Japanese numbers, counters /Japanese numeral system (Japanese number system)

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Japanese numeral system for everyday use

CONTENTS

A VERY SHORT INTRODUCTION
THE ON'YOMI NUMERALS + interactive listening game
THE KUN'YOMI NUMERALS + interactive listening game
COUNTERS CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO CONSONANT MUTATIONS
COUNTERS CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO CATEGORY
ALPHABETICAL INDEX

A VERY SHORT INTRODUCTION

One of the difficult aspects of learning Japanese lies in its complicated numeral system.
There are two ways of pronouncing numbers; one using the on'yomi or the Chinese reading, which originates from Chinese pronunciation, and the other using the kun'yomi or the Japanese reading, based on a native way of reading. Which to use is determined by a kind of suffix called 助数詞(josûsi or "counter"). The on'yomi is far more generally used because not more than ten can be counted with the kun'yomi.

Another difficulty the learners of Japanese face is that things and persons are counted with a combination of a number and a suffix ("counter") grammatically called 助数詞(josûsi).　 For instance, three persons are represented as "san-nin" while three horses as "san-tô" and three dogs as "san-biki". On this page you can find some of these suffixes (counters)

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THE ON'YOMI NUMERALS

Listen and enjoy a game.
The pronunciation of the on'yomi originates from that of Old Chinese.
This form is far more often used than the kun'yomi numerals.

1 一	2 二	3 三	4 四	5 五	6 六	7 七	8 八	9 九	10 十
iti	ni	san	yon si	go	roku	nana siti	hati	kyû kû	zyû	kunrei-siki rômazi
ichi	ni	san	yon shi	go	roku	nana shichi	hachi	kyû kû	jû	Hepburn-shiki rômaji

Just as most Japanese don't care whether 日本　should be pronounced Nippon or Nihon, they don't care about the two ways of counting 四，　七，　and 九. But in some cases the choice is not allowed: i.e. 四月　ought to be "sigatu" not "yongatu".

THE NUMBERS MORE THAN TEN

The decimal numeral system is used in Japanese. The numbers greater than ten is represented by the first position (10⁰) + the second position (10¹) + the third position (10²) and so on.
12 = zyû ni = 10 (zyû) + 2 (ni)
356 = sambyaku gozyû roku = 300 (sambyaku) + 50 (gozyû) + 6 (roku)

NOTE: As you can see below, the numbers are grouped in four figures in Japanese, not three like in English.

11	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90
十一	二十	三十	四十	五十	六十	七十	八十	九十
zyûiti	nizyû	sanzyû	yonzyû	gozyû	rokuzyû	nanazyû	hatizyû	kyûzyû

100	200	300	400	500	600	700	800	900
百	二百	三百	四百	五百	六百	七百	八百	九百
hyaku	nihyaku	sambyaku	yonhyaku	gohyaku	roppyaku	nanahyaku	happyaku	kyûhyaku

1,000	2,000	3,000	4,000	5,000	6,000	7,000	8,000	9,000
(一）千	二千	三千	四千	五千	六千	七千	八千	九千
(is)sen	nisen	sanzen	yonsen	gosen	rokusen	nanasen	hassen	kyûsen

10,000	20,000	30,000	40,000	50,000	60,000	70,000	80,000	90,000
一万	二万	三万	四万	五万	六万	七万	八万	九万
itiman	niman	samman	yomman	goman	rokuman	nanaman	hatiman	kyûman

100,000	200,000	300,000	400,000	500,000	600,000	700,000	800,000	900,000
十万	二十万	三十万	四十万	五十万	六十万	九十万	八十万	九十万
zyû man	nizyû man	sanzyû man	yonzyû man	gozyû man	rokujû man	kyûzyû man	hatizyû man	kyûzyû man

1m	2m	3m	4m	5m	6m	7m	8m	9m
百万	二百万	三百万	四百万	五百万	六百万	七百万	八百万	九百万
hyaku man	nihyaku man	sambyaku man	yonhyaku man	gohyaku man	roppyaku man	nanahyaku man	happyaku man	kyûhyaku man

10m	20m	30m	40m	50m	60m	70m	80m	90m
(一）千万	二千万	三千万	四千万	五千万	六千万	七千万	八千万	九千万
(is)sen man	nisen man	sanzen man	yonsen man	gosen man	rokusen man	nanasen man	hassen man	kyûsen man

100m	200m	300m	400m	500m	600m	700m	800m	900m
一億	二億	三億	四億	五億	六億	七億	八億	九億
itioku	nioku	san'oku	yon'oku	go'oku	rokuoku	nanaoku	hatioku	kyûoku

1b	2b	3b	4b	5b	6b	7b	8b	9b
十億	二十億	三十億	四十億	五十億	六十億	七十億	八十億	九十億
zyû oku	nizyû oku	sanzyû oku	yonzyû oku	gozyû oku	rokujû oku	kyûzyû oku	hatizyû oku	kyûzyû oku

