In the previous lesson, we have learned more about Japanese particles and their uses. The next lesson will be about Time and the particle ni(に) but before we have to learn the Japanese numbers.
This will be one of the simplest Japanese lessons. We will start with some numbers vocabulary and then move on to the numbers structure.
I provide the Kanji of these numbers so you get used to them. Later I will provide Kanji flashcards with their kun’yomi and on’yomi meaning.
I think that the vocabulary table is pretty much self-explanatory. I just would like to explain the little confusion you might have with “4”, “7” and “9”. It is simple. You can use both meanings, but the one in between the brackets is used less often.
You use the one in the brackets for combined meanings (July = Shichi-gatsu) but you don't have to worry about that yet.
You use the one in the brackets for combined meanings (July = Shichi-gatsu) but you don't have to worry about that yet.
Great, so now we can count from 1-10 but what comes next ?
To count from ten upwards, you simply combine ten with the number you need. You can do this until you reach 19.
Example:
じゅう いち = Juu ichi
(ten + one (11))
じゅう に = Juu ni
(ten + two (12))
When you want to count 20, 30, 40, etc. You simply put one, two, three, etc. in front of ten.
Example:
に じゅう = Ni Juu
(two x ten (20))
さん じゅう = San Juu
(three x ten (30))
よんじゅうよん = Yon Juu Yon
(four x ten + four (44))
※ Keep in mind that you have to use “yon” not “shi”, “nana” not “shichi” and “kyuu” not “ku”.
In other words, you multiply what goes before ten and you add what goes behind ten.
- 2 x 10 = 20
- 2 x 10 + 1 = 21
Great now we can count until 99. What about 100 and above ?
As you can see, it is as simple as counting from 1-99. One hundred means “hyaku”. To count upwards, you simply add numbers from 2-9 before “hyaku”. You have to take special care with “300”, “600” and “800”. They are different because in Japanese they think that it is easier to pronounce them like this.
If you want to tell a number between hundreds, you simply attach what we did earlier to the hundred.
Example:
ひゃく よんじゅう よん = Hyaku Yon Juu Yon
(100, 4, 10, 4 (144))
さんびゃく ごじゅう さん = San byaku Go Juu San
(300, 5, 10, 3 (353))
Again, you use the same logic as with ten. You multiply what goes in front of “100” and add what goes behind it.
- 3 x 100 + 5 x 10 = 350
- 100 + 3 x 10 + 5 + 135
In the “1000” group, you use the same pattern as before. Just pay attention to “san zen” and “has sen”.
Again, for numbers in between you simply attach what we did so far.
Example:
せん ひゃく よんじゅう よん = Sen Hyaku Yon Juu Yon
( 1000, 100, 4, 10, 4 (1144))
はっせんさんびゃく ごじゅう さん = Has sen San byaku Go Juu San
(8000, 300, 5, 10, 3 (8353))
Now we are done with the “1000” group and we can count until “9999”. We are done with the most complicated part of counting. Now, we finish with the “10,000” group.
This group is simple because there are no exceptions nor special pronunciations. You simply attach a number before “man” and you are done.
※ Only one exception: You have to attach “ichi” to “man” in order to say “10,000”. “Man” alone is not enough.
example:
いち まん = Ichi man
(1 x 10,000 (10,000))
に まん = Ni man
(2 x 10,000 (20,000))
じゅう まん = Juu man
(10 x 10,000 (100,000))
ひゃく まん = Hyaku man
(100 x 10,000 (1,000,000))
せん まん = Sen man
(1000 x 10,000 (10,000,000))
Congratulation, you can now count until 10,000,000. You have reached a new milestone in your Japanese learning path. You may be asking yourself why do I have to count so high? These numbers are mainly used for money and as you might know “100 yen” equals roughly “$1”. So, “10,000,000 yen” equals roughly “$100,000”. If you are going to spend more than this, you probably shouldn't use this guide and go pay for a Japanese teacher (little joke). Many prices in Japan are in the “hyaku” to “sen” range.
So when you want to buy a “PS Vita-2000” and the Cashier says:
- はい、いちまん きゅうせん ひゃく にじゅ えん です。
※ えん (円) = Yen (¥)
You know that he is saying that it costs ¥19,120. ($182 minus taxes)
※ Study Tip: Count, Count and Count. Start counting from 1-99. Then count the hundreds, the thousands and the ten thousands. Finally Pronounce random numbers. You use pieces of paper and write numbers from 1- 10,000,000 on them. Then you put them facedown or in a box and pronounce the random picked numbers.