Embark on a journey to unlock the secrets of Japanese numerals and master the art of counting to 10 like a true native speaker. This comprehensive guide will unravel the intricate tapestry of Japanese numbers, revealing the unique characters and pronunciations that set them apart. By the end of this captivating exploration, you’ll confidently navigate the numerical landscape of Japan, effortlessly counting from one to ten with precision and fluency.
To lay the foundation for our numerical adventure, let’s begin with the number one, represented by the character “ichi” (pronounced “ee-chee”). As you progress to two, “ni” (pronounced “nee”), you’ll notice a subtle shift in pronunciation. The journey continues with “san” (pronounced “san”) for three and “yon” (pronounced “yon”) for four. At this juncture, a slight deviation arises as you encounter the number five, “go” (pronounced “go”), marked by its distinct “o” vowel sound.
As we ascend the numerical ladder, the number six, “roku” (pronounced “row-koo”), presents a unique challenge with its slightly elongated “o” sound. Continuing onward, “nana” (pronounced “nah-nah”) for seven and “hachi” (pronounced “hah-chee”) for eight introduce new consonant combinations to the mix. Finally, the pinnacle of our counting expedition is reached with “kyu” (pronounced “kyoo”) for nine and “ju” (pronounced “joo”) for ten. With each number, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities and nuances of Japanese numerals.
Counting to Ten: A Basic Introduction
Learning to count to ten in Japanese is essential if you want to become fluent in the language. The good news is that it’s quite simple. The numbers one to ten are pronounced as follows:
1. 一 (ichi)
2. 二 (ni)
3. 三 (san)
4. 四 (yon/shi)
5. 五 (go)
6. 六 (roku)
7. 七 (nana/shichi)
8. 八 (hachi)
9. 九 (kyuu/ku)
10. 十 (juu)
It is important to note that the pronunciation of the number four changes depending on the following sound. When followed by a consonant, it is pronounced “yon”. When followed by a vowel, it is pronounced “shi”.
To practice counting to ten in Japanese, try saying the numbers out loud several times. You can also use a flashcard app or website to help you memorize the pronunciation.
Pronouncing Japanese Numbers
To correctly pronounce Japanese numbers, it’s important to understand the pronunciation of each digit:
| Digit | Pronunciation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ichi | ||
| 2 | ni
Pronunciation of “ni”The pronunciation of “ni” can vary slightly depending on the following number. For example:
| ||
| 3 | san | ||
| 4 | yon | ||
| 5 | go | ||
| 6 | roku | ||
| 7 | nana | ||
| 8 | hachi | ||
| 9 | kyu | ||
| 10 | ju | ||
| Word | Pronunciation | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| San | “san” (short “a”) | As a number (3) |
| San | “sah-n” (long “a”) | As a counter (e.g., three books) |
| San | “san” (short “a”) | As a suffix (e.g., sensei) |
4 – Yon
YON = 4
5 – Go
GO = 5
The Difficult Numbers (6-10)
The numbers 6 through 10 are a bit more challenging to learn than the first five. Here’s a breakdown:
• 6 (roku): Pronounced as “roh-koo,” this number is often mistaken for “goro” (five) due to their similar pronunciations. To avoid confusion, emphasize the “roh” sound in “roku.”
• 7 (nana): Pronounced as “nah-nah,” this number can be tricky because of its double “n” sound. Make sure to pronounce each “n” clearly to avoid confusion with other numbers.
• 8 (hachi): Pronounced as “hah-chee,” this number is fairly straightforward. However, it’s important to distinguish it from “ichi” (one) and “ju” (ten), which both start with a similar “ha” sound.
• 9 (kyu): Pronounced as “kyoo,” this number can be confusing because of its similarity to “ju” (ten). To avoid mistakes, pronounce “kyu” with a slightly higher pitch than “ju.”
• 10 (ju): Pronounced as “joo,” this number is simple to pronounce but often confused with “kyu” (nine). Again, emphasizing the higher pitch of “ju” can help clear up any ambiguity.
Here’s a table summarizing the pronunciation of numbers 6 through 10:
| Number | Pronunciation (Romaji) | Pronunciation (English) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | roku | roh-koo |
| 7 | nana | nah-nah |
| 8 | hachi | hah-chee |
| 9 | kyu | kyoo |
| 10 | ju | joo |
Counting to 5
The numbers 1 to 5 are the most basic numbers in Japanese and are essential for everyday communication. Let’s break down how to pronounce each number:
| Number | Pronunciation | Romanized |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ichi | ichi |
| 2 | ni | ni |
| 3 | san | san |
| 4 | yon | yon |
| 5 | go | go |
Note that the pronunciation of “5” changes depending on whether it is used alone or as part of a compound number. For example, when “5” is used on its own, it is pronounced “go.” However, when it is used to form compound numbers like “15” or “25,” it is pronounced as “go” (with a slightly nasal sound).
