1. How to Count to 10 in Japanese

Image of Japanese characters representing numbers 1-10

In the realm of cultural immersion, the art of counting to ten in Japanese presents a gateway into the intricacies of this ancient and revered language. Beyond the mere act of numerical recitation, this journey unveils a glimpse into the cultural tapestry of Japan, where numbers are imbued with profound significance and elegance.

Embarking on this linguistic adventure, one encounters the fascinating system of Japanese numerals. Unlike English’s linear progression, Japanese numbers employ a unique blend of Chinese-derived counters and native words. Beginning with the ethereal ichii (1), each number holds a distinct charm, reflecting the rich historical interplay between Japan and its neighbors. As we delve deeper, the enchanting juu (10) awaits, beckoning us to unlock the secrets of this cherished language.

Mastering the art of Japanese counting extends beyond mere numerical knowledge. It offers an enchanting lesson in cultural nuances. Numbers are not simply abstract concepts but rather integral threads in the fabric of Japanese society. They play pivotal roles in traditional ceremonies, art, and even everyday conversation. By unlocking the mysteries of counting to ten, one gains not only linguistic proficiency but also a deeper appreciation for the intricate beauty of Japanese culture.

Hiragana Counting To Ten

Hiragana is one of the two Japanese writing systems, used primarily for native Japanese words and grammatical elements. Counting to ten in hiragana is a fundamental skill for anyone learning Japanese. Here’s how you do it:

Number 1 is represented by “ichi” and is written as “一”.

When counting objects in Japanese, it’s important to use the correct counter word. For example, to count people, you would use the counter word “nin”. So, to say “one person”, you would say “ichi nin” (一人).

The following table provides the hiragana characters for the numbers one to ten, along with their pronunciations and English equivalents:

Hiragana	Pronunciation	English
一	ichi	one
二	ni	two
三	san	three
四	shi	four
五	go	five
六	roku	six
七	nana	seven
八	hachi	eight
九	kyuu	nine
十	juu	ten

Numbers 1-10 in Japanese

Counting to 10 in Japanese is as follows:

1 – ichi

2 – ni

3 – san

4 – yon

5 – go

6 – roku

7 – nana

8 – hachi

9 – kyuu

10 – juu

Katakana Counting to Ten

In addition to the standard way of writing numbers, Japanese also has a set of symbols known as katakana that are used for writing foreign words and numbers. The katakana characters used to write numbers are as follows:

Number	Katakana Character
1	イチ
2	ニ
3	サン
4	ヨン
5	ゴ
6	ロク
7	ナナ
8	ハチ
9	キュウ
10	ジュウ

For example, the number 10 can be written as “じゅう” in hiragana and “ジュウ” in katakana.

Pronunciation and Stroke Order

1. Ichi (一)

Pronunciation: /itɕi/ Strokes: 1

2. Ni (二)

Pronunciation: /ni/ Strokes: 2

3. San (三)

Pronunciation: /san/ Strokes: 3

San is the third number in Japanese. It is written with three strokes:

Start with a downward stroke from the top left corner.
Next, make a horizontal stroke to the right, starting from the middle of the downward stroke.
Finally, make a short upward stroke from the end of the horizontal stroke to the top right corner.

Stroke Order	Character
1	一
2	二
3	三

4. Yon (四)

Pronunciation: /jon/ Strokes: 4

5. Go (五)

Pronunciation: /ɡo/ Strokes: 5

6. Roku (六)

Pronunciation: /ɾoku/ Strokes: 6

7. Nana (七)

Pronunciation: /nana/ Strokes: 7

8. Hachi (八)

Pronunciation: /hatɕi/ Strokes: 8

9. Kyu (九)

Pronunciation: /kju/ Strokes: 9

10. Ju (十)

Pronunciation: /dʑu/ Strokes: 10

Numbers in Context

Japanese numbers are used in a variety of contexts, including:

Counting objects
Telling time
Indicating dates
Stating prices
Expressing ages

The Number 4

The number 4 is considered unlucky in Japan because it is pronounced “shi,” which is also the word for “death.” As a result, it is often avoided in many contexts. For example, some buildings do not have a fourth floor, and some hospitals do not have a room number 4. Instead, these floors or rooms may be labeled as “3A” or “5.”

There are several superstitions associated with the number 4. For example, it is said that if you give someone a gift of four items, it will bring bad luck. Additionally, it is believed that if you die on the fourth day of the month, you will be reincarnated as a dog.

Despite its negative connotations, the number 4 is also used in some positive contexts. For example, the number 4 is considered lucky in China, and it is often used to represent good fortune and wealth.

Number 5

The Japanese word for “five” is “go” (ご). It is a relatively easy word to pronounce, and it is used in a variety of contexts. For example, you can use “go” to count objects, such as “go nin” (ごにん) for “five people” or “go hon” (ごほん) for “five books.” You can also use “go” to tell time, such as “go ji” (ごじ) for “five o’clock.” Additionally, “go” is used in a variety of other contexts, such as expressing quantities, measurements, and dates.

