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Kuma 九間 – Japanese surname
Kuma (九間) is read くま and has 2 syllables. It is a family name. Written as 九間, the characters mean: nine + interval. This reading can be written with at least 12 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 6 to 27 strokes in total.
How to write Kuma in Japanese
| Kanji | Reading | Literal meaning | Strokes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 九間 | くま | nine + interval | 14 |
| 来間 | くま | come + interval | 19 |
| 久間 | くま | long time + interval | 15 |
| 久万 | くま | long time + ten thousand | 6 |
| 球磨 | くま | ball + grind | 27 |
| 久磨 | くま | long time + grind | 19 |
Meanings are literal translations of each kanji. Names are often chosen for sound, so the intended meaning can differ.
The kanji in Kuma
Kuma in different scripts
| Romaji | Kuma |
|---|---|
| Hiragana | くま |
| Katakana | クマ |
| Kanji (most common) | 九間 |
Full name examples
- Ayumi Kuma (Japanese order: 九間歩美, くま あゆみ)
- Yurina Kuma (Japanese order: 九間百合奈, くま ゆりな)
- Yuki Kuma (Japanese order: 九間結城, くま ゆうき)
How to pronounce Kuma
Break it into 2 parts: ku · ma. Japanese has no stressed syllables like English, so say each part with the same length and the same weight. The 2 sound units are written くま.
Questions about Kuma
What does Kuma mean in Japanese?
Kuma has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 九間, combines these meanings: nine + interval. Other spellings include 来間 (come + interval), 久間 (long time + interval), 久万 (long time + ten thousand).
How do you write Kuma in kanji?
The most common way is 九間 (くま). It can also be written 来間, 久間, 久万, 球磨, 久磨.
How do you write Kuma in katakana?
Kuma is クマ in katakana and くま in hiragana.
How do you pronounce Kuma?
Kuma is read くま and has 2 syllables (morae).
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Other surnames that use 九
九: nine
Names with a similar sound
Name data: JMnedict and KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Filtered, regrouped and annotated by NihonNames.