Module 3: Japanese Numbers

Overview

In this module, we will focus on providing you an overview of numbers, dates,

and time in Japanese.
As you complete this module, you are expected to recognize the Japanese numbers
and use them to tell dates, time, and age.

Objectives:
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
1. Recite numbers in Japanese;
2. Dictate your number in Japanese; and
3. Tell time and date in Japanese

Japanese Numbers
Just like any other languages, Japanese numbers are easy to learn as long as you
already understand the basic. Japanese is very complex, but that what makes it the more
interesting, isn’t it? You will find out later as you go on and study Japanese in general.
Japanese numbers seem to be simple at first, however, there are some special numbers
that break the flow. For example, sanbyaku (300), roppyaku (600) among others, but these
are a little large numbers. Let’s focus on 1-100 first for this course.

Counting Japanese numbers 1-10, including 0 is fairly simple. Memorize, read, or

recite the numbers out-loud.

Table 1: Japanese Numbers 1-10

Number Romaji/English Hiragana

0 zero ぜろ

1 ichi いち

2 ni に

3 san さん

4 yon/shi よん・し

5 go ご

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6 roku ろく

7 nana/shichi なな・しち

8 hachi はち

9 kyuu きゅう

10 juu じゅう

Note: There are two ways you could say 4 and 7 in Japanese. To not be
overwhelmed, just consider memorizing them for now, but later on if you intend to
study Japanese further, you will know why. Though the common way to say 4 is
yon and for 7 is nana.

Now that you already know ichi-juu or 1-10, including zero or 0 as it is in

English, let’s study how numbers 11-19 are formed through the following (let’s
say) rule and format:

Rule: Take juu and add any number from 1 to 9 that you learned in Table 1 above.
Format: juu + (any number from 1 to 9)

For example, 11 is juu ichi and 19 is juu kyuu. How is it? Is it easy? Basically
combine juu + numbers 1-9.

Table 2: Japanese Numbers 11-19

Number Romaji Hiragana

じゅうい
11 juu ichi ち

12 juu ni じゅうに

じゅうさ
13 juu san ん

じゅうよ
14 juu yon ん

15 juu go じゅうご

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じゅうろ
16 juu roku く

じゅうな
17 juu nana な

じゅうは
18 juu hachi ち

じゅうき
19 juu kyuu ゅう

Just like learning Japanese numbers 11-19, 20-100 is a piece of cake to you.
Applying the rule of combining numbers in table 2, counting numbers from 20-100
will be much easier for you, however these is one rule you need to consider. Study
this:
Rule: Add the number (1-9) from Part 1 to “juu.” That’s right, it’s the complete opposite
from the rule you learned in Part 2.
Format: (any number from 1 to 9) + juu

For example, 20 is ni juu and 90 is kyuu juu. So Japaneses numbers 2-9 plus juu.
Look at the table below.

Tale 3: Japanese Numbers 20, 30, 40, 50…100

Number Romaji Hiragana

20 ni juu にじゅう

さんじゅ
30 san juu う

よんじゅ
40 yon juu う

50 go juu ごじゅう

ろくじゅ
60 roku juu う

ななじゅ
70 nana juu う

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はちじゅ
80 hachi juu う

きゅうじ
90 kyuu juu ゅう

100 hyaku ひゃく

Wait, how about 21-29, 31-39, 41-49, etc. Just simply apply what you learned
in the previous tables. Take 21, how do you say 20? It’s ni juu, right? So take it and
add 1 or ichi, 21 now is ni juu ichi. This rule helps, so take time to study.

Rule: Add the tens – 20, 30, 40, etc. – that you learned in Table 3 to numbers 1 to
9 that you learned in Table 1.
Format: (any 20, 30, 40…90) + (any number from 1 to 9)

Here are some examples for practice:

Number Romaji

22 ni juu ni

33 san juu san

44 yon juu yon

55 go juu go

66 roku juu roku

77 nana juu nana

88 hachi juu hachi

99 kyuu juu kyuu

Try This!
Write the romaji for the following numbers:
__________ 1. 23 __________ 6. 72
__________ 2. 36 __________ 7. 84
__________ 3. 45 __________ 8. 91
__________ 4. 58 __________ 9. 48
__________ 5. 67 __________ 10. 79

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Days of the Week in Japanese

It is normal to learn a new language through memorization. Do not

worry, you will learn and will get used to it step by step. Are you excited to
know how to say what day is it today? If so, study and memorize the days in
Japanese in the table below.

Days Romaji

Sunday Nichiyoobi

Monday Getsuyoobi

Tuesday Kayoobi

Wednesday Suiyoobi

Thursday Mokuyoobi

Friday Kinyoobi

Saturday Doyoobi

Try This!
Answer the following questions and write your answers in romaji.

