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Numbers & Time in Japanese
Japanese has unique number systems for different objects. These 35 essential phrases include script, romaji, and native audio.
Each phrase includes native audio, an English translation, romanization, and cultural notes where relevant. Tap any play button to listen.
🔢 1から10の数字 — Numbers 1–10
1.
一（いち）
Ichi
One (1)
Two systems: Sino-Japanese (ichi, ni, san) for counting; native (hitotsu, futatsu) for objects.
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2.
二（に）
Ni
Two (2)
二月 = February (ni + gatsu). Some counters use native numbers: 二人 = 'futari' (two people).
explanation:
3.
三（さん）
San
Three (3)
Three is considered a lucky number in Japan.
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4.
四（し・よん）
Shi / Yon
Four (4)
Four is unlucky — 'shi' = death. Many hospitals skip room/floor 4. Use 'yon' to be safe.
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5.
五（ご）
Go
Five (5)
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6.
六（ろく）
Roku
Six (6)
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7.
七（しち・なな）
Shichi / Nana
Seven (7)
Seven is considered lucky — the opposite of four. Both 'shichi' and 'nana' are used.
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8.
八（はち）
Hachi
Eight (8)
The kanji 八 widens at the bottom — symbolising spreading prosperity. Very lucky!
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9.
九（く・きゅう）
Ku / Kyuu
Nine (9)
'Ku' sounds like 苦 (suffering) — considered unlucky. 'Kyuu' is the safer reading.
explanation:
10.
十（じゅう）
Juu
Ten (10)
Teens are logical: 十一 = juu-ichi (10+1=11). Much simpler than English!
explanation:
💯 大きな数字 — Bigger Numbers
11.
十一（じゅういち）
Juu-ichi
Eleven (11)
All teens in Japanese are logical: 十二 = 12, 十三 = 13, up to 十九 = 19.
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12.
十二（じゅうに）
Juu-ni
Twelve (12)
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13.
二十（にじゅう）
Ni-juu
Twenty (20)
21 = 二十一 (ni-juu-ichi = two-ten-one). Completely regular pattern!
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14.
三十（さんじゅう）
San-juu
Thirty (30)
40=四十 (yonjuu), 50=五十 (gojuu), 60=六十 (rokujuu), 70=七十 (nanajuu).
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15.
五十（ごじゅう）
Go-juu
Fifty (50)
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16.
百（ひゃく）
Hyaku
One hundred (100)
Sound changes: 300 = sanBYAku, 600 = roppyaku, 800 = happyaku. Rendaku in action!
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17.
千（せん）
Sen
One thousand (1,000)
10,000 = 一万 (ichi-man). Japan uses 万 as a unit — prices are often in thousands of yen.
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18.
いくらですか？
Ikura desu ka?
How much is it?
Bargaining is not done in Japan — the price shown is the price paid.
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19.
千円です。
Sen-en desu.
It's one thousand yen.
Japan is still largely cash-based. Always carry yen — cards may not be accepted.
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20.
チケットを二枚ください。
Chiketto wo ni-mai kudasai.
Two tickets, please.
Japanese uses different counters for different objects: 枚 (flat), 本 (long), 冊 (books).
explanation:
🕐 時間 — Telling the Time
21.
何時ですか？
Nanji desu ka?
What time is it?
'時' = hour/o'clock. '分' (fun/pun) = minute. '半' (han) = half.
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22.
三時です。
San-ji desu.
It's three o'clock.
Japan is obsessed with punctuality. Trains apologise for being 30 seconds late!
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23.
三時半です。
San-ji han desu.
It's half past three. (3:30)
'半' (han) = half. Always placed after the hour: 三時半 (3:30), 五時半 (5:30).
explanation:
24.
三時十五分です。
San-ji juu-go-fun desu.
It's 3:15. (quarter past three)
Minutes change pronunciation: 1分 (ip-pun), 3分 (san-pun), 6分 (rop-pun). Sound changes!
explanation:
25.
午前中に。
Gozenchuu ni.
In the morning. (AM)
'午前' = AM (before noon). '午後' = PM (after noon). Japan uses both 12 and 24-hour formats.
explanation:
26.
午後に。
Gogo ni.
In the afternoon. (PM)
'午後三時' = 3 PM. '午後' always precedes the time in formal contexts.
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27.
今日。
Kyou.
Today.
'今日' has an irregular reading: 'kyou' not 'ima-hi'. One of many irregular Japanese readings.
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28.
明日。
Ashita.
Tomorrow.
'明日' = ashita (casual) or myounichi (formal). Same kanji, two readings — context matters!
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📅 曜日 — Days of the Week
29.
月曜日（げつようび）
Getsuyoubi
Monday.
月 = moon. Japanese days: Moon, Fire, Water, Wood, Gold, Earth, Sun.
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30.
火曜日（かようび）
Kayoubi
Tuesday.
火 = fire. The Five Elements: 火 (fire), 水 (water), 木 (wood), 金 (metal), 土 (earth).
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31.
水曜日（すいようび）
Suiyoubi
Wednesday.
水 = water.
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32.
木曜日（もくようび）
Mokuyoubi
Thursday.
木 = wood/tree.
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33.
金曜日（きんようび）
Kin'youbi
Friday.
金 = gold/metal. In Japan, Friday is often called 'kin-yobi' — the golden day!
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34.
土曜日（どようび）
Doyoubi
Saturday.
土 = earth/soil. The final element in the Japanese week.
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35.
日曜日（にちようび）
Nichiyoubi
Sunday.
日 = sun. The full week: 月火水木金土日 (Moon-Fire-Water-Wood-Gold-Earth-Sun).
explanation:
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