How to Count from 1 to 100 in Japanese: A Complete Guide for Beginners
Learning to count in Japanese is a fundamental part of mastering the language. Whether you’re a beginner traveler, a student, or simply fascinated by the culture, being able to count from 1 to 100 will come in handy. In this guide, we'll walk you through the basics of Japanese numbers, how the counting system works, and provide some useful tips for mastering it.
The Japanese Number System
The Japanese number system is relatively straightforward and mostly follows the same logical pattern as English numbers. It’s based on units of 10, so once you’ve learned the basics from 1 to 10, you'll find it easy to construct larger numbers.
In Japanese, there are two main systems of numbers:
-
Sino-Japanese numbers (ichi, ni, san…), derived from Chinese numerals and used for most counting.
-
Native Japanese numbers, which are used less frequently but come up in certain situations, such as telling time or counting specific objects.
For this guide, we'll focus on the Sino-Japanese numbers, as these are the most commonly used in daily life.
Japanese Numbers 1 to 10
Let’s start with the numbers 1 to 10, which are the foundation of counting in Japanese.
| Number | Japanese | Romaji (Pronunciation) |
| 1 | 一 | Ichi |
| 2 | 二 | Ni |
| 3 | 三 | San |
| 4 | 四 | Shi/Yon |
| 5 | 五 | Go |
| 6 | 六 | Roku |
| 7 | 七 | Shichi/Nana |
| 8 | 八 | Hachi |
| 9 | 九 | Kyuu/Ku |
| 10 | 十 | Juu |
Note: Some numbers, such as 4 and 7, have two different pronunciations. "Shi" and "Shichi" are more formal or traditional, while "Yon" and "Nana" are commonly used in daily conversation, particularly to avoid the word “shi,” which can also mean death.
Building Larger Numbers
After 10, counting follows a similar pattern to English: combining base numbers. Let’s break it down:
- 11: Combine 10 and 1 → 十一 (Juu-ichi)
- 12: Combine 10 and 2 → 十二 (Juu-ni)
- And so on, up to 19: 十九 (Juu-kyuu).
Counting by Tens
The tens (20, 30, 40…) are just as simple:
- 20: 二十 (Ni-juu) = 2 × 10
- 30: 三十 (San-juu) = 3 × 10
- 40: 四十 (Yon-juu) = 4 × 10
- Continue this pattern up to 90: 九十 (Kyuu-juu).
Combining Tens and Units
To form numbers between the tens, you simply combine the tens with the single digits:
- 21: 二十一 (Ni-juu-ichi) = 20 + 1
- 32: 三十二 (San-juu-ni) = 30 + 2
- 47: 四十七 (Yon-juu-nana) = 40 + 7
Japanese Numbers from 1 to 100
Here’s a quick look at some key milestones up to 100:
| Number | Japanese | Romaji (Pronunciation) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 二十 | Ni-juu |
| 30 | 三十 | San-juu |
| 40 | 四十 | Yon-juu |
| 50 | 五十 | Go-juu |
| 60 | 六十 | Roku-juu |
| 70 | 七十 | Nana-juu |
| 80 | 八十 | Hachi-juu |
| 90 | 九十 | Kyuu-juu |
| 100 | 百 | Hyaku |
Note: “Hyaku” (100) is a unique number and doesn’t follow the pattern of tens + units. Numbers beyond 100 also follow a regular pattern, but that’s a lesson for another day!
Tips for Mastering Japanese Numbers
Mastering Japanese numbers from 1 to 100 is an essential part of building your Japanese language skills. It’s a logical system that, once you’ve grasped the basics, will make learning other parts of the language easier. So, take your time, practice regularly, and soon you’ll be counting like a native!
Would you like to go beyond 100? Or are you ready to start using your new counting skills in real life? At Berlitz, we can help you master Japanese quickly with our native instructors. Whether you’re learning for travel, business, or personal interest, we’ve got a program for you.