Telling Time and Dates

To tell time in Japanese, you can use the following format:

Time	Japanese
1:00	ichi ji (いちじ)
2:30	ni ji han (にじはん)
5:45	go ji yonjuugo fun (ごじよんじゅうごふん)
10:10	juu ji juppun (じゅうじじっぷん)

To tell dates in Japanese, you can use the following format:

Date	Japanese
January 1st	ichi gatsu tsuitachi (いちがつついたち)
March 15th	san gatsu juugo nichi (さんがつじゅうごにち)
May 5th	go gatsu itsuka (ごがついたつか)
December 31st	juuni gatsu sanjuichi nichi (じゅうにがつさんじゅういちにち)

Counting From One to Ten

Counting from one to ten in Japanese is as follows:

Number	Japanese	Romaji
1	いち	ichi
2	に	ni
3	さん	san
4	よん	yon
5	ご	go
6	ろく	roku
7	なな	nana
8	はち	hachi
9	きゅう	kyuu
10	じゅう	juu

Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers indicate the position of something in a sequence. In Japanese, ordinal numbers are formed by adding the suffix “-め” (-me) to the cardinal number. For example:

1st: いちばんめ (ichibanme)
2nd: にばんめ (nibanme)
3rd: さんばんめ (sanbanme)
4th: よんばんめ (yonbanme)
5th: ごばんめ (gobanme)

Counting Money

When counting money in Japanese, the word “えん” (en) is used for yen (the Japanese currency) and the word “せん” (sen) is used for sen (a subunit of yen). For example:

100 yen: ひゃくえん (hyaku en)
1,000 yen: せんえん (sen en)
10,000 yen: まんえん (man en)
100,000 yen: じゅうまんえん (juu man en)
1,000,000 yen: ひゃくまんえん (hyaku man en)

Advanced Hiragana Counting

Counting in Japanese

To count to 10 in Japanese, you can use the following hiragana characters:

Number	Hiragana
1	いち (ichi)
2	に (ni)
3	さん (san)
4	よん (yon)
5	ご (go)
6	ろく (roku)
7	なな (nana)
8	はち (hachi)
9	きゅう (kyuu)
10	じゅう (juu)

Special Note:

For the number 7 (なな), it can be pronounced as しち (shichi) in certain formal or classical contexts. This pronunciation is typically used in more traditional or ceremonial settings, such as when reciting poetry or performing certain rituals. However, in general conversation, it is more common to use the pronunciation なな (nana).

Advanced Katakana Counting

Counting to 10 Using Katakana

Number	Katakana
1	イチ (ichi)
2	ニ (ni)
3	サン (san)
4	ヨン (yon)
5	ゴ (go)
6	ロク (roku)
7	ナナ (nana)
8	ハチ (hachi)
9	キュウ (kyuu)
10	ジュウ (juu)

When counting to 8 in Japanese using katakana, there is a special form that is commonly used. Instead of simply saying “hachi,” you may hear “hachii.” This extended form is pronounced with a lengthened “i” sound and is particularly prevalent in everyday conversations and when counting items or people. It adds a subtle emphasis and can make the counting more expressive.

Usage of “hachii” in Sentences

For instance, if you want to say “I have eight apples,” you would say:

“Watashi wa ringo ga hachii arimasu.”

In this sentence, the extended form “hachii” is used to convey the exact number of apples you have.

Another example:

“Kono basu wa hachii-ban desu.”

This sentence translates to “This bus is number eight.” Again, “hachii” is used to indicate the specific bus number.

Tips for Memorization

Immerse yourself in Japanese culture by watching Japanese movies, listening to Japanese music, and reading Japanese books. This will help you get used to the sound of the Japanese language and make it easier to memorize the numbers.

Use flashcards to practice the numbers. Write the Japanese number on one side of the card and the English number on the other side. Test yourself regularly until you can recall the numbers easily.

Create a song or rhyme to help you remember the numbers. This can be a fun and effective way to memorize them, especially for children.

Japanese Number	Pronunciation	Meaning
九	kyuu	nine
十	juu	ten

Nine (九 – kyuu)

The Japanese word for nine is 九 (pronounced “kyuu”). It is a standalone number or used as a prefix. For example, 十九 (juukyuu) means nineteen.

Here are some additional tips for memorizing the number nine in Japanese:

Associate it with a shape: The character for nine (九) resembles a sideways “9”.
Break it down: It is composed of two strokes, which can be helpful for recall.
Practice writing it: Regular practice will strengthen your muscle memory.

Practice Exercises

Now that you know how to count to 10 in Japanese, let’s practice with some exercises.

Counting from 1 to 10

Count from 1 to 10 in Japanese, both aloud and in writing.

Matching numbers to words

Match the following Japanese numbers to their English equivalents:

Japanese Number	English Number
いち	One
に	Two
さん	Three
よん	Four
ご	Five
ろく	Six
なな	Seven
はち	Eight
きゅう	Nine
じゅう	Ten

Counting in context

Translate the following sentences from Japanese to English:

わたしは 3 つのりんごがあります。
私は 5 人の友達がいます。
学校に 7 つの教室があります。
私は 10 歳です。

How To Count To 10 In Japanese

Learning to count to ten in Japanese is a great way to get started with the language. It is a relatively easy task, and it will help you to build a foundation for further learning.

Here are the numbers 1-10 in Japanese. Pay attention to the pronunciation:

1 – ichi
2 – ni
3 – san
4 – yon
5 – go
6 – roku
7 – nana
8 – hachi
9 – kyu
10 – ju

Once you have mastered the pronunciation of each number, you can practice saying them in order. Start by saying the numbers slowly and clearly, and then gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable.