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"

• Double entendre: "Cole under pressure, what that make? Diamonds"

• 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.

Example You are too wonderful. vs. U R 2 1derful.

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'.

39 = san kyu = thank you

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

Here’s Why the Number “39” Means “Thank You” in JapanReader's Digest