Japanese numbers follow logical patterns that make them easier to learn than you might think. Once you understand the building blocks, you can read any number from 1 to millions.
These are your foundation. Master these ten numbers and you're ready to build any number.
4 can be ใใ (yon) or ใ (shi)
7 can be ใชใช (nana) or ใใก (shichi)
9 can be ใใ
ใ (kyuu) or ใ (ku)
The first reading is more common for counting. The alternate readings appear in specific contexts like telling time or counting objects.
Simply add ใใ ใ (ten) before any digit. Every number from 11-19 follows this exact pattern โ no irregular readings to memorize here!
Say the tens digit, then ใใ ใ (ten), then the ones digit. For round numbers like 20 or 30, just stop after ใใ ใ.
100 is ใฒใใ. For 200+, say the digit first. But watch out for sound changes!
These three numbers have sound changes for easier pronunciation:
1000 is ใใ. For 2000+, say the digit first. Again, watch for irregular readings!
These have sound changes:
Japanese groups large numbers by ten thousands, not thousands. ไธ (ใพใ) is 10,000 and is the key to large numbers.
Think of it this way: 100,000 is "10 ten-thousands" (ใใ ใใพใ), and 1,000,000 is "100 ten-thousands" (ใฒใใใพใ).
Put your knowledge to the test with interactive exercises.