Numbers in Japanese: A Complete Guide for Beginners

Learning numbers in Japanese is an exciting and essential step for anyone interested in the Japanese language or culture. Whether you’re planning a trip to Tokyo, ordering sushi, or simply curious about how counting works in Japanese, this guide will equip you with everything you need to know. Tailored specifically for English speakers with no prior Japanese knowledge, we’ll use simple language, tons of examples, and plenty of graphs and tables to make numbers in Japanese easy to grasp. By the end, you’ll be able to count from 1 to 1,000,000, tell time, read dates, and even understand cultural quirks about lucky numbers—all while feeling confident and engaged.

In this article, we’ll cover the two Japanese number systems, teach you how to count step-by-step, explore practical uses like shopping and scheduling, and provide visual tools to reinforce your learning. Let’s get started!

Why Learn Numbers in Japanese?

Numbers are everywhere—whether you’re buying souvenirs, checking the time, or asking how many friends are joining you for karaoke. In Japanese, numbers in Japanese aren’t just functional; they’re a window into the culture. For example, some numbers are considered lucky or unlucky, affecting traditions like gift-giving or even building designs. Mastering numbers in Japanese will help you navigate real-life situations and impress native speakers with your knowledge.

Japanese uses two number systems: the Native Japanese system (Wago) and the Sino-Japanese system (Kango). Don’t worry if that sounds complicated—we’ll break it down with examples and visuals so you can see exactly how they work and when to use them.

The Two Japanese Number Systems Explained

Unlike English, which uses one set of numbers, Japanese has two distinct systems. Here’s what they are and why they matter:

Native Japanese Numbers (Wago)

These are the original Japanese numbers, used for counting small quantities (usually up to 10) or in traditional settings like counting days or items casually. They have a warm, classic vibe.

Sino-Japanese Numbers (Kango)

Borrowed from Chinese, these are the modern standard for most situations—think money, time, dates, and numbers above 10. They’re crisp and widely used in formal or technical contexts.

Let’s start with the basics: counting from 1 to 10 in both systems.

Counting 1 to 10: Native vs. Sino-Japanese

Here’s a table to compare the two systems side-by-side:

Number	Native Japanese (Wago)	Sino-Japanese (Kango)
1	ひとつ (hitotsu)	いち (ichi)
2	ふたつ (futatsu)	に (ni)
3	みっつ (mittsu)	さん (san)
4	よっつ (yottsu)	し (shi) / よん (yon)
5	いつつ (itsutsu)	ご (go)
6	むっつ (muttsu)	ろく (roku)
7	ななつ (nanatsu)	しち (shichi) / なな (nana)
8	やっつ (yattsu)	はち (hachi)
9	ここのつ (kokonotsu)	きゅう (kyuu)
10	とお (too)	じゅう (juu)

Key Notes:

• For 4, “shi” sounds like “death” (死), so “yon” is often used instead.
• For 7, “nana” is preferred over “shichi” to avoid confusion with “ichi” (1).
• Don’t stress about memorizing both right away—we’ll show you when each is used.

Pronunciation Variations for 4 and 7

To visualize the options, here’s a simple graph:

Number 4 Options:

– shi (し)   [Less common due to “death” association]

– yon (よん) [Preferred in most contexts]

Number 7 Options:

– shichi (しち) [Formal, less used]

– nana (なな)   [Common, clearer]

This graph highlights why “yon” and “nana” are more popular—clarity and cultural preference!

When to Use Native Japanese Numbers

Use Native Japanese numbers (hitotsu, futatsu, etc.) for:

• Counting small, general items casually (e.g., “two apples”).
• Traditional or informal contexts, like counting people or objects without specific counters.

Examples:

• ひとつください (Hitotsu kudasai): “One, please” (ordering a drink).
• みっつあります (Mittsu arimasu): “There are three (things).”

When to Use Sino-Japanese Numbers

Use Sino-Japanese numbers (ichi, ni, etc.) for:

• Numbers above 10.
• Money, time, dates, and math.
• Counting with “counters” (more on this later).

Examples:

• にえん (Ni en): “Two yen.”
• ごじ (Go ji): “Five o’clock.”

Counting Beyond 10: Building Bigger Numbers

Once you’ve got 1 to 10 down, counting higher in numbers in Japanese is logical and fun, especially with the Sino-Japanese system. Let’s break it into steps.

Numbers 11 to 19

Add a number (1-9) to “juu” (10):

• 11: じゅういち (juuichi) = 10 + 1
• 15: じゅうご (juugo) = 10 + 5
• 19: じゅうきゅう (juukyuu) = 10 + 9

Multiples of 10 (20, 30, etc.)

Multiply “juu” (10) by a number from 2 to 9:

• 20: にじゅう (nijuu) = 2 × 10
• 50: ごじゅう (gojuu) = 5 × 10
• 90: きゅうじゅう (kyuujuu) = 9 × 10

Numbers Between (21, 35, etc.)

Combine a multiple of 10 with a single digit:

• 21: にじゅういち (nijuuichi) = 20 + 1
• 47: よんじゅうなな (yonjuunana) = 40 + 7
• 99: きゅうじゅうきゅう (kyuujuukyuu) = 90 + 9

Building Numbers from 10 to 100

Here’s a visual to show the pattern:

Tens:       10 (じゅう) | 20 (にじゅう) | 30 (さんじゅう) | … | 90 (きゅうじゅう)

Ones Added: +1 (いち)  | +2 (に)      | +3 (さん)      | … | +9 (きゅう)

Examples:   11         | 22           | 33             | … | 99

This graph shows how predictable the system is—just stack the blocks!

