九

Derived characters

 * 仇, 㕤, 扏, 氿, 肍, 朹, 犰, 䊵(𮉠), 訅, 䜪, 軌(轨), 㐜, 釚(𫟲), 骩, 鼽, 丸, 旭, 訄, 䧱, 虓, 頄(𬱓), 馗, 㐡, 㐤, 鳩(鸠), 勼, 宄, 尻, 旯, 㶢, 艽, 究, 㭝, 㐇, 卆, 厹, 叴, 旮, 杂, 䲥, 㔲, 抛, 亴

Descendants

 * 𛀭

Glyph origin
– a stylized hand, with bent wrist/forearm (hence the hook stroke at lower right). Earlier forms resemble,. The original meaning of the glyph was “elbow”, which is now written.

After the meaning “elbow” was forgotten, 九 was taken to symbolize a fist tightening to bump up against something; thus, there is a metaphorical bumping up of nine against ten, which is the last number when counting on one's fingers.

Etymology 1
From. Compare 🇨🇬.

Definitions

 * 1) nine
 * 2)  many
 * 3)  each of the nine nine-day periods from the winter solstice
 * 1)  each of the nine nine-day periods from the winter solstice
 * 1)  each of the nine nine-day periods from the winter solstice

Descendants
Others:

Kanji

 * 1) nine

Etymology 1
From. The reading, so likely a later borrowing. Borrowed after palatalization occurred in Middle Chinese. Compare modern 🇨🇬.

Numeral

 * 1) nine

Noun

 * 1) nine
 * 2)  an indeterminate large number, a myriad, a great many
 * 3)  the number of yang, in opposition to  as the number of yin

Etymology 2
From Early. The reading, so likely the initial borrowing.

Numeral

 * 1) nine
 * 2) ninth

Usage notes

 * Sometimes considered unlucky due to being homophonous with.

Noun

 * 1) nine
 * 2) the ninth

Etymology 3
From from.

First attested in the  of 712.

Numeral

 * 1) nine

Etymology 4
→

of.

Numeral

 * 1) nine

Usage notes

 * Generally only used when counting out loud, as in the example above. In writing, usually found spelled out in hiragana as to make the reading unambiguous.

Etymology 1
From.

Etymology 2
Related to 🇨🇬.