10b	20b	30b	40b	50b	60b	70b	80b	90b
百億	二百億	三百億	四百億	五百億	六百億	七百億	八百億	九百億
hyaku oku	nihyaku oku	sambyaku oku	yonhyaku oku	gohyaku oku	roppyaku oku	nanahyaku oku	happyaku oku	kyûhyaku oku

100b	200b	300b	400b	500b	600b	700b	800b	900b
一千億	二千億	三千億	四千億	五千億	六千億	七千億	八千億	九千億
issen oku	nisen oku	sanzen oku	yonsen oku	gosen oku	rokusen oku	nanasen oku	hassen oku	kyûsen oku

1trillion	2trillion	3trillion	4trillion	5trillion	6trillion	7trillion	8trillion	9trillion
一兆	二兆	三兆	四兆	五兆	六兆	七兆	八兆	九兆
ittyô	nityô	santyô	yontyô	gotyô	rottyô	nanatyô	hattyô	kyûtyô

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THE KUN'YOMI NUMERALS
This "genuine" form of the kun'yomi numerals is old fashioned and less often used.

1 一	2 二	3 三	4 四	5 五	6 六	7 七	8 八	9 九	10 十
hî	hû	mî	yô	itu	mû	nana	yâ	kokono	tô	kunrei-siki rômazi
hî	fû	mî	yô	itsu	mû	nana	yâ	kokono	tô	Hepburn-shiki rômaji

Instead of the "genuine" form above, the one with the suffix "-tu" is more commonly used.

Listen and enjoy a game.

1 一つ	2 二つ	3 三つ	4 四つ	5 五つ	6 六つ	7 七つ	8 八つ	9 九つ	10 十
hitotu	hutatu	mittu	yottu	itutu	muttu	nanatu	yattu	kokonotu	tô	kunrei-siki rômazi
hitotsu	futatu	mittsu	yottsu	itutsu	muttsu	nanatsu	yattsu	kokonotsu	tô	Hepburn-shiki rômaji

NOTE:
You cannot count more than eleven with the ku'yomi numerals. To express the number eleven and more, use on'yomi numerals. The expression, for example, "tô amari hitotu(十あまり一つ)" for "11", exists, but it is seldom, if ever, heard.

As for the usage, refer to this page.

A USEFUL TIP:
If you find it complicated to handle "counters" like the one listed below, always use this "-tu" form. It is applicable to many cases. As for the things more than ten, use the on'yomi numerals written above.
For example, when you are shopping and don't know how to count the things you want to buy, just point at them, saying これを五つください(Korewo ITUTU kudasi = May I have five of these items?) or これを十二ください(Korewo ZYUUNI kudasai = May I have 12 of these items?).

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When counting specific things, the Japanese usually add suffixes or "counters" to the basic numerals.
The "counters" can be classified in two ways: in terms of consonant mutation and category

COUNTERS CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO CONSONANT MUTATIONS

COUNTERS CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO CONSONANT MUTATIONS
GROUP 1
In this group you can get a given number by simply adding each suffix("counter") to the on'yomi numerals. Remeber that the consonant [n] becomes [m] when it precedes [b]. i.e. san + ban = samban, not sanban. 枚(mai)，　台(dai)，　番(ban)，　番地(banti)，　倍(bai)，　秒(byô)，　部(bu)，　度(do)，　語(go)，　文字(mozi)，　名(mei)，　問(mon)，　位(i)，　畳(zyô)，錠(zyô)，　行(gyô)，　羽(wa)，　両(ryô)，　夜(ya), 　ラウンド(raundo) and so on.
GROUP 2
In this group slight attention is needed in some numbers. Otherwise all you have to do is just add a suffix ("a counter") to the on'yomi numbers. 人(nin)，　月(gatu)，円(en)(yen),　字(zi)，　時(zi)，　時間(zikan)，　年(nen)，and so on.
GROUP 3
This group includes the suffix("counter") beginning with [k]. In this group, sokuon (geminate clusters) appears in "1","6","8"and"10". 個(ko)，　回(kai)，回転(kaiten),　階(kai)，課(ka)，画(kaku)，　軒(ken)，　件(ken)，　巻(kan)，　機(ki)，　ヶ月(kagetu)，　箇所(kasyo)，　曲(kyoku)，　級(kyû)，校(kô)，区(ku),　組(kumi)，　and so on. (NB) The counters of English-origin undergo the mutation only in "10". カップ(kappu)，　キロ(kiro)，　キログラム(kiroguramu)，キロメートル(kiromêtoru)，and so on. As for ケース(kêsu), it has two ways of pronunciation, in "1" and "2" and it may be assumed to belong to another group.
GROUP 4
This group includes the suffix("counter") beginning with [h] . In this group, sokuon (geminate clusters) appears in "1","6","8"and"10". Some "4"s have two pronunciations The first consonant of the suffix itself changes in "1""3","6","8"and"10". 本(hon)，　杯(hai)，　匹(hiki)，　発(hatu)，　歩(ho)，　票(hyô)，　分(hun)，　遍(hen)，　品(hin)，　泊(haku)，and so on.
GROUP 5
This group includes the suffix("counter") beginning with [p] . In this group, sokuon (geminate clusters) appears in "6","8"and"10". Sokuon may appear in "1" in some counters. ページ(peezi),　パーセント(pâsento), パック(pakku) and so on.
GROUP 6
This group includes the suffix("counter") beginning with [s][t] or [t] . In this group, sokuon (geminate clusters) appears in "1","8"and"10". 歳(sai)，　冊(satu)，　隻(seki)，世紀(seiki)　足(soku)，週(syû), 週間(syûkan)，　週目(syûme)，　周(syû)，　集(syû)，　　種類(syurui)，　章(syô)，　滴(teki)，　点(ten)，　頭(tô)，　等(tô)，　通，　着(tyaku)，　丁(tyô)，　丁目(tyôme)，　and so on.
GROUP 7
This group includes the numbers pronounced with kun'yomi. Actually, the whole set of kun'yomi numbers is used only for dates 日(ka)，　通り(tôri)，　組(kumi)，　切れ(kire)，　粒(tubu)，　ケース(kêsu)，　缶(kan)，　皿(sara)，　品(sina)，　箱(hako)，　袋(hukuro)，　針(hari)，　言(koto)，　晩(ban)，　月(tuki), 仕事(sigoto) and so on.

