つ | general objects: 7 |
| 七人（しちにん） | people: 7 |
| 七本（しちほん） | long objects: 7 |
| 七時 | time: 7 o’clock |
| 七日 | day of the month: 7 |
| 七月 | month: July |
Examples
- 今は七時です。It is 7 o’clock now.
- りんごを七つ買います。I buy 7 apples.
- 店に七人います。There are 7 people in the shop.
- 今日は七日です。Today is the 7th of the month.
- 七月に旅行します。I travel in July.
- 鉛筆を七本使います。I use 7 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: 七人 is ななにん and 七本 is ななほん. Compare the shape of 七 with 十; check the source for stroke order.
Try it yourself
Write the number 7 as a kanji.
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七
The number 7 is written 七; compare its shape with 十.
Write the reading of day 7 of the month in hiragana.
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なのか
For the day of the month, 七日 is read なのか; it is a complete date word.
As in the example: Write the reading for 7 people in hiragana.
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ななにん
For people, 七人 is read ななにん (also しちにん); learn the counter as a whole.
As in the example: Write the reading for 7 pencils in hiragana.
Show answer or example answer
ななほん
For long objects, 七本 is read ななほん (also しちほん); 本 is the counter used for pencils.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
Write the number 7 as a kanji.
Write the reading of day 7 of the month in hiragana.
As in the example: Write the reading for 7 people in hiragana.
As in the example: Write the reading for 7 pencils in hiragana.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
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Write 七 three times in stroke order. Then say a date, a time and a quantity using this character; check each full reading in the table.