How to Count
数え方
KAZOE
KATA
HOW TO COUNT (to 1,000,000!)
Simply put, the counting system in Japanese is not simple. However if you learn this page well, then you can count anything! Perhaps it won't be the most natural, but it will be understandable and that is our goal right?!
This page concentrates on the 2 main ways of counting to 10; the 'Chinese' and the 'Japanese' pronunciations. From 11 onward they both use the 'Chinese' way of counting. <don't panic yet, save it for later>
First, let's look at how to count to 10 both ways. Learn these by heart especially the 'Chinese' way. They are the 'main' numbers. Notice the same kanji has different pronunciations:
The 'Chinese' Numbers |
The 'Japanese' Numbers |
||
 ichi  3.8 kb MP3 |
Sounds like 'itchy' | hitotsu |
These are not nearly as useful (at first) as the counting system to the left |
 ni 2.3 kb MP3 |
2 & 3 are easy as it sounds like the car company 'NI SAN' | futatsu |
But still they should be learned well. |
 san 4 kb MP3 |
mittsu |
If you want to understand Japanese counting! | |
 shi 3.5 kb MP3 |
This is also pronounced as YON as SHI can also mean 'death' | yottsu |
But then again, if you are lazy or want to learn useful stuff ASAP then... |
 go 3 kb MP3 |
In Japanese, Speed Racer's car's name is "mahha go" (Mach 5) | itsutsu |
Mainly concentrate on the numbers to the left (ichi, ni, san...) |
 roku 3.5 kb MP3 |
muttsu |
||
 shichi 4 kb MP3 |
Also pronounced as NANA | nanatsu |
|
 hachi 3.2 kb MP3 |
yattsu |
||
 kyuu 2.8 kb MP3 |
Also pronounced as KU | kokonotsu |
|
 juu 3.7 kb MP3 |
to |
COUNTING TO 1,000,000 IS EASY IF YOU KNOW THESE 10 ABOVE:
11 is 10+1
JUU ICHI
12 is 10+2
13 is 10+3
14 is 10+4
15 is 10+5
16 is 10+6
17 is 10+7
18 is 10+8
19 is 10+9
GOT IT? Now for 20, 30, 40...
20 is 2+10
21 is 2+10+1
22 is 2+10+2
30 is 3+10
40 is 4+10
50 is 5+10
60 is 6+10
70 is 7+10
80 is 8+10
90 is 9+10
100 is HYAKU - the first special word
105 is 100+5
158 is 100+50+8
200 is 2+100
799 is 7+100+90+9
DO YOU FOLLOW? Once
you get it in your head, it really isn't that hard.
NOTE: there are some sound changes that occur with some numbers.
I am just telling you that now. Don't worry about that too much
now. Learn first the regular way to count.
1000 is SEN - the second special word
1001 is 1000 + 1
9999 is 9+1000+9+100+9+10+9
10,000 is (ICHI) MAN - the third special word
10,003 is 10,000+3
90,090 is 9+10,000+9+10SO NOW CAN YOU GUESS WHAT 1,000,000 is? HINT it isn't a special word. HINT HINT it is 100+10,000. The answer is written below in WHITE so drag your mouse over it to highlight the answer:
HYAKU MAN
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hey, what about 400?? do u
hey, what about 400?? do u pronounce it shi hyaku or yon hyaku??? ohh and hyaku is 百 (100), sen is 千(1,000), man is 万 (10,000)
Zero-零
So, where is Zero?.....
As you can see theres no Zero written here yet...
Well.....
Zero in japanese can also be called Zero as well,
But there is also Zero in Japanese:
-It is called れい or Rei
-Kanji: 零
-Rei also has other meanings...
If you can't see its Kanji,you can see this as well here at TJP on 1000 Kanji page at #985
零/れい/Rei is truly Zero(I asked some persons...and saw it on a dictionary)But I mostly Hear they use Zero on numbers.But I hear also some people use Rei.....
(to be honest...I learned 零 first than 一.hehe)。。。
~♪歌,音楽♪~
-赤空★RedSky★-
That was very helpful,
That was very helpful, althoguh i already knew one to ten very well so the rest was easily understood but i like the list it really helps!