Numbers (1-10)

Numbers 1 to 10

In this first numbers lesson, we will learn the numbers from 1 to 10.

This should be a fairly straightforward lesson, but there are a couple points to remember.

Numbers of Japanese language and Chinese language origin

Most of the numbers below are derived from the Chinese pronunciation of the word. While the original Japanese pronunciations are still used in some contexts (we will learn about these in later lessons), the Chinese derived pronunciations are more commonly used in modern Japanese.

Alternate pronunciations for some numbers

Some numbers have more than one way that they can be pronounced.

• Four 「四」. The Chinese derived pronunciation of 四 is し, while the Japanese pronunciation is よん. Because し has the same sound as the word for death「死」, the Japanese pronunciaton よん is more commonly used.
• Seven「七」.  The Chinese derived pronunciation of 七 is しち, while the Japanese pronunciation is なな. Because しち sounds similar to いち (the word used for one「ー」), the Japanese pronunciation なな is more commonly used.
• Nine「九」. The Chinese derived pronunciation of 九 is く. Because く has the same sound as the word for suffering「苦」, the alternative reading きゅう is more commonly used.

Counting out aloud from 1 to 10

While よん and なな are more commonly used for pronouncing 4 and 7, when counting out aloud the numbers from 1 to 10 in order, it is common to use the alternate pronunciations of し and しち for 4 and 7.

• 「いち、に、さん、し、ご、ろく、しち、はち、きゅう、じゅう」

When counting down from 10 to one, the Japanese pronunciations for 4 and 7 are commonly used.

• 「じゅう、きゅう、はち、なな、ろく、ご、よん、さん、に、いち」