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Kanji course · Day 3 of 30

Numbers seven to ten

4 characters today. Each one gets a breakdown, a memory hook, its readings, example words, and two writing passes.

Rōmaji help

seven

On
Kun
Memory hook

A number 7 that has toppled onto its side, with a hook on the end. シチ or なな. なな is safer out loud, because シチ and イチ are easy to confuse.

seven things
July

eight

On
Kun
Memory hook

Two short strokes spreading apart, like legs opening outward. It also carries the sense of splitting. ハチ in compounds, やっ(つ) when you are counting things.

eight things
800

nine

On
Kun
Memory hook

A 9 that has fallen over and is dragging its tail behind it. キュウ usually, but ク in a few set words such as 九月 (September).

nine things
September

ten

On
Kun
Memory hook

A simple cross. Ten fingers crossed, and the plus sign for a complete set. ジュウ in compounds, とお on its own.

ten
10 minutes

Write today's characters

  • Top to bottom, left to right.
  • Horizontal strokes before crossing vertical ones (十 = horizontal, then vertical).
  • Outside before inside - but close a box last (口).
  • A vertical that passes all the way through comes last (中).
  • Left-falling diagonal before right-falling (大).

Stroke order data from KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel and contributors, used and modified under CC BY-SA 3.0. The stroke data and our changes to it stay under that licence; see the terms.

Check yourself

8 questions. Get 5 right to finish the day.

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