九(ここの)つ

ここのつ

noun

nine (things)

number

1. nine (things)

The native Japanese counter for nine objects.

みかんを九(ここの)つ買(か)った。

I bought nine mandarin oranges.

箱(はこ)の中(なか)に九(ここの)つあります。

There are nine in the box.

質問(しつもん)が九(ここの)つあります。

There are nine questions.

りんごを九(ここの)つもらったので、友達(ともだち)にも分(わ)けた。

I received nine apples, so I shared some with my friend.

子供(こども)たちが九(ここの)つのグループに分(わ)かれて、それぞれ違(ちが)う歌(うた)を練習(れんしゅう)した。

The children divided into nine groups and each practiced a different song.

九(ここの)つ is the native Japanese (和語(わご)) number nine, used as a general counter for objects. This counting system only goes up to ten and is used when no specific counter applies.

COUNTING PATTERNS (native numbers):

一(ひと)つ (1), 二(ふた)つ (2), 三(みっ)つ (3), 四(よっ)つ (4), 五(いつ)つ (5)
六(むっ)つ (6), 七(なな)つ (7), 八(やっ)つ (8), 九(ここの)つ (9), 十(とお) (10)

Usage

General objects without specific counters
Abstract things: 理由(りゆう)が九(ここの)つある (there are nine reasons)
Age for children: 九(ここの)つ (nine years old, informal)

COUNTING PATTERNS (Sino-Japanese numbers):

九(ここの)つ: native counter (general objects)
九(きゅう)/九(く): Sino-Japanese reading (used with specific counters like 九人(きゅうにん), 九個(きゅうこ))

Note: For numbers above ten, use Sino-Japanese numbers with appropriate counters.

Related Words

Related: 九日(ここのか) (ninth day)

Related: つ (general native counter (1-9))

Related: 八(やっ)つ (eight (things))

Related: 十(とお) (ten (native count))

basic

Added 2026.1.11 18:50 · Revised 2026.10.10 4:20

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