You will be relieved to learn that Japanese numbers are easy to understand!
Trying to learn a foreign language is challenging, but numbers can help you succeed. There are few exceptions to the logical pattern of Japanese numbers from 1 to 10.
The following steps will teach you how to read, pronounce, and comprehend Japanese numbers efficiently. What are you waiting for? Let’s get started.
What are the Japanese Numbers 1 – 10
We would suggest using Hiragana numbers between 1 and 10. Most Japanese students learn Hiragana as their first alphabet. The obstacle of not understanding Japanese numbers must be overcome. Your goal is attainable, and you will achieve it.
| Hiragana / Kanji | Romaji | Number |
| いち 一 | ichi | 1 |
| に 二 | ni | 2 |
| さん 三 | san | 3 |
| し/よん 四 | shi/yon | 4 * |
| ご 五 | go | 5 |
| ろく 六 | roku | 6 |
| しち / なな 七 | shichi/ nana | 7 * |
| はち 八 | hachi | 8 |
| きゅう / く 九 | Kyuu / ku | 9 * |
| じゅう 十 | ju | 10 |
Are there two possible readings for 4, 7 and 9.
In Japan, yon, nana, and kyu were preferred to shi, shichi, and ku (which are synonymous with “death”, “hell”, and “agony” respectively) as alternatives to the three words. Characters are usually selected based on context, for instance when counting or telling time.
After the first ten letters, the words should be pronounced as yon, nana, or kyu. The yon juu, rather than the shi juu, is typically used for double digits ending in zero, such as 40.
In Japanese, counting is basically the same. Both versions are familiar to any native speaker.
To be easy to remember, the following are the principles you should remember:
- A number in digits, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousand, 4, 7, 9 use よん、なな、きゅう
- Most count nouns are used よん、なな、きゅう
ななはい （7 cups)
きゅうほん (9 sticks)
よんまい (4 sheets)
ななだい (7 units)
じゅうさつ (9 books)
よんそく (4 pairs)
- To tell the month, use し、しち、く.
April しがつ しちがつ July
- Telling time using よ、しち、く
よじ 4 o’clock
しちじ 7 o’clock
くじ 9 o’clock
- Date
よっか Day 4
なのか Day 7
ここのか Day 9
- Noun つ (piece, piece, cube).
よっつ 4 pieces
なのつ 7 pieces
ここのつ 9 pieces
Exception: noun characteristics of a person (にん).
❌ よんにん
⭕️ よにん
What are the Japanese Numbers 11 – 20
It will be easy for you to memorize numbers up to 100 once you have mastered reading 1 to 10 in Japanese, because all you need to do is repeatedly compound and add.
You can Add “ichi” (一) as a suffix to “juu” (十), and you will get 十一 (11)–”じゅういち(juu-ichi)”. The Japanese count from 10 to 20 by repeating the same pattern until 19. Below you can find romaji, hiragana and kanji. Following is a table with instructions on how to pronounce and write each number.
| Hiragana / Kanji | Romaji | Number |
| じゅう-いち 十一 | ju-ichi | 11 |
| じゅう-に 十二 | ju-ni | 12 |
| じゅう-さん 十三 | ju-san | 13 |
| じゅう-よん 十四 | ju-yon | 14 |
| じゅう-ご 十五 | ju-go | 15 |
| じゅう-ろく 十六 | ju-roku | 16 |
| じゅう-なな 十七 | ju-nana | 17 |
| じゅう-はち 十八 | ju-hachi | 18 |
| じゅう-きゅう 十九 | ju-kyu | 19 |
| に-じゅう 二十 | ni-ju | 20 |
What are the Japanese Numbers 21 – 99
How do you read it if it’s 20-90? Basically, it’s the same. After the number we want, we should add the word 10 (Ju).
20 にじゅう ni-ju
30 さんじゅう san-ju
40 よんじゅう yong-ju
50 ごじゅう goh-ju
60 ろくじゅう lo-gu-ju
70 ななじゅう na-na-ju
80 はちじゅう ha-ji-ju.
90 きゅうじゅう kyu-ju
100 ひゃく hyaku
How do you read it if it’s 21-29 or 51-59 ?
Yes, 11-19 is similar to that. Similarly in English, you say “twenty-four, thirty-five, forty,
The following are examples to practice:
- Suddenly, 21 is ni ju ichi
- 22 becomes ni ju ni
- 34 becomes san ju yon
- 45 becomes yon ju go
When it arrived here, it had to be quick at counting. I still have a million to go. Isn’t that right? I enjoyed that. We’ll start with 1,000.
How to use counters in japanese
You add a classifier to something when you count it in Japan. Many different types of classifiers are said to exist, and each is used according to its value. Let us learn more about the ways it can be used by looking at frequently used classifiers.
The method we use is called “ordinary number reading” + classifiers.
There are nine numbers in the ordinary system: 1 / Ichi, 2/2, 3 / San, 4 / Yon, 5 / Go, 6 / Roku, 7 / Nana, 8 / Hachi, 9 / Kyu, 10 / Ten
What is the best way to ask for a number
Apples, for example, are counted differently depending on the condition of counting.
Apples themselves are counted as “Ikko” or “One”. In Japan, the boxes and bags used by supermarkets are called “Hitohako”, while the bigger ones are called “Hitoyama”, and the carved ones are called “Hitore.” Make a count.
It may be easier to understand if you think about the meaning of the shapes and properties while remembering them as they are.
What is the Japanese counter Mai used for?
When counting thin things, I often use the term “Mai”. Both the regular number inquiry method and the usual reading method for numbers should be used for “sheets”.
Items such as paper, CDs, shirts, towels, seaweed, plates, curtains, rugs, tatami mats, etc. can be mentioned as examples.
You can count the following numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Rokumai, Nanamai, Hachimai, Kyu Mai, and Jumai. Can you tell me the numbers? / Nan mai ?
How to count apples in japanese
To count small objects, commonly use “個” or “つ”. Different “individuals” read numbers differently, and the “tsu” has evolved.
There is an eraser, a container of measurements, a cup, a trash can, a ball, a star, sunglasses, etc.
After 11, “Tsu” is no longer used. Additionally, tsu is missing from 10 because too is “too.”. It is also used for specific purposes, such as calculating a child’s age or the number of restaurant orders.
How to count (個 pieces): 1 / Ikko, 2 / Niko, 3 / Sanko, 4 / Yonko, 5 / Goko, 6 / Rokko, 7 / Nanako, 8 / Hakko, 9 / Kyuko , 10 / Jukko, How? / なんこ?
How to count (つ tsu): 1 / one, 2 / two, 3 / mitsu, 4 / yotsu, 5 / while, 6 / mutsu, 7 / natsu, 8 / yatsu, 9 / kokotsu, 10 / Too, How? / いくつ?
How to Count People in Japanese
“People” is the term we use to count people. Numbers may change significantly in some cases.
1/ひとり、2/ふたり、3/さんにん、4/よにん、5/ごにん、How?/なんにん？
What is the Japanese counter hon used for
When counting an elongated object, we often use a “Hon” A train, a baseball home run, a movie or a game may also be counted with this device. Several “Hon” will change the way they read numbers.
The following items are examples: pencils, drivers, umbrellas, flowers, ties, carrots, PET bottles, teeth, tires, and bridges.
1 / Ippon, 2 / Nihon, 3 / Sanbon, 4 / Yonhon, 5 / Gohon, 6 / Roppon, 7 / Nanahon, 8 / Happon, 9 / Kyuhon, 10 / Juppon, How?/なんぼん？