An Introduction to Japanese Numbers
Welcome to another Japanese Grammar lesson! Today we will give a short but efficient introduction to Japanese numbers.
Numbers are one of the first lessons you will learn in class, so we created this page for you to visit if you ever need to review some of your knowledge, or have a look at a number you forgot how to pronounce!
Make sure to save this page, and visit our Japanese Grammar Bank for more lessons like this one.
Japanese Numbers | From 1 to 10 (+Kunyomi & Onyomi)
Japanese Numbers | Zero in Japanese
Japanese Numbers | Numbers Beyond 100
Japanese Numbers | Exceptions
Japanese Numbers | Big Numbers
Japanese Numbers | FAQ’s
Japanese Numbers – Kunyomi and Onyomi
Kanji is used to indicate numbers have Kunyomi and Onyomi.
Kunyomi is the Japanese pronunciation of a Kanji character while Onyomi is a pronunciation derived from Chinese where Kanji originated.
The native Japanese reading, which is kunyomi or โkun readingโ is used only up to ten numbers. Hence, you are more likely to use Sino-Japanese reading which is Onyomi or โOn readingโ.
Before understanding the difference between kunyomi and onyomi, first letโs get familiar with the numbers. Master the numbers up to 10 by practicing them continuously so you can easily count beyond 10.
In this guide, we are going to learn numbers in Kanji followed by their pronunciation in kunyomi and onyomi.
Number | Kanji | Native Japanese Reading (Kunyomi) | Romaji of Kunyomi | Sino-Japanese reading (Onyomi) | Romaji of Onyomi |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ไธ | ใฒใจใผใค | Hitotsu | ใใก | Ichi |
2 | ใ | ใตใใผใค | Futatsu | ใซ | Ni |
3 | ไธ | ใฟใฃใผใค | Mittsu | ใใ | San |
4 | ๅ | ใใฃใผใค | Yottsu | ใใใใ | Shi, Yon |
5 | ไบ | ใใคใผใค | Itsutsu | ใ | Go |
6 | ๅ ญ | ใใฃใผใค | Muttsu | ใใ | Roku |
7 | ไธ | ใชใชใผใค | Nanatsu | ใใกใใชใช | Shichi, Nana |
8 | ๅ ซ | ใใฃใผใค | Yattsu | ใฏใก | Hachi |
9 | ไน | ใใใฎใผใค | Kokonotsu | ใใใใ ใ | Ku, Kyuu |
10 | ๅ | ใจใ | Tou | ใใ ใ | Jyuu |
100 | ็พ | ใฒใใ | Hyaku | ||
1000 | ๅ | ใใ | Sen |
Japanese Numbers – The Pronunciation of Zero
For 0, the kanji is ้ถ with pronunciation ใใ (rei). However, it is commonly used the same way it is used in English.
0 is commonly used as ใผใญ (zero in Katakana script of Japanese language).
Sometimes, it is also referred as ใใซ (maru) which translates to โcircleโ. It is used like โohโ is used instead of โzeroโ in English when reading individual digits of a number.
Once you master counting up to 10, counting beyond 10 becomes much easier to learn. You just have to keep compounding and adding.
Let me show you an example: 11 is ๅไธ
If you refer to the above table, you can easily notice that it is a combination for Kanji used for 10 and Kanji used for 1.
To pronounce the number, you just have to add the Sino-Japanese reading of both the numbers, in this case 10 and 1.
The pronunciation of 11 (ๅไธ) is ใใ ใใใก (Jyuu-ichi).
Following the exact same rule: the pronunciation of 15 is ใใ ใใ (Jyuu-go).
For numbers beyond 19, all you need to do is count the 10s (two 10’s, three 10’s and so on) and then add the next number.
The pronunciation of 20 (ไบๅ) is ใซใใ ใ (Ni-jyuu).
Following this rule: 47 is ๅๅไธ. The pronunciation of 47 is ใใใใ ใใใก (Yon-jyuu-shichi).
Japanese Numbers Beyond 100
For numbers beyond 100, just count the 100’s, count the 10’s and then add the next number.
459 is ๅ็พไบๅไน, pronounced as ใใใฒใใใใใ ใใใ ใ (Yon-hyaku-go-jyuu-kyuu).
For numbers beyond 1,000, you have to follow exact same procedure. Count the 1000’s, count the 100’s, count the 10’s and then add the next number.
If there is a no number in the middle, for example, a number with a zero in it, you just have to skip the counting for that part.
For example: 2022 is ไบๅไบๅไบ.
The pronunciation of 2022 is ใซใใใซใใ ใใซ (Ni-sen-ni-jyuu-ni).
Japanese Numbers – Exceptions
There are some pronunciation exceptions, so keep those in mind.
