Japanese Numbers: Easy Way to Count 1-100!

Do you want to learn how to count Japanese numbers 1-100? You are in the right place. We will make your counting in Japanese in a fun and easy way. 

 In this article, we will provide you with the equivalent Romaji (romanized spelling) of the Japanese numbers so you can pronounce them without difficulty.

But before we start, we get to know first about the Japanese Counting System.

Let’s go!

Japanese Counting System

Japan employs two different number systems, the pure Japanese and the Sino-Japanese. Pure Japanese uses original words, while Sino-Japanese are words borrowed from the Chinese.

Reading Japanese Numbers

• • Onyomi reading is Sino-Japanese
  • Kun’yomi reading is Japanese Yamato Kotoba

Interestingly, the difference between the counting systems is that the native Japanese reading is only available to 1-10, but the rest is Onyomi reading or Sino-Japanese.

Writing Japanese Numbers

The writing of the Japanese numbers comes in two ways, such as:

• • Arabic numerals – often used in horizontal writing.
  • Chinese Numerals – adopted from the Chinese number system and commonly used in vertical writing.

Counting Japanese Numbers 1-100: 3 Easy Steps

Counting numbers in Japanese is easy to master when you know the first 10. You can start counting by a small group, and you can be able to count up to 100 or higher. That is why we created the easiest way to learn to count Japanese numbers in 3 simple steps.

• 1. Count Japanese numbers by ones (1-9),
     then,
  2. Count by tens (10, 20, 30, and so on),
  3. Count by joining tens and ones together.

1. Count Japanese Numbers By Ones (1-9)

The first set of numbers you need to memorize is 1-9 or the ones. Indeed a significant part of learning to count in Japanese. When you memorize this set, the rest would be easy for you. Consider the helpful tip below when you memorize the numbers.

Tip: You can use the picture below to help you to remember the Japanese numbers. Did you know that linking the new words with something that you already know is one of the helpful tricks so far?

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

2. Count in Japanese By Tens (10-90)

After learning how to count ones (1-9) in Japanese numbers, this another set of tens is what you need to memorize. Using the formula below, counting by tens in Japan is so easy that anyone can do it.

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

3. Count Japanese Numbers By Joining Tens and Ones Together

The last step can be a lot easier once you’ve mastered counting ones and tens in Japanese. This time, you will join the tens and ones together. Check the formula below.

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.

Complete List of Japanese Number From 1-100

Use the following lists with the romanization of words in English to count fluently in Japanese. When you repeat the words after learning helps you not forget them. And if you see it interesting, you don’t want to stop counting. Keep practicing!

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

The new language you’ve learned can be easily forgotten, most especially when you don’t use them often. So the last and best tip is to share it with other people. Keep the learning alive!

Counting in Japanese is fun and easy. Right? So, why not learn the Japanese Alphabet as well. Check the
“Japanese Alphabet Katakana and Hiragana” article now!

But if you want to learn Japanese in one of the language schools located in Japan, FAIR Study in Japan would be glad to help you. You can contact us using the form below.

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