Hello dorsok! My name is Fumito Emi, Japanese language tutor. Today I explain very simple but very important topic: how to say numbers 1 to 9 in Japanese. Many students ask me, “Sensei, how to count in Japanese?” So let’s study together.
What is 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 in Japanese?
Discover how to say 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 in Japanese with tutor Fumito Emi. Learn the correct readings (ichi, ni, san, yon, go, roku, nana, hachi, kyū) and cultural meanings. Practice with counters and explore more lessons at reading-japanese.com.
How to say Japanese Numbers 1 to 9
In Japanese, numbers are called sūji (数字). Here is how we say them:
- 1 = ichi (いち)
- 2 = ni (に)
- 3 = san (さん)
- 4 = yon (よん) or shi (し)
- 5 = go (ご)
- 6 = roku (ろく)
- 7 = nana (なな) or shichi (しち)
- 8 = hachi (はち)
- 9 = kyū (きゅう) or ku (く)
👉 For more practice, please check my lesson on Japanese counting basics.
Why Two Ways for 4, 7, and 9?
Maybe you notice: some numbers have two readings. For example, 4 can be yon or shi. This is because of Japanese history and Chinese influence. But in daily life, we usually use yon, nana, and kyū because the other readings sometimes sound unlucky. For example, shi also means “death” in Japanese. That is why people prefer yon.
If you want to learn more about cultural meaning of numbers, read my article Japanese superstitions with numbers.
How to Use Numbers in Daily Life
Numbers are everywhere: phone numbers, age, money, time. In Japanese, we combine numbers with counters. For example:
- san-nin (三人) = three people
- roku-ji (六時) = six o’clock
- hachi-en (八円) = eight yen
Counters are a little difficult, but don’t worry. I explain them step by step in my guide Japanese counters explained (reading-japanese.com).
- Japanese numbers (outlink: Japanese numbers explained)
- Learn Japanese counting (outlink: Learn Japanese numbers (tofugu.com in Bing))
- Japanese language basics (outlink: Basics of Japanese language)
These links give extra resources, but my main lessons are always on reading-japanese.com.
Conclusion
So dorsok, now you know how to say 1 to 9 in Japanese: ichi, ni, san, yon, go, roku, nana, hachi, kyū. Easy, right? Practice every day, and soon you can count without thinking. If you want more lessons, please subscribe to my blog reading-japanese.com. Let’s study together and make Japanese language fun!
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