How does 十中八九 break down to mean 9 times out of 10 when there is 八 in the phrase?


十中八九 is one of my favorite phrases. I don't use it that much, but it is still
one of my favorites all the same. Almost every dictionary I have used
translates it as "nine times out of ten," which I think is wrong, since the
kanji for 八 is also in it. The only exception is jisho.org, [which says it's
eight or nine times out of
ten](http://jisho.org/search/%E5%8D%81%E4%B8%AD%E5%85%AB%E4%B9%9D), which I'm
assuming is more correct. In a cruel twist of irony, however, even the example
sentence on jisho.org ignored the 八 kanji!

So is the gap in translation here due to the fact that in English we say 9
times out of 10, where the Japanese say 8 or 9 times out of ten? In other
words, is the difference between these phrases cultural?

I can't help but think of the Dragon Ball Z translation where the Japanese
"八千以上!" is translated to English as "It's over 9000!" However, I doubt that
there's a connection in these two cases.

Also, am I correct in understanding 十中八九 as "Out of 10, 8 or 9 (times)?" I've
never been 100% confident on how to break it down.




Goo dictionary and my dictionary also explain it as "8 or 9 times out of ten".
I think we usually think so.

As for Dragon Ball, I have no idea why "八千以上" is translated as "It's over
9000!". The translator may have added some power.




Goo dictionary and my dictionary also explain it as "8 or 9 times out of ten".
I think we usually think so.

As for Dragon Ball, I have no idea why "八千以上" is translated as "It's over
9000!". The translator may have added some power.

