1
いち
ichi
one
Beginner Lesson
Japanese numbers and time: count, pay, arrive, and survive.
Numbers are not just math. They are yen, train times, hotel rooms, appointments, dates, phone numbers, platform numbers, ages, and “how many people?”
Say every number out loud. Counting becomes useful when your mouth can find the number quickly.
Counting rule: Japanese numbers become powerful when attached to real life: yen, time, tickets, rooms, and appointments.
Start here
The first ten numbers
These are the foundation. Learn them until you can say them without thinking. For beginners, use よん for 4, なな for 7, and きゅう for 9.
2
に
ni
two
3
さん
san
three
4
よん
yon
four
5
ご
go
five
6
ろく
roku
six
7
なな
nana
seven
8
はち
hachi
eight
9
きゅう
kyuu
nine
10
じゅう
juu
ten
Practice
Turn the first ten numbers into reflexes.
Play Numbers & Time →Listen
Hear simple numbers and phrases.
Play Listening Practice →Building bigger numbers
Japanese numbers are mostly logical.
Once you know 1 through 10, you can build bigger numbers by stacking parts.
11
じゅういち
juu-ichi
ten-one = eleven
20
にじゅう
ni-juu
two-ten = twenty
21
にじゅういち
ni-juu-ichi
two-ten-one = twenty-one
99
きゅうじゅうきゅう
kyuu-juu-kyuu
nine-ten-nine = ninety-nine
Hundreds, thousands, ten-thousands
The big number to remember is 万.
English groups large numbers by thousands. Japanese uses 万 for 10,000. This matters for prices, salaries, rent, and business Japanese.
一万円
ichiman en
10,000 yen
一万円 is one of the most important money words in Japan. Learn it early.
Money
Prices and yen
Add 円 — えん — after the number to say yen.
100 yen
百円
hyaku en
100 yen
500 yen
五百円
gohyaku en
500 yen
1,000 yen
千円
sen en
1,000 yen
10,000 yen
一万円
ichiman en
10,000 yen
How much?
いくらですか。
Ikura desu ka.
How much is it?
This, please
これをください。
Kore o kudasai.
This one, please.
Clock time
What time is it?
Add 時 — じ — after the hour. For half past, use 半 — はん.
1:00
一時
ichiji
one o'clock
2:30
二時半
niji han
two-thirty
4:00
四時
yoji
four o'clock
7:00
七時
shichiji
seven o'clock
Train and appointment time
Time becomes practical at the station.
If you can understand time, you can understand departures, reservations, appointments, meetings, and closing times.
What time is it?
何時ですか。
Nanji desu ka.
What time is it?
What time does it leave?
何時に出ますか。
Nanji ni demasu ka.
What time does it leave?
I have a reservation
予約があります。
Yoyaku ga arimasu.
I have a reservation.
I want to make an appointment
予約をしたいです。
Yoyaku o shitai desu.
I would like to make an appointment.
Which platform?
何番線ですか。
Nanbansen desu ka.
Which platform is it?
Practice train time
Use numbers and time inside train situations.
Play Train Station Panic →Days of the week
曜日 means day of the week.
The days are important for appointments, reservations, work schedules, school, hospitals, and city hall.
Monday
月曜日
getsuyoubi
Monday
Tuesday
火曜日
kayoubi
Tuesday
Wednesday
水曜日
suiyoubi
Wednesday
Thursday
木曜日
mokuyoubi
Thursday
Friday
金曜日
kinyoubi
Friday
Weekend
土曜日・日曜日
doyoubi · nichiyoubi
Saturday · Sunday
Counters
Japanese counts different things in different ways.
Counters can become advanced, but beginners should learn a few practical patterns early.
People
一人・二人・三人
hitori · futari · sannin
one person · two people · three people
Flat objects
一枚・二枚
ichimai · nimai
one ticket/sheet · two tickets/sheets
Small objects
一個・二個
ikko · niko
one small item · two small items
General counting
一つ・二つ・三つ
hitotsu · futatsu · mittsu
one thing · two things · three things
Beginner confidence
Numbers turn Japanese into daily function.
A learner who knows numbers can pay, ask the time, catch a train, make an appointment, find a platform, understand a room number, and answer a basic question at a counter.
Numbers are not glamorous, but they are freedom. They let you move through Japan with less fear.
Practice path
What to practice next
Remember this
Count it. Pay it. Catch it. Don’t miss the train.
Japanese numbers are survival tools. Learn them early and practice them often.