The
phoneme, "kyuu", in the
Japanese language, is actually attached to several different characters. This makes it a good example of the limited amount of sounds available linguistically to
Japanese speakers.
To note a few meanings of the sound:
- nine
- fast (speedy)
- save (help, or aid)
- bow (as in Kyuudo, the way of the bow)
- class (as in rank or rating)
- sphere (as in ball, or "chikyuu", Japanese for the Earth)
- rest (as the on-yomi of yasumu)
In
onomatopoeia, it can also be used as the sound of a small and reasonably
kawaii animal.