Kanji 七 - seven
Kanji 七 means seven. Onyomi readings are シチ (shichi) . Kunyomi readings are なな (nana), なの (nano).
JLPT N5Grade 1
Stroke order animation (2 strokes)
Stroke Order Diagram
Each box shows the kanji up to that stroke. Red dot indicates stroke start point.
Readings of 七
音On'yomi (音読み)
シチ(shichi)
訓Kun'yomi (訓読み)
なな(nana)
なの(nano)
七 in different fonts
Vocabulary with 七
| Audio | English  | Romaji | Japanese | Kana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seven | nana | 七 | なな | |
| July | shichigatsu | 七月 | しちがつ |
Common words containing the kanji 七
More Information about 七
Common words with 七 (shichi/nana)
- 七つ (nanatsu)（ななつ）: seven (general counter)
- 七人 (shichinin／nananin)（しちにん／ななにん）: seven people (both readings heard; しちにん (shichinin) is standard)
- 七月 (shichigatsu)（しちがつ）: July
- 七日 (nanoka)（なのか）: the 7th day; seven days
- 七夕 (tanabata)（たなばた）: Star Festival (July 7)
- 七面鳥 (shichimenchō)（しちめんちょう）: turkey
Cultural notes: 七夕 (tanabata) and 七五三 (shichigosan)
- 七夕 (tanabata)（たなばた） on July 7: people write wishes on colorful tanzaku papers and hang them on bamboo.
- 七五三 (shichigosan)（しちごさん） on Nov 15: children aged 7, 5, and 3 visit shrines in traditional clothes to pray for health.
Cultural/official form: what is 漆 (shichi)?
In formal money writing, Japan uses special number forms (大字・だいじ (daiji)) to stop tampering. The daiji for 七 (shichi) is 漆 (shichi) (usually means lacquer and read うるし (urushi) in normal words). In amounts, it represents seven and is hard to alter. Example: 漆万円 (nana man'en) (70,000 yen).
Idioms and set phrases with 七 (shichi/nana)
- 七転び八起き (nanakorobi yaoki)（ななころびやおき）: fall seven times, stand up eight (keep trying)
- 七不思議 (nanafushigi)（ななふしぎ）: the seven mysteries (of a school, town, etc.)
- 七つ道具 (nanatsu dōgu)（ななつどうぐ）: a set of seven essentials; toolkit
- 親の七光り (oya no nanahikari)（おやのななひかり）: living off a parent’s fame or influence