Hundreds and Thousands

For bigger numbers, use “hyaku” (100) and “sen” (1000):

• 100: ひゃく (hyaku)
• 200: にひゃく (nihyaku)
• 300: さんびゃく (sanbyaku) Sound change!
• 1000: せん (sen)
• 5000: ごせん (gosen)

Sound Changes in Hundreds

Some hundreds tweak their pronunciation:

100: ひゃく (hyaku)

300: さんびゃく (sanbyaku)  [“h” becomes “b”]

600: ろっぴゃく (roppyaku)  [“h” becomes “p”]

800: はっぴゃく (happyaku)  [“h” becomes “p”]

These shifts make speaking smoother—notice the pattern?

Tens of Thousands and Beyond

Japanese groups large numbers by 10,000 (not 1,000 like English):

• 10,000: いちまん (ichiman)
• 50,000: ごまん (goman)
• 1,000,000: ひゃくまん (hyakuman)
• 100,000,000: いちおく (ichioku)

Example:

• 12,345: いちまんにせんさんびゃくよんじゅうご (ichiman nisen sanbyaku yonjuugo)
  = 10,000 + 2000 + 300 + 40 + 5

Japanese Counters: Counting Objects Made Simple

A unique feature of numbers in Japanese is counters—words paired with numbers to specify what you’re counting. In English, we say “two cats” or “three books,” but Japanese adds a counter to match the object’s type. Let’s explore the most common ones.

Essential Counters Table

Counter	Used For	Example
つ (tsu)	General items (Native)	みかんをふたつ (mikan o futatsu) – Two oranges
個 (ko)	General items (Sino)	りんごをさんこ (ringo o sanko) – Three apples
人 (nin)	People	にんじゃがよにん (ninja ga yonin) – Four ninjas
枚 (mai)	Flat objects (paper, plates)	チケットをごまい (chiketto o gomai) – Five tickets
本 (hon)	Long objects (pens, bottles)	ビールをろっぽん (biiru o roppon) – Six beers

Notes:

• People use ひとり (hitori) for 1, ふたり (futari) for 2, then number + nin (e.g., さんにん – sannin).
• Some counters change number sounds:
  • 1本 = いっぽん (ippon)
  • 3本 = さんぼん (sanbon)

Counter Sound Changes

Counter 本 (hon) Examples:

1本: いっぽん (ippon)   [“h” becomes “p”]

3本: さんぼん (sanbon)  [“h” becomes “b”]

6本: ろっぽん (roppon)  [“h” becomes “p”]

This graph shows how counters tweak pronunciation—cool, right?

Using Counters in Sentences

Structure: Number + Counter + Particle + Verb

• ねこをさんびきかいました (Neko o sanbiki kaimashita): “I bought three cats.”
• えんぴつをにほんください (Enpitsu o nihon kudasai): “Two pencils, please.”

Start with つ (tsu) or 個 (ko)—they’re versatile and beginner-friendly.

Telling Time with Numbers in Japanese

Telling time is a practical way to use numbers in Japanese. It’s simple once you know the basics.

Hours

Number + 時 (ji):

• 2時 (ni ji): 2 o’clock
• 10時 (juu ji): 10 o’clock

Minutes

Number + 分 (fun), with some sound tweaks:

• 1分 (ippun): 1 minute
• 5分 (go fun): 5 minutes
• 10分 (juppun): 10 minutes

Minute Pronunciation

Minutes:

1分: ippun   [Special sound]

3分: sanpun  [“f” becomes “p”]

10分: juppun [Special sound]

This graph highlights the quirky changes—easy to spot!

Time Examples

• 4:25: よじにじゅうごふん (yo ji nijuugofun)
• 8:30: はちじさんじゅっぷん (hachi ji sanjuppun) or はちじはん (hachi ji han) – “Half-past eight.”

Dates in Japanese

Dates use the order: year, month, day. Key words:

• 年 (nen) = year
• 月 (gatsu) = month
• 日 (nichi) = day

Example:

• 2024年3月8日: にせんにじゅうよんねんさんがつようか (Nisen juuyon nen sangatsu youka) = March 8, 2024

Months

Number + 月 (gatsu):

• 4月 (shigatsu): April
• 11月 (juuigatsu): November

Days

Days 1-10 have unique readings:

• 1日 (tsuitachi): 1st
• 5日 (itsuka): 5th
• 20日 (hatsuka): 20th
• 25日 (nijuugonichi): 25th

Irregular Days

Days 1-10:

1日: tsuitachi [Unique]

2日: futsuka   [Unique]

10日: tooka    [Unique]

Memorize these—they’re super common!

Cultural Insights: Lucky and Unlucky Numbers

Numbers in Japanese carry cultural weight:

• Unlucky:
  • 4 (shi): Sounds like “death” (死)—avoided in gifts or room numbers.
  • 9 (ku): Sounds like “suffering” (苦).
• Lucky:
  • 7 (nana): Tied to the seven lucky gods.
  • 8 (hachi): The kanji 八 widens, symbolizing prosperity.

Conclusion

Mastering numbers in Japanese opens doors to communication and cultural understanding. From counting to telling time, you’ve got the tools to shine. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be counting yen or scheduling meetings like a pro. Enjoy your Japanese journey!