If you find it hard to count in Japanese, well, here are some easy ways to do it. I will help you to memorize the numbers by reading the Romaji or Roman letters and by following some helpful guides. But before we start, I’ll give you some practical information about Japanese numerals.
- In writing, Japanese numerals entirely based on Chinese numerals.
- In reading, there are two sets;
Onyomi reading based on Chinese, Sino-Japanese.
Kun’yomi reading based on Japanese Yamato Kotoba.
To learn counting numbers in Japanese, this is what we are going to do.
- Let’s count by ones in Japanese (1-9).
- Let’s count by tens (10, 20, 30…) in Japanese.
- Let’s count by joining tens and ones together.
If you want to learn the Japanese Alphabet, please, click the link below.
Easy way to learn Japanese Alphabet Katakana and Hiragana.
Let’s count by ones in Japanese from 1-9.
All you have to do is to memorize the first set of numbers.
Tips: You can use the picture below to help you to remember the Japanese numbers.
Number 1, in Japanese ichi; Remember this picture “itchy.”
Number 2, in Japanese ni; Remember this picture “knee.”
Number 3, in Japanese san; Remember this picture “sun.”
Number 4, in Japanese yon; Remember this picture “yawn”
Number 5, in Japanese, go; Remember this picture “go.”
Number | Romaji | Hiragana | Kanji |
1 | ichi | いち | 一 |
2 | ni | に | 二 |
3 | san | さん | 三 |
4 | yon | よん | 四 |
5 | go | ご | 五 |
6 | roku | ろく | 六 |
7 | nana | しち | 七 |
8 | hachi | はち | 八 |
9 | kyuu | きゅう | 九 |
Let’s count by tens in Japanese. (10-90)
This is the other set that you should memorize.
Tips: Try this format:
In 10 you say juu only
In 20, you say ni (2)+ juu (10) = ni juu, (number 2 to 9 add juu)
Number | Romaji | Hiragana | Kanji |
10 | juu | じゅう | 十 |
20 | ni juu | にじゅう | 二十 |
30 | san juu | さんじゅう | 三十 |
40 | yon juu | よんじゅう | 四十 |
50 | go juu | ごじゅう | 五十 |
60 | roku juu | ろくじゅう | 六十 |
70 | nana juu | ななじゅう | 七十 |
80 | hachi juu | はちじゅう | 八十 |
90 | kyuu juu | きゅうじゅう | 九十 |
Let’s count by joining tens and ones together.
For the last step, this would be easy since you know the numbers above. Just consider the tips, which will help you count from 1-100 in Japanese.
Tips:
Remember this formula, juu (10) + ichi (1) = juu ichi (11).
In like manner, ni juu (20) + ichi (1) = ni juu Ichi (21), and so forth.
Number | Romaji |
11 | juu ichi |
22 | ni juu ni |
33 | san juusan |
44 | yon juu yon |
55 | go juu go |
66 | roku juu roku |
77 | nana juu nana |
88 | hachi juu hachi |
99 | kyuu juu kyuu |
It’s very easy, right? By just reading the Romaji, you will learn the proper pronunciation. Besides, counting numbers in Japanese has a similarity in counting numbers in English. That is why it’s not difficult to remember the numbers. So, let’s practice more.
Counting in Japanese number 1-100
Here are the full lists of numbers and Romaji.
1-20
1 | ichi | 11 | juu ichi |
2 | ni | 12 | juu ni |
3 | san | 13 | juu san |
4 | yon | 14 | juu yon |
5 | go | 15 | juu go |
6 | roku | 16 | juu roku |
7 | nana | 17 | juu nana |
8 | hachi | 18 | juu hachi |
9 | kyuu | 19 | juu kyuu |
10 | juu | 20 | ni juu |
21-40
21 | ni juu ichi | 31 | san juu ichi |
22 | ni juu ni | 32 | san juu ni |
23 | ni juu san | 33 | san juu san |
24 | ni juu yon | 34 | san juu yon |
25 | ni juu go | 35 | san juu go |
26 | ni juu roku | 36 | san juu roku |
27 | ni juu nana | 37 | san juu nana |
28 | ni juu hachi | 38 | san juu hachi |
29 | ni juu kyuu | 39 | san juu kyuu |
30 | san juu | 40 | yon juu |
41-60
41 | yon juu ichi | 51 | go juu ichi |
42 | yon juu ni | 52 | go juu ni |
43 | yon juu san | 53 | go juu san |
44 | yon juu yon | 54 | go juu yon |
45 | yon juu go | 55 | go juu go |
46 | yon juu roku | 56 | go juu roku |
47 | yon juu nana | 57 | go juu nana |
48 | yon juu hachi | 58 | go juu hachi |
49 | yon juu kyuu | 59 | go juu kyuu |
50 | go juu | 60 | roku juu |
61-80
61 | roku juu ichi | 71 | nana juu ichi |
62 | roku juu ni | 72 | nana juu ni |
63 | roku juu san | 73 | nana juu san |
64 | roku juu yon | 74 | nana juu yon |
65 | roku juu go | 75 | nana juu go |
66 | roku juu roku | 76 | nana juu roku |
67 | roku juu nana | 77 | nana juu nana |
68 | roku juu hachi | 78 | nana juu hachi |
69 | roku juu kyuu | 79 | nana juu kyuu |
70 | nana juu | 80 | hachi juu |
81-100
81 | hachi juu ichi | 91 | kyuu juu ichi |
82 | hachi juu ni | 92 | kyuu juu ni |
83 | hachi juu san | 93 | kyuu juu san |
84 | hachi juu yon | 94 | kyuu juu yon |
85 | hachi juu go | 95 | kyuu juu go |
86 | hachi juu roku | 96 | kyuu juu roku |
87 | hachi juu nana | 97 | kyuu juu nana |
88 | hachi juu hachi | 98 | kyuu juu hachi |
89 | hachi juu kyuu | 99 | kyuu juu kyuu |
90 | kyuu juu | 100 | hyaku |
Here’s another tip so you won’t easily forget it. Counting in Japanese numbers 1-100 with your friends or your loved ones.
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