Learn Counting in Japanese: Japanese Numbers and Counters (2024)

FAQs

What are the Japanese counters for counting? ›

“Ko” can be used to count small objects — for example, apples, small balls, or eggs. Counting these items would sound like this: “ikko” (1), “niko” (2), “sanko” (3), “yonko” (4), “goko” (5), “rokko” (6), “nanako” (7), “hakko” (8), “kyuuko” (9), and “jukko” (10).

This complexity is because Japanese has a complex set of words, known as "counters," used to count different objects and concepts.

An electronic counter is a sequential logic circuit that has a clock input signal and a group of output signals that represent an integer "counts" value. Upon each qualified clock edge, the circuit will increment (or decrement, depending on circuit design) the counts.

"Rei" (零) is the most common way to say "0" in Japanese.

The biggest and most important counter that uses wago is the general counter for "things". It uses wago all the way through "ten things." They are １つ (ひとつ), ２つ (ふたつ), ３つ (みっつ), ４つ (よっつ), ５つ (いつつ), ６つ (むっつ), ７つ (ななつ), ８つ (やっつ), ９つ (ここのつ), １０ (とお).

In English the next unit corresponding to 1,000 x 1,000 is 1,000,000 (million). In Japanese the next unit corresponding to 10,000 x 10,000 is 100,000,000 (ichi-oku 「1億」/ hundred million).

Is 13 a lucky number in Japan? ›

Japan 🇯🇵: In Japan, the number 13 is largely seen as unlucky due to its pronunciation. The word for 13, “ju-san,” sounds like “shiju,” which means “to die.” Consequently, many buildings in Japan skip the 13th floor, similar to Western superstitions.

Any native speaker will know both versions. In times past, the Japanese created the preferable alternatives, yon, nana, and kyu, because of superstition around the sounds shi, shichi and ku (which can mean “death”, “place of death” and “agony”).

個 こ (ko) is the most important counter to know after つ. Like つ, it can be used for most objects. 個, however, should be used for objects that have a limit, so it cannot be used for abstract ideas or concepts like つ can. 個 is most often used to describe small objects, especially ones that are round.

In 1884 the kazoku were reorganized and the old feudal titles were replaced with: Prince, the equivalent of a European Duke (公爵, Kōshaku) Marquess (侯爵, Kōshaku) Count, the equivalent of an Earl (伯爵, Hakushaku)

The biggest and most important counter that uses wago is the general counter for "things". It uses wago all the way through "ten things." They are １つ (ひとつ), ２つ (ふたつ), ３つ (みっつ), ４つ (よっつ), ５つ (いつつ), ６つ (むっつ), ７つ (ななつ), ８つ (やっつ), ９つ (ここのつ), １０ (とお).