Japanese Numbers: Counting and Counters from 1 to 10,000

Japanese Numbers: A Comprehensive Guide to Counting and Counters from 1 to 10,000

Japanese numbers can be a bit confusing at first due to their unique counting system. They are based on a combination of Chinese characters and native Japanese pronunciations, which can vary depending on the context. In this article, we will cover the basics of counting in Japanese, the differences between Sino-Japanese and Native Japanese readings, and how to count from 1 to 10,000 using counters.

Counting from 1 to 100

Japanese numbers from 1 to 10 are fairly straightforward. They can be written in single kanji characters or a combination of characters for numbers beyond 10. For example:

• 一 (one)
• 二 (two)
• 三 (three)
• 四 (four)
• 五 (five)
• 六 (six)
• 七 (seven)
• 八 (eight)
• 九 (nine)
• 十 (ten)

Sino-Japanese Readings vs. Native Japanese Readings

Sino-Japanese readings, also known as "on-yomi," are Chinese characters adapted to the Japanese language. They are used when counting numbers beyond 10. Native Japanese readings, also known as "kun-yomi," are the original Japanese pronunciations. They are used for counting from 1 to 10 and for some counters.

How to Count from 11 to 99

To count from 11 to 99, you simply add the Sino-Japanese reading for the tens place to the Native Japanese reading for the ones place. For example:

• 十一 (eleven)
• 十二 (twelve)
• 十三 (thirteen)
• 十四 (fourteen)
• 十五 (fifteen)
• 十六 (sixteen)
• 十七 (seventeen)
• 十八 (eighteen)
• 十九 (nineteen)
• 十〇 (twenty)

Counters: A System of Categorizing Objects

Japanese counters, also known as "muchu" or "mawari," are used to group similar objects together and indicate what kind of object you're counting. There are seven common counters in Japanese:

• "tsu" (for three-dimensional objects)
• "hon" (for flat objects)
• "ko" (for long objects)
• "nin" (for people)
• "dai" (for containers)
• "hiki" (for mechanical objects)
• "bun" (for words and sounds)

Counting from 1 to 1,000

To count from 1 to 1,000, you use a combination of the numbers 1 to 100 and the counters:

• 1 - 一 (one)
• 100 - 一百 (one hundred)
• 1,000 - 一千 (one thousand)

Counting from 1,001 to 10,000

To count from 1,001 to 10,000, you use the same principles as counting from 1 to 1,000, but with different counters:

• 1,001 - 一千一 (one thousand and one)
• 2,000 - 一万 (one ten thousand)
• 3,000 - 一万三千 (three thousand)
• 4,000 - 一万四千 (four thousand)
• 5,000 - 一万五千 (five thousand)
• 6,000 - 一万六千 (six thousand)
• 7,000 - 一万七千 (seven thousand)
• 8,000 - 一万八千 (eight thousand)
• 9,000 - 一万九千 (nine thousand)
• 10,000 - 一万十千 (ten thousand)

Counters for 1,001 to 10,000

To count from 1,001 to 10,000, you use the following counters:

• 一 (one)
• 百 (hundred)
• 千 (thousand)
• 万 (ten thousand)

Counting Beyond 10,000

To count beyond 10,000, you use the counters for 1,000, 10,000, and 100,000, combined with the appropriate numbers:

• 100,000 - 一百万 (one hundred thousand)
• 1,000,000 - 一万万 (one million)
• 10,000,000 - 一億 (one hundred million)
• 100,000,000 - 一兆 (one billion)

Summary

Japanese numbers can be a bit complex, but with practice and understanding of the principles, they become easier to use. Remember to use the appropriate counters for the objects you're counting, and be familiar with the Sino-Japanese and Native Japanese readings. With time, you'll be able to count and express numbers fluently in Japanese.