Why count matters
Picture this: you’re in a bustling Tokyo market, eyeing two bright red apples, and you want to point and say “Two, please.” But wait—how do you say “two”? Getting your head around the japanese counting system can feel tricky at first, yet it’s a vital skill for everything from ordering coffee to asking ticket prices. In this ultimate guide, we’ll break down the core number sets, explore essential counters, highlight pronunciation quirks, and show you simple phrases so you can count like a pro on your Tokyo trip.
By the end, you’ll feel confident using numbers in everyday situations—whether you’re grabbing three drinks, hailing a taxi for four people, or checking the fare at a vending machine. Let’s dive in step by step.
Understanding Japanese numbers
Native Japanese numbers
Native Japanese numbers cover 1 to 10 and use the suffix 〜つ (tsu). These wago (native) numerals don’t require special counters, so you can say:
- ひとつ (hitotsu) – one
- ふたつ (futatsu) – two
- みっつ (mittsu) – three
…and so on up to とう (tō) for ten.
Native numbers feel more casual and often pop up when you count abstract things like ideas, siblings’ ages, or steps in a checklist.
Sino-Japanese numbers
From 1 through 10, Japan also uses sino-Japanese numbers borrowed from Chinese:
- 一 (いち, ichi) – one
- 二 (に, ni) – two
- 三 (さん, san) – three
…up to 十 (じゅう, jū) – ten.
Above ten, the pattern stays logical: 11 is 十一 (jūichi), 21 is 二十一 (nijūichi), and on. These kango (sino-Japanese) numbers require counters for most objects (OptiLingo).
Using counters in Japanese
What counters do
In Japanese, you can’t just slap a number in front of a noun (except 1–10 native numerals). You need a counter word—think of it like saying “two pieces” or “three sticks” in English. Counters give context about shape, size, or category.
Must-know counters
Here are counters you’ll encounter most often. The table below shows their uses and example readings:
| Counter | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜つ | Wildcard up to 10 (native) | 三つの箱 (mittsu no hako) – three boxes |
| 個 (こ) | General small items (kango) | 二個のりんご (niko no ringo) – two apples |
| 本 (ほん) | Long cylindrical objects | 一本のペン (ippon no pen) – one pen |
| 枚 (まい) | Flat objects | 五枚の写真 (gomai no shashin) – five photos |
| 人 (にん) | People | 三人 (sannin) – three people |
| 匹 (ひき) | Small/medium animals | 二匹の猫 (nihiki no neko) – two cats |
These six form the foundation. Once you know their patterns, you’ll spot similar ones for bowls (杯, はい), vehicles (台, だい), and more.
Counter 〜つ and 個
Use native 〜つ for 1–10 things casually, like ordering snacks at a café. Use 個 with kango numbers for up to any amount, especially in shops.
Counter 本 and 枚
本 covers long, thin items—pens, bottles, trees. 枚 counts flat items—paper, plates, shirts.
Counter 人 and 匹
人 reads ひとり (hitori) for one, ふたり (futari) for two, then さんにん (sannin) onward. 匹 reads ひき (hiki) but often shifts to びき or ぴき in sound changes—more on that shortly.
Mastering pronunciation quirks
Lucky and unlucky numbers
Here’s the thing: some numbers carry cultural weight. Avoid 4 (四) read as し (shi) because it sounds like “death” (死). Instead say よん (yon). Likewise, use なな (nana) for 7 rather than しち (shichi). The number 9 (九) read as く (ku) can sound like “suffering” (苦), so you might hear きゅう (kyū) instead. On the flip side, 7 is lucky, showing up in festivals and gift sets.
Euphonic changes
Certain numeral+counter combos shift sounds for smooth flow. For example:
- 六 (ろく) + 匹 (ひき) → ろっぴき (roppiki)
- 八 (はち) + 本 (ほん) → はっぽん (happon)
These historic sound shifts pop up all the time—so don’t be surprised when you hear roppiki for six small animals instead of *rokuhiki. Want more practice? Check our japanese numbers pronunciation guide.
Writing numbers in Japanese
Kanji versus numerals
In vertical text or formal contexts, you’ll see Chinese numerals (一, 二, 三). In horizontal or casual writing, Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) rule. Hiragana numbers (ひとつ, ふたつ) can get unwieldy for longer texts, so you’ll rarely spot them beyond simple lists.
Formal numbers for security
In legal and financial docs, Japan uses daiji (大字) formal numerals to prevent fraud. One through ten get unique kanji—壱 (1), 弐 (2), 参 (3), and so on (Wikipedia). You won’t need these for daily convo, but it’s fun trivia when you spot them on banknotes.
Counting big figures
Units of four
Unlike English, Japanese groups large numbers by four digits. So 10,000 is 一万 (ichiman), and 100 million is 一億 (ichioku). After 9,999万 you hit 1億 (100,000,000). Thanks to Western influence, you’ll still see commas every three digits in most printed materials (Tae Kim’s Guide).
From man to oku
Here’s the breakdown:
- 万 (man) = 10^4 (10,000)
- 億 (oku) = 10^8 (100,000,000)
- 兆 (chō) = 10^12 (1,000,000,000,000)
To say 25,300, you’d combine: 二万五千三百 (nimansen gohyaku). You don’t need a zero word; it’s implied between units.
Practice with everyday phrases
Ready to get counting in real situations? Here are some go-to lines:
Asking ticket prices
“切符を二枚ください”
Kippu o nimai kudasai
“Two tickets, please”
(See more on japanese train announcements translation)
Ordering food and drinks
“コーヒー三杯お願いします”
Kōhī sanbai onegaishimasu
“Three coffees, please”
(Check our japanese restaurant phrases ordering)
Shopping and bargaining
“りんごを五個いくらですか？”
Ringo o goko ikura desu ka?
“How much are five apples?”
(Link to japanese shopping phrases useful)
Handling money
“千円を二枚ください”
Sen-en o nimai kudasai
“Two 1,000-yen bills, please”
(Practice more with japanese money phrases)
Checking the time and date
“今、何時ですか？”
Ima nan-ji desu ka?
“What time is it now?”
(See japanese time expressions and japanese days of week)
Key takeaways
- Native Japanese numbers (1–10) use 〜つ, no counters needed.
- Sino-Japanese numbers require counters for most items.
- Learn core counters: 〜つ, 個, 本, 枚, 人, 匹.
- Watch out for euphonic shifts (roppiki, happon) and unlucky readings.
- Use kanji in formal/vertical text, numerals in casual contexts.
- Big numbers group by four digits: 万, 億, 兆.
- Practice with simple phrases for tickets, food, shopping, and time.
Start small—count your coffee, order a few snacks, and soon you’ll breeze through any number in Tokyo. Happy counting!
Frequently asked questions
1. Can I use Arabic numerals orally?
Arabic numerals are for writing. When speaking, use the Japanese words—ichi, ni, san, and their native equivalents hitotsu, futatsu, mittsu.
2. Do I need counters for people?
Yes. Use 人 (にん): ひとり (one person), ふたり (two people), さんにん (three people) onward. Saying *san hito without the counter sounds odd.
3. What’s the easiest counter to start with?
Try the wildcard 〜つ up to ten. It’s super versatile for small, general items. Once you hit eleven, switch to 個 with kango numbers.
4. How do I avoid unlucky readings?
Say よん for four, なな for seven, and きゅう for nine. This sidesteps associations with death and suffering.
5. Where can I practice listening to counters?
Tune into local announcements, TV shows, or our japanese train announcements translation page. Real-world practice cements those pronunciations.
