Definitions
(numeral)
eight; 8
Etymology
Pictograph of two lines facing away from each other. The current meaning "eight" is a phonetic loan. The original meaning "separate" is now written as 別.
About
The character for the number eight, "八", originally depicted the concept of division or separation, with its two strokes diverging to visually represent this idea. This core meaning is reflected in its structural composition, where the left-falling and right-falling strokes part from a central point. Over time, the character was borrowed for its phonetic value to represent the number, a usage that completely supplanted its original sense, and it has maintained this numerical function with a stable form for centuries. Its graphical representation as two simple, symmetrical strokes has remained largely consistent, making it one of the least altered characters in the writing system.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我今年八岁了。
现在是八点钟。
八月是夏天。
这本书八块钱。
我们八点出发。
他买了八个苹果。
明天是八月八日。
这个房间有八平方米。