Learn Japanese Numbers 1 to 10

On this page we will learn simple Japanese words and phrases related to numbers 1 to 10. The Japanese word for number or amount is Kazu. Some numbers have alternative pronounciations, e.g. the usual reading of four is yon, but the alternative reading is shi. The same goes for seven, the usual reading is nana, and the alternate is shichi.

If you put some numbers together, you can make a word! For example, if you put four shi and the first part of six ro together you get shiro, which means white. How about making nose with numbers? Put the first part of eight ha together with the first part of seven na to make hana.

Some numbers are considered unlucky in Japan. For example four shi sounds like the word for death.

If you say four shi and two ni together makes shini. The Japanese word for death is shini so many buildings don't have a room with the number 42. Similar with the sound of nine ku, which makes people think of worry or pain.

Here we have only looked at numbers from one to ten. But, using only these numbers you can make numbers from eleven to nineteen, by adding a number to ten. For example, eleven is ten one or ju ichi juichi in Japanese. Twelve is ten two, ju ni juni and nineteen is just as simple, ten nine ju kyu jukyu

To learn the numbers quickly, make up a story. For example, ichi sound like 'Itchy', ni sounds like knee and san could be sun. So the story could start with 'I got a itchy knee sitting in the sun...' If you make up a story yourself with the rest of the numbers you remember them in no time.

Now have a look below to listen and learn simple Japanese words and sentences for numbers 1 - 10

Or Learn Japanese Numbers 1 - 10 with Kanji

Or Learn japanese numbers 10 - 20

English	Japanese	Listen
One	Ichi	Listen
Two	Ni	Listen
Three	San	Listen
Four	Yon	Listen
Five	Go	Listen
Six	Roku	Listen
Seven	Nana	Listen
Eight	Hachi	Listen
Nine	Kyu	Listen
Ten	Ju	Listen

Learn conversational Japanese rapidly, effectively and easily with an interactive audio course.