Learning numbers in Japanese opens doors to everyday communication — ordering food, reading prices, scheduling trains, and understanding culture. This guide teaches the basics step-by-step with charts, pronunciation tips, counters, dates, time, and cultural nuances beginners usually miss.
By the end, you’ll be able to:
-
- Count from 1 to 1,000,000 in Japanese
- Use numbers with counters (the most confusing part!)
- Tell the time and read dates
- Recognize lucky & unlucky cultural associations
Why Learn Numbers in Japanese? (Everyday Usage & Travel Situations)
Numbers in Japanese are more than grammar — they’re tied to real life. You’ll see them at train stations, in restaurants, on souvenir price tags, and even in superstition (like why some hotels skip the 4th floor 👀).
Japanese actually uses two number systems, and knowing when each is used is half the battle.
Native Japanese (Wago): Traditional, casual, used for small counts
Sino-Japanese (Kango): Modern, used for money, dates, math, time — most daily usage
The Two Number Systems Explained (Wago vs. Kango)
Think of it like having “two toolboxes” — you pick the right one depending on the situation.
1–10 in Both Systems
| Number | Native (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) |
Quick tip: “shi” (4) sounds like “death” (死), so “yon” is preferred. “nana” is clearer than “shichi.”
How to Build Bigger Numbers (11–999 Explained)
Good news — after 10, it’s logical and stackable:
- 11 = じゅういち (juu + ichi)
- 16 = じゅうろく (juu + roku)
- 21 = にじゅういち (2×10 + 1)
Hundreds & Thousands — Watch the Sound Changes
- 100 = ひゃく (hyaku)
- 300 = さんびゃく (sanbyaku)
- 600 = ろっぴゃく (roppyaku)
- 800 = はっぴゃく (happyaku)
- 1,000 = せん (sen)
- 10,000 = いちまん (ichiman) ← Japanese groups by 10,000, not 1,000!
Number Formats in Japanese (Super Useful!)
You’ll see numbers written in different formats depending on context:
| Format | Example | Where You’ll See It |
|---|---|---|
| アラビア数字 | 12, 450 | Signs, menus, receipts |
| 漢数字 | 十二, 三百円 | Temples, traditional shops, contracts |
| Mixed Format | 12時, 3万円 | Most common daily usage |
When in doubt → Arabic numerals (12, 300, 5:30) are always safe.
Japanese Counters (How to Actually Use Numbers)
Japanese adds a “counter” depending on what you’re counting. Like “a slice of pizza” or “a sheet of paper” in English — but more systematic.
| Counter | Used For | Example |
|---|---|---|
| つ (tsu) | General / beginner friendly | みっつください — “Three, please.” |
| 人 (nin) | People | よにん — four people |
| 枚 (mai) | Flat objects | チケットをにまい — two tickets |
| 本 (hon) | Long objects | ビールをろっぽん — six beers |
Sound changes: 1本=いっぽん / 3本=さんぼん / 6本=ろっぽん
Practical Usage in Daily Life (Travel Scenarios)
🕒 Telling Time in Japanese
- 5時 (go ji) — 5 o’clock
- 10分 (juppun) — 10 minutes
- 8:30 → はちじはん (hachi ji han)
📅 Reading Dates
Order: Year → Month → Day
- 2025年3月8日 → にせんにじゅうごねん さんがつようか
💴 Reading Prices
- 450円 → よんひゃくごじゅうえん
- 1,200円 → せんにひゃくえん
Lucky & Unlucky Numbers (Cultural Insight)
- 4 (し) sounds like “death” → avoided
- 9 (く) sounds like “suffering” → avoided
- 7 = lucky (Seven Lucky Gods)
- 8 = prosperity (kanji 八 spreads outward → growth)
Mini Quiz!
Translate these:
- 40 → よんじゅう
- 600 → ろっぴゃく
- 3 beers → ビールをさんぼん
- 8:30 → はちじはん
FAQ
What’s the safest way to say “4”?
よん (yon) — always neutral.
Why do numbers use counters?
They show the “type” of what’s counted — like “a piece of / a slice of” in English.
Conclusion
Mastering numbers in Japanese gives you real-world confidence — on trains, menus, shopping, and daily conversations. Bookmark this page and practice out loud when you see numbers around you in Japan 🚀
Author’s Note: Written from Japan and based on real daily usage, traveler questions, and native speech patterns. Updated for 2025.
