1.
nine (things)
The native Japanese counter for nine objects.
みかんを九つ買った。
I bought nine mandarin oranges.
箱の中に九つあります。
There are nine in the box.
質問が九つあります。
There are nine questions.
りんごを九つもらったので、友達にも分けた。
I received nine apples, so I shared some with my friend.
子供たちが九つのグループに分かれて、それぞれ違う歌を練習した。
The children divided into nine groups and each practiced a different song.
九つ is the native Japanese (和語) 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.
NATIVE COUNTING SYSTEM (和語):
- 一つ (1), 二つ (2), 三つ (3), 四つ (4), 五つ (5)
- 六つ (6), 七つ (7), 八つ (8), 九つ (9), 十 (10)
WHEN TO USE:
- General objects without specific counters
- Abstract things: 理由が九つある (there are nine reasons)
- Food items at restaurants: りんごを九つ (nine apples)
- Age for children: 九つ (nine years old, informal)
COMPARISON WITH SINO-JAPANESE:
- 九つ: native counter (general objects)
- 九/九: Sino-Japanese reading (used with specific counters like 九人, 九個)
NOTE: For numbers above ten, use Sino-Japanese numbers with appropriate counters.