Learn Numbers in Japanese: How to Count From 1-100 (2024)

Japanese may seem intimidating to learn since it has two syllabaries (sets of written characters representing syllables), several thousand characters, and several hundred counters (category words used when counting).

However, once you have grasped the underlying rules, it is not as difficult to learn Japanese as you might imagine. Especially if you can practice what you’ve learned in Japanese lessons with a qualified tutor.

We’ll explain everything you need to know about numbers in Japanese, including the hiragana, kanjis, and counters.

Basics of counting in Japanese

In the Japanese counting system, we cannot just use numerals to count objects except for the numbers 1 to 10 in some instances. This is because the Japanese language does not have a familiar singular/plural structure. When we count beyond 10, we have to combine the Japanese numerals with what are known as counters.

In this context, a “counter” is an indicator word that shows what kind of object you’re counting and groups similar objects together.

Counters are categorized according to the shape and quality of the object(s) being counted. For example, the counter which is used to count long items is different from the counter for small items. Among the many categories, some of the most common counters are “tsu,” “hon,” “ko,” “nin,” “dai,” and “hiki.” We will dive deeper into these counters later on in this article.

Numbers can be written in kanji (Chinese) characters or letters. Numbers from 1 to 10 can be written in single kanji characters, while two or more kanjis are combined for numbers beyond 10. However, there are single kanjis for hundred (百), thousand (千), ten thousand (万), hundred million, (億) and trillion (兆).

For hundred thousand, million, and billion, a combination of kanjis is used.

• Hundred thousand: 十万
• Million: 百万
• Billion: 十億

Sino-Japanese readings vs. Native Japanese readings

Chinese characters or kanji characters in the Japanese language can be read either as “kun-yomi” or “on-yomi.” “Kun-yomi,” or the Native Japanese reading, originated in Japan.

“On-yomi,” or the Sino-Japanese reading, was adapted from the Chinese language. When two or more kanjis are combined to create a single word, “on-yomi” reading is used. When a kanji character is used alone in its original form, the “kun-yomi” reading is used.

As we touched upon earlier, the Native Japanese reading can only be used to count from 1 to 10. Sino-Japanese reading should be used to count numbers beyond 10.

Grammar for Japanese numbers

We already learned that numerals are used together with counters. When using them in a sentence, two distinct patterns can be identified. The first one is where the “numeral + counter” is followed by the function “の” (no) with the noun coming at the end of the phrase. Below is an example.

• 3 relatives: San-nin (3 people) no (of) shinseki (relatives)

In the second pattern, the noun comes at the beginning of the phrase followed by the particle “を” (wo) and then the “numeral + counter”.

• 1 pencil: Enpitsu (pencil) wo (of) ippon (1 piece)

In the first pattern, the number is emphasized and in the second pattern, the noun is emphasized.

How to count from 1 to 10 in Japanese

We can use both Native Japanese counting and Sino-Japanese counting methods when counting from 1 to 10. Native Japanese counting has a universal counter that can be used to count almost anything apart from a few exceptions like people, time, and money.

Native Japanese counting has a “tsu” sound at the end (except for the number 10), which makes it easier to distinguish from the Sino-Japanese reading.

Native Japanese counting: “hitotsu” (1), “futatsu” (2), “mittsu” (3), “yottsu” (4), “itsutsu” (5), “muttsu” (6), “nanatsu” (7), “yattsu” (8), “kokonotsu” (9), and “tou” (10).

Sino-Japanese reading can be found in the table below under “English pronunciation.” It has two reading options for numbers 4, 7, and 9. Both readings are correct. However, when combining with counters, one reading (“yon”, “nana”, “kyuu”) is used more often than the other.

How to say zero in Japanese

The most common word to express zero in Japanese is “ゼロ,” which is pronounced as “zero.” “Zero” is a loan word from English; therefore, we use Katakana characters to write “zero.”

The kanji character “零,” which is pronounced as “rei,” also represents “0.” In some instances, “まる” (“maru”) is also used to express zero. “Maru” in Japanese also means “circle.”

How to count from 11 to 100 in Japanese

Now that we have learned how to count from 1 to 10, let’s have a look at the numbers beyond 10. As previously mentioned, we have to use the Sino-Japanese counting system to count beyond 10. It’s quite simple once you’ve mastered the basics of Japanese language structure.

