\(\langle 4\rangle\) is the 9 even residues of \(\mathbb{Z}_{18}\), since \(\gcd(4,18)=2\). An element generates the same subgroup when its gcd with 18 is also 2: that holds for 8. Those with gcd 6 or 9 generate smaller subgroups.
The subgroup generated by a subset \(S\) of a group \(G\) is the smallest subgroup \(H\) of \(G\) containing \(S\); it is denoted \(\langle S\rangle\) and \(S\) is called a generating set.