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COUNTERS CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO CATEGORY
* GROUP mentioned above

LIST OF COUNTERS CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO CATEGORY
counter	*	the word to which the counter is apply
living things
人(nin)	2	persons
名(mei)	1	persons
匹(hiki)	4	(small) animals, fish, insects
頭(tô)	6	cattle, horses etc
羽(wa)	1	birds, rabbits
general items
個(ko)	3	small things
本(hon)	4	long, cylindrical objects and works of arts
枚(mai)	1	something thin and flat
杯(hai)	4	glasses, cups, spoonfuls etc
缶(kan)	7	cans
カップ(kappu)	3	measurement cups
ケース(kêsu)	7	cases
パック(pakku)	5	cartons
箱(hako)	7	boxes
袋(hukuro)	7	paper bags, plastic bags
皿(sara)	7	dishes
着(tyaku)	6	clothing
足(soku)	6	shoes, socks
something to intake
品(sina)	7	dishes (food), items
品(hin)	4	dishes (food)
丁(tyô)	6	tofu
切れ(kire)	7	piece
粒(tubu)	7	grains, peas
錠(zyô)	1	tablets, capsules
machines, vehicles
台(dai)	1	cars, bikes, electric appliances, machines
機(ki)	3	planes
隻(seki)	6	ships, boats
両(ryô)	1	railroad cars
something related to intelligence, abstract things
冊(satu)	6	books, magazines, notebooks
巻(kan)	3	volumes of books
集(syû)	6	series, collection of books, CDs
通(tû)	6	letters
ページ(pêzi)	5	pages
章(syô)	6	chapters
部(bu)	1	circulations
言(koto)	7	words
字(zi)	2	letters(characters)
文字(mozi)	1	letters(characters)
語(go)	1	words
行(gyô)	1	lines
画(kaku)	3	strokes
点(ten)	6	fine arts
通り(tôri)	6	ways to do something
種類(syurui)	6	kinds
仕事(sigoto)	7	jobs
課(ka)	3	lessons
パーセント(pâsento)	5	percent
time
年(nen)	2	years
月(tuki)	7	months
月(gatu)	2	the names of the month
ヶ月(kagetu)	3	the duration of the months
週間(syûkan)	6	the duration of the weeks
週目(syûme)	6	the order of the weeks
日(niti)(ka)	7	days, date
時(zi)	2	time
時間(zikan)	2	hours
分(hun)	4	minutes
秒(byô)	1	seconds
夜(ya)	1	nights, evenings
晩(ban)	7	nights, evenings
世紀(seiki)	6	century
泊(haku)	4	overnight stays, overnight trips
歳(sai)	6	ages
frequency
回(kai)	3	frequency, times
度(do)	1	frequency, times
遍(hen)	3	frequency, times
倍(bai)	1	multiples
周(syû)	6	turns
回転(kaiten)	3	turns
ラウンド(raundo)	1	round (golf, boxing)
order, rank, grades
位(i)	1	order, rank
番(ban)	1	order
等(tô)	6	order, grades, class, prize
着(tyaku)	6	order,
級(kyû)	3	grades, rank,
location
箇所(kasyo)	3	places, mistakes, parts, passages
階(kai)	3	storey, floors
軒(ken)	3	houses and buildings
区(ku)	3	wards, zones, constituencies
丁目(tyôme)	6	place name(block in the city)
番地(banti)	1	house number
畳(zyô)	1	tatami mats
校(kô)	3	schools
組(kumi)	3	homeroom number
others
円(en)(yen)	2	yen
度(do)	1	degrees
歩(ho)	3	steps
滴(teki)	6	drops
雫(sizuku)	7	drops
件(ken)	3	accidents, incidents, events
発(hatu)	4	shots, explosions
票(hyô)	3	votes
息(iki)	7	breaths, rests