Numbers | Kanji | Sino-Japanese Reading | Romaji |
---|---|---|---|
300 | ไธ็พ | ใใใณใใ | San-byaku |
600 | ๅ ญ็พ | ใใฃใดใใ | Rop-pyaku |
800 | ๅ ซ็พ | ใฏใฃใดใใ | Hap-pyaku |
3,000 | ไธๅ | ใใใใ | San-zen |
So, counting up till now is quite easy, right? Donโt worry! The next numbers are also easy too!
Japanese Numbers – Big Numbers
Thereโs just one thing you need to be careful about.
Up until now, we didnโt use ใใกใใ for 1000, nor ใใกใฒใใ for 100 or ใใกใใ ใ for 10.
From now, things become a little different.
Numbers | Kanji | Sino-Japanese Reading | Romaji |
---|---|---|---|
10,000 | ไธไธ | ใใกใพใ | Ichi-mann |
100,000 | ๅไธ | ใใ ใใพใ | Jyuu-mann |
1,000,000 | ็พไธ | ใฒใใใพใ | Hyaku-mann |
10,000,000 | ๅไธ | ใใใพใ | Sen-mann |
100,000,000 | ไธๅ | ใใกใใ | Ichi-oku |
Letโs look at a bigger number now: 123,456
Number | Kanji | Sino-Japanese Reading | Romaji |
---|---|---|---|
123456 | ๅไบไธไธๅๅ็พไบๅๅ ญ | ใใ ใใซใพใใใใใใใใฒใใใใใ ใใใ | Jyuu-ni-mann-san-zen-yon-hyaku-go-jyuu-roku |
Now you can understand why itโs easier to use Kanji for Japanese numbers, right? For big numbers, Hiragana can get pretty long and sometimes confusing too.
Hence, the use of Arab numerals is pretty common in Japanese, especially with bigger numbers.
In our next article, you will learn to use these numbers with counters, for stating numbers of specific objects. So, until then, keep practicing!
้ ๅผตใฃใฆใญโผ
Are you a Flexi Classes student already?
Learn more about Numbers in Japanese in the following Flexi lesson:
Numbers (Intro)
Not a Flexi Student yet?
Not so painful, eh? You can now count numbers in Japanese!
We used lots of Kanji and Hiragana in this lesson, so make sure to learn or review them before heading on to more difficult lessons:
- Step by Step Guide to Hiragana
- Introduction to Japanese Kanji
- Step by Step Guide to Katakana
Have you ever considered taking online Japanese classes?
We are offering a Free Trial for classes on our Flexi Classes platform, where we teach Japanese 24/7 with native professional teachers.
If you fancy testing yourself, why not take our Japanese numbers quiz as well?
Let us know if you have any questions, we would love to hear about your study project!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are Japanese numbers from 1 to 10?
Here are the Japanese numbers from 1 to 10:
1 (ไธ) ใใก Ichi
2 (ใ) ใซ Ni
3 (ไธ) ใใ San
4 (ๅ) ใใใใ Shi, Yon
5 (ไบ) ใ Go
6 (ๅ ญ) ใใ Roku
7 (ไธ) ใใกใใชใช Shichi, Nana
8 (ๅ ซ) ใฏใก Hachi
9 (ไน) ใใใใ ใ Ku, Kyuu
10 (ๅ) ใใ ใ Jyuu
What’s the difference between Kunyomi and Onyomi?
Kanji all have a Kunyomi and an Onyomi.
Kunyomiย is the Japanese pronunciation of a Kanji character.
It is used only up to the number ten.
Onyomiย is a pronunciation derived from Chinese where Kanji originated and is usually the one we use on a daily basis.
What is 0 (zero) in Japanese?
For 0, the kanji is ้ถ and is pronounced ใใ (rei).
Sometimes, it is also referred as ใใซ (maru) which translates to โcircleโ. It is used like โohโ is used instead of โzeroโ in English when reading individual digits of a number.
However, to pronounce the number 11 for example, you just have to add the Sino-Japanese reading of both the numbers, 10 and 1:
ย 11 (ๅไธ) is ใใ ใใใก (Jyuu-ichi).
Following the exact same rule: the pronunciation of 15 is ใใ ใใ (Jyuu-go).
How do you say 100 in Japanese?
100 (็พ) in Japanese is ใฒใใhyaku.
How to say 1,000 in Japanese?
1000 (ๅ) in Japanese is ใใ sen.
Do you teach the Japanese numbers in class?
Absolutely yes.
The Japanese numbers are taught as part of the first lessons on Flexi Classes.
The teacher takes time to teach you the numbers, have you do some exercises to help retain them better and will always be there of you have more questions about the lesson.
Have a look at our Japanese Flexi Classes here.