Compound Numbers (11-19)
Compound numbers from 11 to 19 follow a specific pattern. They are formed by combining the numbers 1 to 9 with the suffix “juu” (十), which means “ten.”
For example:
| Number | Pronunciation | Romanized |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | juuichi | jūichi |
| 12 | juuni | jūni |
| 13 | juusan | jūsan |
| 14 | juuyon | jūyon |
| 15 | juugo | jūgo |
| 16 | juuroku | jūroku |
| 17 | juunana | jūnana |
| 18 | juuhachi | jūhachi |
| 19 | juukyuu | jūkyū |
Tens
When counting in Japanese, tens are formed by adding the suffix “-juu” to the corresponding number. For example, “ten” is “juu” (十), “twenty” is “nijuu” (二十), and “thirty” is “sanjuu” (三十).
| Number | Japanese number |
|---|---|
| 10 | juu (十) |
| 20 | nijuu (二十) |
| 30 | sanjuu (三十) |
| 40 | yonjuu (四十) |
| 50 | gojuu (五十) |
Hundreds
To form hundreds, the suffix “-hyaku” is added to the corresponding number. For example, “one hundred” is “hyaku” (百), “two hundred” is “nihyaku” (二百), and “three hundred” is “sanbyaku” (三百).
| Number | Japanese number |
|---|---|
| 100 | hyaku (百) |
| 200 | nihyaku (二百) |
| 300 | sanbyaku (三百) |
| 400 | yonhyaku (四百) |
| 500 | gohyaku (五百) |
The number 6
The number 6 is a special case in Japanese. It has two different pronunciations: “roku” (六) and “mu” (無). “Roku” is used in most cases, but “mu” is used in certain specific contexts, such as when counting Buddhist priests or when the number 6 is used as a quantity measure (e.g., 6 pieces of fruit).
Here are some examples of the number 6 in different contexts:
- “Roku-ji” (六時): 6 o’clock
- “Roku-gatsu” (六月): June
- “Roku-nin” (六人): six people
- “Mu-on” (無音): silence
- “Mu-ryou” (無料): free of charge
Number 7 in Japanese
The number 7 holds great significance in Japanese culture. It is considered a lucky number, associated with good fortune and completeness. This belief stems from various traditions and beliefs:
Shichi-fuku-jin
The Shichi-fuku-jin are the seven lucky gods of Japanese mythology. Each god represents a different aspect of fortune, such as wealth, longevity, and wisdom. Their number symbolizes the completeness of good luck.
Shichi-go-san
Shichi-go-san is a Japanese festival held on November 15 to celebrate the growth and well-being of children ages 3, 5, and 7. The number 7 is seen as a milestone in a child’s life, marking the transition to adulthood.
O-shichi-ya
O-shichi-ya is a festival held in August to commemorate the legend of O-shichi, a young woman who set fire to the temple of Enryaku-ji in Kyoto in 1664. The number 7 is associated with the incident due to the belief that the fire started on the 7th day of the 7th month.
Table of Notable Number 7 Appearances in Japanese Culture:
| Symbol | Significance |
|---|---|
| Seven Lucky Gods | Good fortune and completeness |
| Shichi-go-san Festival | Celebrating child growth and well-being |
| O-shichi-ya Festival | Commemorating a historical event |
| Seven Wonders of Japan | Natural and cultural landmarks |
| Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper | Navigation and astrology |
Counting to 10 in Japanese
日本語で1から10まで数えよう。
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)
Using Numbers in Everyday Conversation
日常会話で数字を使用する
Asking for a phone number
電話番号を尋ねる
お電話番号を教えてください。(O denwa bango wo oshiete kudasai. )
Could you please tell me your phone number?
Asking for time
時間を尋ねる
今、何時ですか。(Ima, nanji desu ka. )
What time is it now?
Telling the price
値段を言う
これはいくらですか。(Kore wa ikura desu ka. )
How much is this?
Talking about age
年齢について話す
おいくつですか。(O ikutsu desu ka. )
How old are you?
Counting people or things
人や物を数える
3人。(San nin. )
3 people
5冊。(Go satsu. )
5 books
Describing the amount
量を表現する
たくさんの。(Takusan no. )
A lot of
少しの。(Sukoshi no. )
A little
Telling the date
日付を言う
今日は何日ですか。(Kyou wa nan nichi desu ka. )
What day is it today?
