9 in Chinese = 九 (jiǔ)

The number 9 in Chinese is pronounced "jee-OH" (with a dipping-rising tone), written in pinyin as "jiǔ", and the character is 九.

Quick Answer

Pronunciation

Jiǔ (九) uses Mandarin's third tone—the "dipping tone." Your voice starts at mid-pitch, drops down, then rises back up.

Step by step:

1. Start saying "jee" at your normal speaking pitch
2. Drop your voice down as you transition to "OH"
3. Rise back up at the end of "OH"

Think of it like your voice drawing a small valley or checkmark shape.

Common mistakes:

• Pronouncing it flat like "joe" (that's wrong)
• Only dropping the tone without rising back up
• Using the wrong "j" sound—it should be similar to "jeep" but with your tongue touching the roof of your mouth

The Character 九

The Chinese character 九 is one of the simplest to write, using only two strokes:

1. One bent stroke going down and to the left
2. One horizontal stroke with a hook at the end

In traditional Chinese contexts, you'll see the same character 九. Unlike some numbers, 9 doesn't have a separate traditional and simplified form.

Why 9 Is Lucky in Chinese Culture

In Chinese, 九 (jiǔ) sounds nearly identical to 久 (jiǔ), which means "long-lasting" or "forever."

Because of this phonetic connection, 9 is considered extremely lucky:

Imperial significance: Nine was the emperor's number in ancient China. The Forbidden City symbolically has 9,999 rooms because 9 represents the ultimate yang number and imperial power.

Gifts and love:

• 99 roses = "love forever"
• Wedding gifts in multiples of 9 symbolize a long-lasting marriage
• Red envelopes with amounts containing 9 (like 99 or 999 yuan) are considered highly auspicious

Architecture: Traditional Chinese buildings often incorporate the number 9 in their design—9 dragon sculptures, 9 pillars, etc.

Practical Usage

Phone numbers: Chinese people often pay premium prices for phone numbers containing multiple 9s. A number ending in 999 or 9999 is highly desirable.

Prices:

• 99元 (jiǔ shí jiǔ yuán) = 99 yuan
• You'll often see prices like 99, 199, or 999 because they're considered lucky

Counting: When counting in sequence, 9 comes after 八 (bā) and before 十 (shí).

Times and dates:

• 9:00 = 九点 (jiǔ diǎn)
• September = 九月 (jiǔ yuè) - literally "ninth month"
• The 9th day = 九号 (jiǔ hào)

Regional Variations

The pronunciation of 九 (jiǔ) remains consistent across Mandarin-speaking regions, but other Chinese dialects have their own pronunciations:

Cantonese: gau² (sounds like "gow") Hokkien/Taiwanese: káu Shanghainese: jieu

If you're in mainland China, Taiwan, or Singapore speaking Mandarin, stick with jiǔ.

Common Phrases with 9

九九八十一 (jiǔ jiǔ bā shí yī): "9 times 9 equals 81" - part of the multiplication table Chinese students memorize

九牛一毛 (jiǔ niú yī máo): Literally "nine cows, one hair" - means a drop in the ocean, something insignificant

九死一生 (jiǔ sǐ yī shēng): Literally "nine deaths, one life" - means a narrow escape or surviving against all odds

Quick Takeaways

• 9 in Chinese is 九 (jiǔ) with a dipping-rising third tone
• It sounds like 久 (long-lasting), making it the luckiest number in Chinese culture
• The character uses only two strokes and is the same in simplified and traditional Chinese
• Phone numbers and prices with 9 are highly valued
• It was the imperial number in ancient China
• Proper tone is essential—without it, you might say a different word entirely

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If you're in China and get ticket number 9 (or any number with a 9) at a restaurant or office, TravelNum shows you exactly how your number sounds in Chinese.