Japanese uses multiple counting systems, which can be a bit daunting at first. However, for this lesson, we'll focus on the most versatile and fundamental system: the hitotsu, futatsu... system (more on that later!) and the ichi, ni, san... system for simply reciting numbers. Knowing these are key to basic communication.
Number
Japanese (Hiragana)
Romanization (Romaji)
Pronunciation Hint
Notes
1
いち
ichi
"ee-chee"
The most common way to say "one."
2
に
ni
"nee"
3
さん
san
"sahn"
4
し / よん
shi / yon
"shee" / "yohn" (Yon is more common)
Shi can sound like the word for "death" (死), so yon is often preferred.
5
ご
go
"goh"
6
ろく
roku
"roh-koo"
7
しち / なな
shichi / nana
"shee-chee" / "nah-nah" (Nana is more common)
Similar to 4, shichi can be avoided in some situations. Nana is usually preferred.
8
はち
hachi
"hah-chee"
9
きゅう / く
kyuu / ku
"kyoo" / "koo" (Kyuu is more common)
Ku can also mean "suffering" or "pain" (苦), so kyuu is generally considered safer.
10
じゅう
juu
"joo"
Important Notes:
As mentioned, 4, 7, and 9 have alternative readings. While you can use shi, shichi, and ku, it's generally best to stick with yon, nana, and kyuu unless you have a specific reason to do otherwise (e.g., in certain set phrases or historical contexts, which we won't cover just yet).
Pay attention to the pronunciation! While romaji is helpful, listening to native speakers is crucial for mastering the correct sounds. Use online resources or language learning apps to hear the numbers pronounced.
Beyond 10: Let's take a peek at how you form numbers beyond ten.
11: じゅういち (juu ichi) - ten one
12: じゅうに (juu ni) - ten two
13: じゅうさん (juu san) - ten three
20: にじゅう (ni juu) - two ten
21: にじゅういち (ni juu ichi) - two ten one
30: さんじゅう (san juu) - three ten
100: ひゃく (hyaku)
See the pattern? You combine the number for "ten" (juu) with the number for the units place. For 20, you combine the number for "two" (ni) with juu. We'll explore larger numbers in future lessons.
2. Practice, Practice, Practice!
Repetition is key to memorization! Try these exercises:
Counting Sequence:
いち、に、さん (ichi, ni, san) - one, two, three
よん、ご、ろく (yon, go, roku) - four, five, six
なな、はち、きゅう (nana, hachi, kyuu) - seven, eight, nine
じゅう (juu) - ten
Backward Counting: Challenge yourself to count backward from 10 to 1!
Random Numbers: Have a friend call out random numbers between 1 and 10, and you say them in Japanese.
Exercise: Fill in the blanks with the correct Japanese number (Hiragana):
1. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_、に、さん ( , two, three)
2. よん、ご、\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (four, five, )
3. なな、\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_、きゅう (seven, , nine)
4. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_、じゅう ( , ten)
Answer:
1. いち
2. ろく
3. はち
4. きゅう
3. Using Numbers in Simple Phrases
You already know a simple "How many?" phrase. Let's expand on that and introduce another system of counting!
いくつですか？ (Ikutsu desu ka?) - How many? / How old are you?
Pronunciation: "ee-koo-tsoo des-oo kah?"
As you know, this is a general way to ask "how many?". Be mindful of context, as it can also inquire about age.
[Number] です。 ([Number] desu.) - It is [Number].
Pronunciation: "[Number] des."
Example: さんです。 (San desu.) - It is three.
Introducing the Hitotsu, Futatsu... System:
This is a native Japanese counting system, often used for counting tangible objects without specifying the counter word (more on counters later!). It goes like this:
Number
Japanese (Hiragana)
Romanization (Romaji)
English Translation
1
ひとつ
hitotsu
One (thing)
2
ふたつ
futatsu
Two (things)
3
みっつ
mittsu
Three (things)
4
よっつ
yottsu
Four (things)
5
いつつ
itsutsu
Five (things)
6
むっつ
muttsu
Six (things)
7
ななつ
nanatsu
Seven (things)
8
やっつ
yattsu
Eight (things)
9
ここのつ
kokonotsu
Nine (things)
10
とお
too
Ten (things)
Using Hitotsu, Futatsu...
You can use this system with the particle が (ga) to indicate the existence of a certain number of things.
Example:
りんごが みっつ あります。 (Ringo ga mittsu arimasu.) - There are three apples.
りんご (ringo) - apple
が (ga) - particle indicating the subject
あります (arimasu) - there is/are (for inanimate objects)
Comparing Ichi, Ni, San... and Hitotsu, Futatsu...
Ichi, ni, san... is generally used for stating numbers, like phone numbers, prices, or when counting in abstract.
Hitotsu, futatsu... is typically used for counting things directly.
Example Scenario:
Imagine you're at a fruit stand.
You ask: りんごはいくつありますか？ (Ringo wa ikutsu arimasu ka?) - How many apples are there?
りんご (ringo) - apple
は (wa) - particle indicating the topic
いくつ (ikutsu) - how many
ありますか (arimasu ka) - are there? (question form)
The vendor replies: みっつあります。 (Mittsu arimasu.) - There are three. (Using the hitotsu, futatsu... system since they are counting apples.)