Let us start with 11 first. 11 consists of 10 + 1, so we have to combine “juu” with “ichi” to get “juuichi.” The same rule applies from 12 to 19. As you can see in the table below, we have two different readings for 14, 17, and 19. However, “juuyon,” “juunana,” and “juukyuu” are more commonly used compared to “juushi,” “juushichi,” and “juuku.”

Now, let us have a look at 20. Twenty is 2 (“ni”) times 10 (“juu”). So, we can create 20 (“ni-juu”) by combining 2 with 10. This rule applies in creating 30 (“san-juu”), 40 (“yon-juu”), 50 (“go-juu”), 60 (“roku-juu”), 70 (“nana-juu”), 80 (“hachi-juu”), and 90 (“kyuu-juu”), too. However, we do not use “juu-juu” for 100. Instead, we call it “hyaku.”

Japanese numbers beyond 100

For numbers between 101 and 199, you need to add the prefix “hyaku.” For example, 112 is “hyaku juu-ni.” Two hundred is two times 100, so you simply have to add 2 (“ni”) before “hyaku.”

There are three numbers in the hyaku-category that are pronounced slightly differently. They are “san-byaku” (300), “roppyaku” (600), and “hayppyaku” (800). The rest of the “hyaku” category follows the rule of “number + hyaku.”

Let’s try out three large numbers.

• 555: 500 + 50 + 5 = go-hyaku go-juu go
• 1,234: 1000 + 200 + 30 + 4 = sen ni-hyaku san-juu yon
• 135,485: 100, 000 + 30,000 + 5000 + 400 + 80 +5 = Juu san-man go-sen yon-hyaku hachi-juu go

7 common counters in Japanese

What are counter words?

Counters are used to express the number of objects by combining them with numerals. There are hundreds of counter categories in Japanese. These categories identify the shape, texture, or nature of the object or the being.

For instance, we use one counter for counting small, round items and another counter for flat items. There is a counter for counting people and a separate counter for small animals.

However, the majority of the counter categories are not in general use, so you do not have to learn all the counters to master the Japanese language.

Japanese counter words for time

When it comes to counting, “時” or “ji” implies “o’clock.” Therefore, 1 o’clock becomes “ichi-ji.”

“Fun” is used to express “minute(s).” So if you want say 20 minutes, you can simply add “20” to “minutes”: “nijuppun.” As you can see here, “fun” has become “pun” for easier pronunciation. This slight difference occurs in the case of 1, 3, 6, 8, and 10 minutes.

Japanese counter words for people

人 (にん/nin)

“人” or “nin” is used for counting people in Japanese. You need to add “nin” as a suffix to the number. However, there are two exceptions, which are “hitori” (1 person) and “futari” (2 people). The remaining numbers follow the rule of number + “nin” as in “san-nin” (3 people), “yo-nin” (4 people), “go-nin” (5 people), “roku-nin” (6 people), “shichi-nin” (7 people), “hachi-nin” (8 people), “kyuu-nin” (9 people), and “juu-nin” (10 people).

In the case of 4 people, it becomes “yo-nin” instead of “yon-nin.” If you want to say “all the people” or “everyone,” you can either say “minna” or “mina-san,” but the latter is more respectful.

• There are two teachers: Sensei (teacher/s) ga (of) futari (2) imasu (there are).

Japanese counter words for animals

匹 (ひき/hiki), 頭 (とう/tou), 羽 (わ/wa)

“Hiki” is used for small animals such as dogs, cats, and insects, and “tou” is used for large animals like elephants, cows, horses, etc. There is a separate counter for birds, which is “wa.” This counter is also used for rabbits.

Similar to the previous cases, the number is followed by the counter. As in the case of the “fun” counter, the “hiki” counter changes its pronunciation slightly for numbers 1, 3, 6, 8, and 10.

• “Hiki” category: ippiki, nihiki, sanbiki, yonhiki, gohiki, roppiki, nanahiki, happiki, kyuuhiki, juppiki
• “Tou” category: ittou, nitou, san-tou, yon-tou, go-tou, roku-tou, nana-tou, hachi-tou, kyuu-tou, juttou
• “Wa” category: ichi-wa, ni-wa, san-wa, yon-wa, go-wa, roku-wa, nana-wa, hachi-wa, kyuu-wa, juu-wa

Japanese counter words for objects

箇 (つ/ tsu)

In general, most objects can be counted using the universal counter we came across earlier except for people, money, or time. This method only goes up to 10, but it can be used for almost any object.

