shichi

Shichi is a Japanese term most commonly associated with the number seven. It is the reading of the kanji 七, which can also be read as nana in native Japanese. The reading used depends on context: nana is typically used in everyday counting and native expressions, while shichi is the Sino-Japanese on-reading used in compounds and certain fixed phrases.

In practical usage, shichi appears in timekeeping and calendar terms. For example, shichiji means seven o'clock, and shichigatsu refers to July. The choice between shichi and nana is driven by established patterns in the language, and both readings continue to be correct depending on the word they form.

A well-known cultural reference is Shichi-Go-San (七五三), a traditional rite of passage in Japan for children aged three, five, and seven. On or around November 15, families visit Shinto shrines to celebrate growth and well-being. In this phrase, the shichi reading is used for seven, paired with go (five) and san (three).

Beyond numerals, shichi may appear in compounds and place names, or in written forms where 七 appears as part of a larger word. In modern usage, shichi is primarily encountered in written Japanese, historical texts, or when the Sino-Japanese reading is preferred for phonetic reasons. Overall, shichi and nana reflect the dual readings characteristic of kanji numbers in Japanese, each serving distinct linguistic contexts.