Learning numbers in Japanese is a fundamental step in mastering the language, whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve your fluency. Japanese numbering system is quite systematic and logical, thus making it relatively easy to learn. Let’s delve into the basics of numbers and counting in Japanese.
一 (いち) – One
このペンは一本です。
This word is used to represent the number one. It is also used in counting objects in certain contexts.
二 (に) – Two
彼女は二つのリンゴを買いました。
This represents the number two. It is essential when counting anything that amounts to two in Japanese.
三 (さん) – Three
テーブルの上に本が三冊あります。
This is the Japanese word for three. It’s used similarly to its English counterpart.
四 (し/よん) – Four
彼は四階に住んでいます。
The number four can be pronounced as ‘shi’ or ‘yon’, though ‘yon’ is often used to avoid confusion with the word for death (死), which is also pronounced ‘shi’.
五 (ご) – Five
彼女は五歳です。
This denotes the number five in Japanese.
六 (ろく) – Six
彼は六時に起きます。
Represents the number six. It is a straightforward pronunciation and is commonly used in everyday counting.
七 (しち/なな) – Seven
バスが七時に来ます。
Similar to four, seven has two pronunciations: ‘shichi’ and ‘nana’. ‘Nana’ is often used to prevent confusion with other words.
八 (はち) – Eight
彼は八枚の切手を持っています。
This word stands for the number eight in Japanese.
九 (きゅう/く) – Nine
九月は秋の始まりです。
Nine can be pronounced as ‘kyuu’ or ‘ku’. It is a key number used in various contexts in Japanese.
十 (じゅう) – Ten
私は十分間待ちました。
This is the word for ten, an essential base number in the Japanese counting system.
Once you have mastered the basic numbers, you can easily combine them to form larger numbers. For instance, eleven is ‘十一 (じゅういち)’ and twelve is ‘十二 (じゅうに)’, and so forth. This pattern continues up to ninety-nine (‘九十九 (きゅうじゅうきゅう)’).
百 (ひゃく) – Hundred
彼女は百ページの本を読みました。
This term is used to denote one hundred in Japanese and is critical when dealing with larger numbers.
千 (せん) – Thousand
その車は二千ドルです。
Representing one thousand, this word is vital for higher numerical values.
万 (まん) – Ten thousand
彼は五万円を貯金しています。
This term is used for ten thousand, a large count value in Japanese and a common milestone in financial-related conversations.
億 (おく) – Hundred million
日本の人口は一億二千万人です。
It represents a hundred million, which is commonly used in discussions about populations and large sums of money.
兆 (ちょう) – Trillion
国の借金は数兆円に上っています。
This word stands for trillion, a number used in economic contexts or to describe astronomical numbers.
Understanding these basic and larger numbers will significantly enhance your ability to communicate in Japanese, especially in contexts involving dates, money, quantities, and more. Numbers are not only fundamental in daily conversation but also in understanding cultural nuances, such as the significance of certain numbers in Japanese culture. For instance, the numbers four and nine are often considered unlucky because they sound like words for death and pain, respectively.
By familiarizing yourself with these numbers and their usage, you’ll find yourself navigating through Japanese conversations with greater ease and confidence. Whether you’re shopping, making appointments, or discussing prices, numbers are indispensable. So, keep practicing and integrating these into your vocabulary to deepen your understanding and proficiency in the Japanese language.