• Please give me 1 orange: Orenji (orange/s) wo (of) hitotsu (1) kudasai (please).

Japanese counter words for long objects

本 (ほん/hon)

“Hon” is used to count long objects. Examples include pens, pencils, umbrellas, roads, etc. A few numbers of “hon” are pronounced either as “bon” or “pon” to create a smoother pronunciation. These exceptions are “ippon” (1), “sanbon” (3), “roppon” (6), “happon” (8), and “juppon” (10).

The remaining numbers follow the rule of number + “hon” as in “ni-hon” (2), “yon-hon” (4), “go-hon” (5), “nana-hon” (7), and “kyuu-hon” (9).

• Please let me borrow 1 pen: Pen (pen/s) wo (of) ippon (1) kash*te kudasai (please let me borrow).

Japanese counter words for small objects

個 (こ, Ko)

“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).

Japanese counter words for mechanical objects

台(だ, Dai)

“Dai” is used to count mechanical objects such as vehicles and various machines including household appliances.

Other common counters include “mai,” which is used to count flat objects like paper, sheets, and cards; and “satsu,” which is used to count books, magazines, documents, and the like. “Kai” is used to count the number of times or frequency of something.

Days of the month in Japanese

The two key words needed to express days of the month are “gatsu” (month) and “nichi” (day). To create the months from January to December, you simply have to add “gatsu” to the numerical value of the month.

Months of the year:

To create the date, 日 (にち/nichi) is added next to the number.

However, from 1st to the 10th of the month and for the 20th of the month, an irregular pronunciation is applied: “tsuitachi” (1st), “futsuka” (2nd), “mikka” (3rd), “yokka” (4th), “itsuka” (5th), “muika” (6th), “nanoka” (7th), “youka” (8th), “kokonoka” (9th), “touka” (10th), and “hatsuka” (20th).

The year is expressed in “年” (“toshi/nen”). Once you have created the year with four digits, simply add “nen” as a suffix.

For instance, the year 1985 is “sen kyuu-hyaku hachi-juu go nen.” There is a traditional way of mentioning years in Japan which was created based on various emperors’ ruling periods: Taisho, Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa. This calendar is used for official documents in Japan, even today.

Japanese number superstitions

Certain numbers and their combinations are considered auspicious or inauspicious among Japanese people. These are considered when choosing hotel and hospital room numbers.

When giving souvenirs (“omiyage”), unlucky numbers are avoided. Gifts in pairs are considered to bring good luck for the receiver. Combs (“kushi”) are not given as gifts because the two words “ku” + “shi” bear the meanings of pain and death. There are similar negative feelings attached to clocks and scissors as well.

Lucky numbers in Japanese culture

The numbers 7 and 8 are considered lucky numbers in Japanese culture. The number 7 has links with Buddhism while 8 is considered significant due to its shape, which represents eternity.

The number 3 is also believed to bring prosperity as the kanji is a combination of 1 and 2 and suggests creativity. Finally, the number 5 is considered a good number because it represents the five elements in natural sciences.

Unlucky numbers in Japanese culture

The numbers 4 and 9 are considered unlucky numbers in Japanese culture. The reason behind this is that number 4 has an “on-yomi” reading of “shi” which means “death” in Japanse. One of the pronunciations of 9, “ku,” has a similarity to words like torture or pain. Therefore, 9 is not considered a good number.

In some instances, the number 13 is also considered unlucky. Although the reason is unknown, we can assume it could be similar to the Western superstition about the number 13.

Conclusion

The application of counters may sound too complicated for someone who has just started learning Japanese words and numbers. The best way to learn Japanese counting faster is to master the numerals from 1 to 100 first without trying to remember the counters at the same time.

As you work independently or with a Japanese language tutor, it is very important to familiarize yourself with the “Hiragana” alphabet as well as the basic pronunciations. When learning counters, you may start with the seven common counters we just learned: 時 (“ji”), 人 (“nin”), 匹 (“hiki”), つ (“tsu”), 本 (“hon”), 個 (“ko”), and 台 (“dai”).

Both “hon” and “ko” are widely used counters that cover a large number of items. Another tip is to master the universal “tsu” counting method, which is useful for all your daily needs such as buying your essentials or ordering food or coffee.

Understanding how to use these common counters fluently will make your Japanese sound more natural and more understandable to a native speaker.

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