Japanese Numbers + Counters
Japanese numbers are straightforward to learn, but the real challenge comes with counters — special classifier words that you must pair with numbers depending on what you are counting. This guide covers the Sino-Japanese number system, kanji for each number, and the most essential counters you will use every day.
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Numbers 1–10: Sino-Japanese System
The Sino-Japanese (on'yomi) number system is the primary counting system in Japanese. These readings are used in math, phone numbers, addresses, prices, and most everyday counting.
The numbers 4, 7, and 9 each have two readings. 四 (shi) sounds like death (死), so yon is preferred. 九 (ku) sounds like suffering (苦), so kyū is more common. For 7, nana is safer in most everyday situations.
Numbers 11–100: Building Larger Numbers
Japanese numbers beyond 10 follow a perfectly logical pattern. Eleven is simply "ten-one" (jū-ichi), twenty is "two-ten" (ni-jū), and so on. There are no irregular teen forms like English has.
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Essential Counters
Counters are classifier words placed after numbers. Think of them like English "cups of coffee" or "sheets of paper" — except Japanese uses them for nearly everything. Here are the counters you will use most often.
つ (tsu) — General Objects
The most versatile counter, used with native Japanese numbers (1-10 only). Works for almost any small, tangible item when you do not know the specific counter.
Common Specific Counters
These counters are used frequently in daily life. Each one is paired with Sino-Japanese numbers (ichi, ni, san...).
Some counters cause sound changes (音便, onbin). For example, 本 (hon) becomes ippon (1), nihon (2), sanbon (3). Similarly, 匹 becomes ippiki (1), nihiki (2), sanbiki (3). These changes follow patterns — the numbers 1, 3, 6, 8, and 10 are the ones that typically trigger sound shifts.
Practical Examples
Here is how counters work in real sentences. Notice the counter always comes directly after the number:
- ビール二杯ください (biiru nihai kudasai) — Two beers, please
- 切符三枚買いました (kippu sanmai kaimashita) — I bought three tickets
- 猫が二匹います (neko ga nihiki imasu) — There are two cats
- ペン一本ありますか (pen ippon arimasu ka) — Do you have one pen?
Frequently Asked Questions
What number system does Japanese use?
Japanese uses two number systems. The Sino-Japanese system (ichi, ni, san...) is borrowed from Chinese and used for most counting, math, and large numbers. The native Japanese system (hitotsu, futatsu, mittsu...) is used for counting general objects from 1-10 and in some traditional contexts.
What are counters in Japanese and why are they important?
Counters (助数詞, josūshi) are special words placed after numbers to indicate what type of object you are counting. Japanese requires them the way English requires "sheets" in "three sheets of paper." Using the wrong counter or omitting one sounds unnatural, though you will be understood. There are over 500 counters, but about 20 cover most daily situations.
What is the most useful Japanese counter for beginners?
The counter つ (tsu) is the most versatile. It uses the native Japanese number system (hitotsu, futatsu, mittsu...) and works for almost any small, general object. When in doubt, use つ — it may not always be perfectly correct, but it will always be understood.
Why does 4 have two readings (shi and yon) in Japanese?
Shi (四) is the Sino-Japanese reading and yon is the native Japanese reading. Because shi sounds like the word for death (死), yon is preferred in most everyday contexts. Similarly, 7 can be shichi or nana, with nana being more common in daily speech.
How do I count people in Japanese?
Use the counter 人 (nin/ri). One person is 一人 (hitori) and two people is 二人 (futari) — these use native Japanese readings. From three onward, use Sino-Japanese: 三人 (sannin), 四人 (yonin), 五人 (gonin), and so on.