You ask: 全部でいくらですか (Zenbu de ikura desu ka?) - How much is it in total?
全部 (zenbu) - all together
で (de) - particle meaning "for" or "in"
いくら (ikura) - how much (money)
ですか (desu ka) - is it? (question form)
The vendor replies: 三百円です。 (Sanbyaku en desu.) - It's 300 yen. (Using sanbyaku, 300, which derives from ichi, ni, san...)
三百 (sanbyaku) - 300
円 (en) - yen (Japanese currency)
4. Counter Words (助数詞 - Josuushi): A Glimpse into the Future
While we used mittsu arimasu above, Japanese often uses counter words to specify what kind of things you are counting. These are special words that are placed after the number and before the verb. While we won't delve deep into counter words now, let's look at a very basic example:
人 (nin): Counter for people
So, instead of just saying "にです" (ni desu) meaning "it is two", to say "there are two people", you would use nin:
二 人 (ni nin): Two people
We will explore this in far more detail in a later lesson. For now, just be aware that they exist!
5. Age
As you know, ikutsu desu ka can mean "how old are you?" In this case, you would typically answer using sai (歳), the counter for age:
[Number] 歳です。 ([Number] sai desu.) - I am [Number] years old.
For example:
二十歳です。 (Nijuu sai desu.) - I am 20 years old.
七歳です。 (Nana sai desu.) - I am 7 years old.
Exercise: Translate the following. (Hint: Use "sai" for age)
1. I am 10 years old.
2. How old are you?
Answer:
1. 十歳です。(Jussai desu.)
2. 何歳ですか。(Nansai desu ka?) / いくつですか。(Ikutsu desu ka?)
6. Practical Examples & Mini-Dialogues
Let's put these numbers into context. Here are some mini-dialogues to help you see how numbers are used in everyday conversations.
Dialogue 1: At a Convenience Store
Customer: すみません、おにぎりを二つください。(Sumimasen, onigiri o futatsu kudasai.) - Excuse me, please give me two onigiri.
すみません (sumimasen) - Excuse me
おにぎり (onigiri) - rice ball
を (o) - particle indicating the direct object
ください (kudasai) - please give me
Shopkeeper: はい、三百円です。(Hai, sanbyaku en desu.) - Yes, it's 300 yen.
Dialogue 2: Asking About Siblings
Person A: 兄弟は何人いますか。(Kyoudai wa nan nin imasu ka?) - How many siblings do you have? (nan nin uses the counter for people)
兄弟 (kyoudai) - siblings
は (wa) - topic marker
何人 (nan nin) - how many people (siblings in this case)
いますか (imasu ka) - do you have? (for animate objects)
Person B: 姉が一人と弟が一人います。(Ane ga hitori to otouto ga hitori imasu.) - I have one older sister and one younger brother.
姉 (ane) - older sister
が (ga) - particle marking the subject
一人 (hitori) - one person (using a special counter for people when they are alone, or when specifying the number precisely).
と (to) - and
弟 (otouto) - younger brother
Note: This response uses hitori (one person), which is derived from the hitotsu, futatsu... system, but it uses a specific counter (nin - 人) implicitly.
Dialogue 3: Ordering Food
Waiter: ご注文は何になさいますか？(Gochuumon wa nani ni nasaimasu ka?) - What would you like to order?
ご注文 (gochuumon) - order (polite)
は (wa) - topic marker
何 (nani) - what
に (ni) - particle (in this context, meaning "for")
なさいますか (nasaimasu ka) - will you do? (polite form of "to do")
Customer: ラーメンを一つと餃子を二つお願いします。(Raamen o hitotsu to gyouza o futatsu onegaishimasu.) - One ramen and two gyoza, please.
ラーメン (raamen) - ramen
を (o) - particle indicating the direct object
一つ (hitotsu) - one (thing)
と (to) - and
餃子 (gyouza) - gyoza (dumplings)
二つ (futatsu) - two (things)
お願いします (onegaishimasu) - please
These dialogues demonstrate how numbers are woven into everyday Japanese conversations. Pay close attention to the context and the specific counting system used.
Homework (宿題 - Shukudai):
Master the Basics: Drill yourself on counting from 1 to 10 using both ichi, ni, san... and hitotsu, futatsu.... Aim for speed and accuracy.
Object Counting: Throughout your day, consciously count objects around you in Japanese. Start with small numbers (e.g., "two books," "three chairs").
Audio Immersion: Find Japanese children's songs or educational videos that focus on counting. This is a fun way to reinforce your learning.
Simple Sentences: Create your own simple sentences using the patterns we've learned. For example: "There are five pens." "I am eight years old."
Fruit Stand Role-Play: Practice the fruit stand dialogue with a friend or language partner. Focus on pronunciation and intonation.
Restaurant Role-Play: Practice the restaurant dialogue, paying attention to the polite language and how to request items.
Homework Exercise: Translate these sentences into Japanese.
1. There are four cats.
2. I am six years old.
3. Please give me one apple.
Answer (Possible Solutions):
1. 猫が四つあります。 (Neko ga yottsu arimasu.)
2. 六歳です。(Rokusai desu.)
3. りんごを一つください。(Ringo o hitotsu kudasai.)