how to count in Japanese

​Comprehensive GUIDE to COUNTING in JAPANESE and Learning Numbers in Japanese

Learning Japanese numerals is an important part of mastering the Japanese language. Japanese numerals are used to count, read, and write numbers in the Japanese language. Understanding the basics of these numerals will help you be able to communicate better in everyday conversations and understand written numbers on signs and documents. In this article, we will discuss what Japanese numerals are, how they are used, and how to learn them. With a little practice and dedication, you can soon be counting in Japanese like a pro!

NumberHiragana・KanjiRomaji
1いち(一)ichi
2に(二)ni
3さん(さん)(三)san
4よん・し・よ(四)yon/shi/yo
5ご(五) go
6ろく(六)roku
7なな・しち(七)nana/shichi
8はち(八)hachi
9きゅう・く(九)kyuu/ku
10じゅう(十)juu
11じゅういち(十一)juuichi
12じゅうに(十二)juuni
13じゅうさん(十三)juusan
14じゅうよん・じゅう(十四)juuyon/juushi
15じゅうご(十五)juugo
16じゅうろく(十六)juuroku
17じゅうなな・じゅうしち(十七)juunana/juushichi
18じゅうはち(十八)juuhachi
19じゅうきゅう・じゅうく(十九)juukyuu/juuku
20にじゅう(二十)nijuu
30さんじゅう(三十)sanjuu
40よんじゅう(四十)yonjuu
50ごじゅう(五十)gojuu
60ろくじゅう(六十)rokujuu
70ななじゅう(七十)nanajuu
80はちじゅう(八十)hachijuu
90きゅうじゅう(九十)kyuujuu
100ひゃく(百)hyaku
1000せん(千)sen
10000いちまん(一万)ichiman
100000じゅうまん(十万)juuman
1000000ひゃくまん(百万)hyakuman
10000000せんまん(千万)senman
100000000いちおく(一億)ichioku

Japanese Number System: How Do You Count from 1 to 10?

Counting 1 to 100 is easy, you just need to memorize numbers 1 to 10, and then from 10 onwards just follow this sample below. 

(1-100) Example:

  • 25 =  2 (ni) +  10 (juu) + 5 (go) = ni-juu-go
  • 33 = 3(san) + 10(juu) + 3 (san) = san-juu-san
  • 99 = 9 (kyuu) + 10(juu) + 9 (kyuu) = kyuu-juu-kyuu

(100 – 10000) Example:  

  • 125 = 100 (hyaku) + 2 (ni) +  10 (juu) + 5 (go) 

            = hyaku-ni-juu-go

  • 533 = 5(go) +100 (hyaku) + 3(san) + 10(juu) + 3 (san)

           = go-hyaku-san-juu-san

  • 2,347 = 2(ni) + 1000(sen)+ 3(san)+ 100 (byaku)+ 4 (yon)+10 (juu)+ 7 ( nana)

          = ni-sen-san-byaku-yon-juu+nana

Remember special numbers:

  • 300- sanbyaku
  • 800-happyaku

(10000 – 10000000) example:

Remember : 4 zeros from the right means 万 (man).

  •  15,0000 =15(juu-go)+10000(man)

          = juu-go-man

  • 230,0567= 2(ni) + 100 (hyaku)+3 (san)+10(juu-man)+5(go)+100(hyaku)+6(roku)+ 10(juu)+7(nana)

         = ni-hyaku-san-juu-man-go-hyaku-roku-juu-nana

Take the quiz

1. 38

2. 531

3. 10781

4. 312,781

comment  down your answers below.

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