七しち

also: なな

し

ち

Common wordJLPTN5Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

1

The numeral seven. The reading しち is standard, but なな is often used in counting to avoid confusion with 一 (いち) and 四 (し). The kanji 漆 is used in legal documents to prevent alteration.

七しち人にんの侍さむらい。
Seven samurai.

時計とけいは七しち時じを指さしている。

The clock is pointing to seven o'clock.

七ななつ数かぞえてください。

Please count to seven.

Kanji

七seven
漆lacquer, varnish, seven

Related words

セブン
七 is the standard Japanese numeral for seven used in everyday counting, while セブン is a katakana, English-style form limited to names, labels, and card ranks.
七ななつN5
七つ is the native Japanese counter used for objects ('seven things'), while 七 (しち) is the Sino-Japanese numeral used in counting sequences and compounds like 七月.

Don't confuse with

一いちN5
七 (しち) and 一 (いち) sound similar when spoken quickly, so なな is often used for seven to avoid mishearing it as one.
四しN5
七's reading しち can be confused with 四's reading し, so なな is preferred for seven and よん for four in spoken counting.

Written forms

七Usage25%
- しち
  Standard kanji form for the numeral seven. The reading しち is the most common on'yomi.
- なな
  Common reading, especially in counting and when avoiding confusion with 一 (いち) or 四 (し).
７

Etymology

The kanji 七 is a pictograph originally representing a cutting or dividing action, later borrowed to represent the number seven. The reading しち comes from Middle Chinese, while なな is the native Japanese reading.

Usage75%

しち
Arabic numeral form, common in horizontal writing and numerical contexts.
なな

ななUsage<1%

ナナUsage<1%

シチUsage0%

ヒチUsage0%

漆

rarely-used kanji form

しち
Rarely used kanji form, mainly seen in legal documents to prevent forgery.
なな