# 39 = Thank you?

Why is it when someone texts you **39**, it is a **sign of gratitude** for Japanese?

## Wordplay

The answer is simply a matter of clever **wordplay** based on how you can read the numbers '3' and '9' in Japanese. Wordplay is something that we find is common across all different languages. In English, we use word substitutions to create **`puns`** that provide humorous meanings when applied to unique contexts. Moreover, we also have things like **`double entendre`** to imply different meanings with one phrase and **`tongue twisters`** to complicate phrases by mixing similar sounding words together.

Some examples of this are:

* **`Pun`**: "You can tune a guitar but you can't **tuna fish** - unless it's a **bass**"<br>
* **`Double entendre`**: "Cole under pressure, what that make? Diamonds"<br>
* **`Tongue twister`**: "Chester chooses chestnuts, cheddar cheese with chewy chives. He chews them and he chooses them. He chooses them and he chews them. . . . those chestnuts, cheddar cheese and chives in cheery, charming chunks."

## Origins of Japanese

To understand this form of wordplay, we find meaning derived in **how the numbers (39) are read**. Since Japanese Kanji originated from Chinese characters, it also adopted its method of having **multiple ways in which you can read the same character**. As such, depending on **which reading system you are using**, you can read the same number in different ways (unique systems for reading, for counting, for age, etc).

For example, just the number one (1) alone can be read as:

* hitotsu
* hito
* hi
* ichi
* i

## Numerical substitution in text-talk

The other part of this puzzle lies in how text/typing slang has evolved to adopt a form of text-talk which involves intertwining numbers with standard characters. For example in English, you can substitute numbers in parts of a word to convey the same meaning with less characters.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Example**\
You are too wonderful. vs. `U R 2 1derful`.
{% endhint %}

In Japanese, this use of numerical substitution is quite popular and has created the common phrase '39' amongst other substitutions. In this case 3 and 9 can be read using the **on'yomi reading system** which reads **3 as 'san'** and **9 as 'kyu'**.&#x20;

{% hint style="info" %}
39 = san kyu = thank you
{% endhint %}

This reads as **'thank you'** which has been injected with a dose of Japanese pronounciation, but is similar enough to convey the same meaning.

{% embed url="<https://www.rd.com/article/why-39-means-thank-japan/>" %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://ryotokuro.gitbook.io/languages/japanese/39-thank-you.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.