__________ 1. What is the day today?

__________ 2. What is the day tomorrow?

__________ 3. What is the day yesterday?

__________ 4. What is the day when you were born?

__________ 5. What is your favorite day?

Asking and Stating Time in Japanese

Learning how to ask or tell the time in a specific language is important. Knowing
how to tell or ask the time in Japanese will help you improve your practical knowledge
of the basic Japanese language skills. There are many uses of this: checking the time for

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transportation; setting up an appointment, knowing what time is it now, organizing

your daily activities, etc.

Before you finally try to ask or tell the time in Japanese, study the following
vocabulary, phrases, and sentences in telling time in Japanese.
Vocabulary, Phrases and Sentences Related to Asking and
Telling Time in Japanese
Vocabulary/Phrases/Sentences Romaji

AM gozen

PM gogo

O’clock ji

hour jikan

minute fun

half past fun

twelve o’clock juu ni-ji

seven o’clock nana-ji

five o’clock go-ji

8 AM gozen hachi-ji

3 PM Gogo san-ji

What time is it now? Ima nan-ji desu ka.

To better guide you, study the tables below. It shows the twelve-hour clock in
Japanese. You can also practice by asking yourself Ima nan-ji desu ka. or what time is it
now in English.

Twelve-Hour Clock in Japanese

English Hiragana Romaji

1 o’clock いちじ ichi-ji

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English Hiragana Romaji

2 o’clock にじ ni-ji
3 o’clock さんじ san-ji
4 o’clock よじ yo-ji
5 o’clock ごじ go-ji
6 o’clock ろくじ roku-ji
7 o’clock しちじ shichi-ji
8 o’clock はちじ hachi-ji
9 o’clock くじ ku-ji
10 o’clock じゅうじ juu-ji
11 o’clock じゅういちじ juu ichi-ji
12 o’clock じゅうにじ juu ni-ji

As it is always mentioned, Japanese language is very complex. Remember the

Japanese for minutes (fun), which is the most common way in telling minutes in
Japanese, aside from it, it can also be called pun. With that said, for you not to be
confused when you are telling time in minute, study the table below to guide you on
how you can properly tell the time in minute in Japanese.

English Hiragana Romaji

1 minute いっぷん ippun
2 minutes にふん ni-fun
3 minutes さんぷん san-pun
4 minutes よんふん yon-fun
5 minutes ごふん go-fun
6 minutes ろっぷん roppun
7 minutes ななふん nana-fun
8 minutes はっぷん happun
9 minutes きゅうふん kyuu-fun
10 minutes じゅっぷん juppun
20 minutes にじゅっぷん ni-juuppun
30 minutes さんじゅっぷん san-juuppun
40 minutes よんじゅっぷん yon-juuppun
50 minutes ごじゅっぷん go-juuppun

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So let’s say if the time now is 4:15 in the afternoon, in Japanese it is ima, gogo yo-ji
juu go-fun desu.

Try This!

How do you tell the following time in Japanese:

__________ 1. 6 AM _________ 6. 3:12

__________ 2. 8 PM _________ 7. 7:03
__________ 3. 9 o’clock _________ 8. 2:05
__________ 4. 4 o’clock _________ 9. 11 PM
__________ 5. 10 o’clock _________ 10. 1 AM

CULTURAL NOTE

Now that you already know how to count Japanese numbers from 1-100,
the days of the week and ask and tell time in Japanese, don’t you know that just
like us, 7 or nana is a lucky number in Japan, including 3, 5, and 8. However, the
following are deemed to be unlucky, 4, 6, 9, 42, and 49. In Japanese lucky
numbers are called kissuu, while unlucky numbers are called kyousuu.

References

Banno, E. et al. (2011). An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese Genki. Japan: The
Japan Times.

Chino, N. (1991). All about particles. Tokyo: Kodansha

International Hiroo Japanese Center. (1989). The complete Japanese verb guide.

Hokkaido Daigaku. (1993). Elementary Japanese grammatical notes.

How to tell time in Japanese. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.japanesepod101.com

/blog/2020/07/31/telling-time-in-japanese/

Mine, M. (1994). Nihongo kiso (Basic Japanese for foreign students). Hiroshima:
Hiroshima University.

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Suzuki, M & Richey,M. (2016). Your Step-by-step Jikoshoukai Guide. Retrieved from
https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/jikoshoukai/

The Junkies. (2015). Counting in Japanese 1-100 for Beginners. Easy Lesson! Retrieved
from https://www.linguajunkie.com/japanese/count-in-japanese-1-100

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