How to Count in Japanese
Learning numbers and counting in Japanese is simplified because the Japanese number system is quite logical. The entire number system is based on counting the number of tens and then adding the ones. For example, 11 is jū-ichi, which is 10 (jū) plus 1 (ichi). 21 is ni-jū-ichi, which is 2 (ni) times 10 (jū) plus 1 (ichi).
When you're counting numbers in order, you'll use this pronunciation.
1 to 99
| ichi |
1 |
| ni |
2 |
| san |
3 |
| shi or yon |
4 |
| go |
5 |
| roku |
6 |
| shichi or nana |
7 |
| hachi |
8 |
| kyû |
9 |
| jû |
10 |
| jûichi |
11 |
| jûni |
12 |
| jûsan |
13 |
| jûshi or jûyon |
14 |
| jûgo |
15 |
| jûroku |
16 |
| jûshichi or jûnana |
17 |
| jûhachi |
18 |
| jûkyû or jûku |
19 |
| nijû |
20 |
| nijûichi |
21 |
| nijûni |
22 |
| nijûsan |
23 |
| sanjû |
30 |
| sanjûichi |
31 |
| sanjûni |
32 |
| yonjû |
40 |
| gojû |
50 |
| rokujû |
60 |
| nanajû |
70 |
| hachijû |
80 |
| kyûjû |
90 |
| kyûjûkyû |
99 |
Counting larger numbers is just a question of adding the number of hundreds, thousands, and so on, in front of the same patterns as for numbers 1-99. For example, the number 150 is pronounced as hyakugoju, which is 1 hyaku plus 50 (gojū).
100 and higher
| 100 |
hyaku |
| 101 |
hyakuichi |
| 102 |
hyakuni |
| 150 |
hyakugoju |
| 500 |
gohyaku |
| 999 |
kyû-hyaku-kyû-jû-kyû |
| 1,000 |
sen |
When the numbers are followed by a suffix, such as ji (o'clock) and mai (sheets of), the numbers might be read differently.
Language Phrases Glossary
accusative case
When noun or pronoun is the direct object of the verb of the sentence, you are required to switch to the accusative case ending.
Language Phrases Glossary
dative case
When noun or pronoun is the indirect object of the verb of the sentence, you are required to switch to the dative case ending.
Language Phrases Glossary
genitive case
When the noun or pronoun indicates possession, you are required switch to the genitive case ending.
Language Phrases Glossary
instrumental case
A Russian grammatical term that indicates that the noun or pronoun assist in the carrying out of an action, you are required to switch to the accusative case ending.
Language Phrases Glossary
interrogative
Words used to ask questions, such as who, what, when, where, and why.
Language Phrases Glossary
macron
A small, horizontal mark above the vowel that indicates a long vowel sound. Make the vowel sound like its name.
Language Phrases Glossary
nominative case
When noun or pronoun is the subject of the sentence, you are required to switch to the nominative case ending.
Language Phrases Glossary
prepositional case
A grammatical case that indicates that the noun or pronoun is the object of a preposition, you are required to switch to the accusative case ending. Used with the Russian prepositions: v (v; in), na (nah; on), o (oh; about), and ob (ohb; about).