Expressing ordinal numbers
序数表現
| Ordinal Number | |
|---|---|
| 1st | 一番目(Ichibanme) |
| 2nd | 二番目(Nibamme) |
| 3rd | 三番目(Sanbanme) |
| 4th | 四番目(Yonbanme) |
| 5th | 五番目(Gobanme) |
Practice Exercises
To practice counting to 10 in Japanese, try the following exercises:
- Count out loud from 1 to 10, focusing on the pronunciation of each number.
- Write out the numbers 1 to 10 in Japanese characters, paying attention to the stroke order.
- Listen to audio recordings of native Japanese speakers counting to 10, and try to imitate their pronunciation.
- Use online flashcards or language learning apps to test your knowledge of Japanese numbers.
Pronunciation Tips
Here are some pronunciation tips for counting to 10 in Japanese:
- The “r” sound in Japanese is often pronounced as a light “d” sound, especially in the middle of words.
- The “o” sound in Japanese is pronounced as a rounded “oh” sound, similar to the “o” in “toe.”
- The “u” sound in Japanese is pronounced as a short “oo” sound, similar to the “u” in “foot.”
- The “n” sound in Japanese is pronounced with the tongue against the upper teeth, similar to the “n” in “ten.”
九 (kyu)
The number nine in Japanese is “kyu” (pronounced “koo”) and is written as 九 in kanji. Here are some additional details about the pronunciation of “kyu”:
- The “k” sound in “kyu” is pronounced with the tongue against the roof of the mouth, similar to the “k” in “cat.”
- The “y” sound in “kyu” is pronounced with the lips slightly rounded, similar to the “y” in “yes.”
- The “u” sound in “kyu” is pronounced as a short “oo” sound, similar to the “u” in “foot.”
| Number | Romaji | Kanji | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | kyu | 九 | koo |
Number 10
Counting to ten is the foundation of any language, and Japanese is no exception. The numbers from one to ten are fundamental building blocks that you’ll use throughout your Japanese learning journey. To count to ten in Japanese, you’ll need to memorize the following words:
- ichi (1)
- ni (2)
- san (3)
- yon (4)
- go (5)
- roku (6)
- nana (7)
- hachi (8)
- kyuu (9)
- juu (10)
To form the numbers from 11 to 19, you simply combine the words for the tens and ones. For example, 11 is "juuichi" (literally "ten-one"), 12 is "juuni" ("ten-two"), and so on.
Things get a little more interesting when you reach 20. The word for 20 is "nijuu," and the pattern continues for the other tens:
- sanjuu (30)
- yonjuu (40)
- gojuu (50)
- rokujuu (60)
- nanajuu (70)
- hachijuu (80)
- kyuujuu (90)
To form the numbers from 21 to 29, you simply combine the words for the tens and ones, just like you did for the numbers from 11 to 19. For example, 21 is "nijuuichi" ("twenty-one"), 22 is "nijuuni" ("twenty-two"), and so on.
And there you have it! You’ve now mastered the basics of counting to ten in Japanese. Just remember to practice regularly, and you’ll be counting like a native speaker in no time.
How to Count to 10 in Japanese
Learning how to count to 10 in Japanese is a great way to get started with the language. It’s a relatively simple task, and it will help you to develop a foundation for further learning.
Here are the numbers 1 to 10 in Japanese:
- 1 – ichi
- 2 – ni
- 3 – san
- 4 – yon
- 5 – go
- 6 – roku
- 7 – nana
- 8 – hachi
- 9 – kyuu
- 10 – juu
To practice, try counting to 10 out loud. You can also try writing the numbers down.
People Also Ask
What is the difference between “ichi” and “hitotsu”?
“Ichi” is the number one, while “hitotsu” is the counter for things that come in one piece. For example, you would use “ichi” to count people, but “hitotsu” to count apples.
Is there a way to count to 10 quickly?
Yes, there is a way to count to 10 quickly in Japanese. It’s called “jyuushi no uta,” or the “ten finger song.” To do this, hold up your hands and start counting with your left thumb. Touch your left thumb to your right thumb and say “ichi.” Then, touch your left thumb to your right index finger and say “ni.” Continue counting in this way until you reach “juu” (10).
What are some other tips for learning to count in Japanese?
Here are some other tips for learning to count in Japanese:
- Start by learning the numbers 1 to 10.
- Practice counting out loud and writing the numbers down.
- Use flashcards or a counting app to help you learn.
- Be patient and consistent with your practice.
