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The numbers you will use everywhere

Japanese numbers: small words that unlock prices, times, floors, and travel.

Numbers matter constantly in Japan: train platforms, restaurant prices, hotel floors, times, dates, and shopping. This page gives you the beginner system for numbers in clear steps, using Japanese, kana, romaji, English, examples, and when-to-use notes.

Back to Mini Phrasebook Use Numbers in Travel

Numbers 1 to 10

1
いち
ichi
2
に
ni
3
さん
san
4
よん / し
yon / shi
5
ご
go
6
ろく
roku
7
なな / しち
nana / shichi
8
はち
hachi
9
きゅう / く
kyuu / ku
10
じゅう
juu

Beginners should default to よん for 4, なな for 7, and きゅう for 9 in many everyday situations.

Five quick win number lessons

ひとつ
hitotsu
one thing / one item
Example: 一つください。
Hitotsu kudasai.
When to use it: When ordering one item in a simple way.
ふたつ
futatsu
two things / two items
Example: 二つお願いします。
Futatsu onegai shimasu.
When to use it: When asking for two items.
みっつ
mittsu
three things / three items
Example: 三つください。
Mittsu kudasai.
When to use it: When asking for three items.
なんえんですか。
Nan-en desu ka.
How many yen is it?
Example: これは何円ですか。
Kore wa nan-en desu ka.
When to use it: When checking a price.
なんじですか。
Nanji desu ka.
What time is it?
Example: 今、何時ですか。
Ima, nanji desu ka.
When to use it: When asking the time.

Tens and simple patterns

にじゅう
nijuu
twenty
Example: 二十円
Nijuu-en
When to use it: For prices and counting.
さんじゅう
sanjuu
thirty
Example: 三十分
Sanjuppun
When to use it: For time and quantities.
よんじゅう
yonjuu
forty
Example: 四十円
Yonjuu-en
When to use it: For money and counting.
ごじゅう
gojuu
fifty
Example: 五十人
Gojuu-nin
When to use it: For groups and totals.

The pattern is simple: 20 is 2 + 10, 30 is 3 + 10, 40 is 4 + 10, and so on.

Bigger numbers you will see often

ひゃく
hyaku
one hundred
Example: 百円
Hyaku-en
When to use it: For prices and simple totals.
せん
sen
one thousand
Example: 千円
Sen-en
When to use it: For prices and cash.
いちまん
ichiman
ten thousand
Example: 一万円
Ichiman-en
When to use it: For larger prices and banknotes.
ひゃくえん
hyaku-en
100 yen
Example: これは100円です。
Kore wa hyaku-en desu.
When to use it: When reading simple prices.

Time words beginners need

いちじ
ichiji
one o’clock
Example: 一時です。
Ichiji desu.
When to use it: For schedules and appointments.
よじ
yoji
four o’clock
Example: 四時です。
Yoji desu.
When to use it: For times and timetables.
しちじ
shichiji
seven o’clock
Example: 七時です。
Shichiji desu.
When to use it: For trains, breakfast, and plans.
くじ
kuji
nine o’clock
Example: 九時です。
Kuji desu.
When to use it: For morning and evening schedules.

Watch the special readings here: 4 o’clock is よじ, 7 o’clock is しちじ, and 9 o’clock is くじ.

Floors and counters you will hear

いっかい
ikkai
first floor
Example: トイレは一階です。
Toire wa ikkai desu.
When to use it: In stores, hotels, and malls.
にかい
nikai
second floor
Example: レストランは二階です。
Resutoran wa nikai desu.
When to use it: In buildings and stations.
ひとり
hitori
one person
Example: 一人です。
Hitori desu.
When to use it: At restaurants and hotel desks.
ふたり
futari
two people
Example: 二人です。
Futari desu.
When to use it: At restaurants and check-in counters.

One important beginner note

Japanese numbers are simple at first, but the counter words change. That can feel strange. Do not worry. Start with basic numbers, yen, time, floors, and simple item counts. Those alone will help you a lot in Japan.