Reading numbers in Japanese
Japanese numbers are regular, but a handful of sound changes catch out learners in listening questions:
- Hundreds and thousands: 300 さんびゃく, 600 ろっぴゃく, 800 はっぴゃく, 3,000 さんぜん, 8,000 はっせん.
- Large numbers group by 10,000 (まん): 35,000 is さんまんごせん, and 120,000 is じゅうにまん.
- 4, 7 and 9 have two readings. Prices and most counting use よん, なな and きゅう, but times use よじ, しちじ and くじ.
Time and dates
- Minutes in tens become じゅっぷん: 10 minutes is じゅっぷん, 30 is さんじゅっぷん, while 15 is じゅうごふん.
- April, July and September are しがつ, しちがつ and くがつ.
- Days 1 to 10 have their own words: ついたち (1st), ふつか (2nd), みっか (3rd), よっか (4th), いつか (5th)... とおか (10th). The 14th, 20th (はつか) and 24th are special too.
Counting people, things and age
- People: ひとり (1), ふたり (2), then さんにん, よにん (4).
- Things up to ten: ひとつ, ふたつ, みっつ... とお.
- Age: いっさい, はっさい, じゅっさい, and はたち for 20.
How to practise
Choose a type, listen, and type the number in digits: 4:30 for times and month/day for dates. After each answer you see it written, read in kana, and the rule behind it.