Numbers (10 to 100)

The unit for tens, 十「じゅう」

To count from 10 to 19, simply say the tens unit 十「じゅう」 followed by the remaining number.

For example,

• 11 is 十一「じゅう・いち」, 12 is 十二「じゅう・に」 and so on

To count from 20 to 99, follow the same process, just starting with how many tens there are.

For example,

• 20 is 二十「に・じゅう」, 21 is 二十一「に・じゅう・いち」
• 30 is 三十「さん・じゅう」, 31 is 三十一「さん・じゅう・いち」
• and so on

Note on pronunciation

For the numbers 4, 7 and 9 which have alternate pronunciations 「し／よん、しち／なな、く／きゅう」, the tens unit is almost always pronounced using 「よん、なな、きゅう」respectively.

ie.

• 40 - 四十「よん・じゅう」
• 70 - 七十 「なな・じゅう」
• 90 - 九十 「きゅう・じゅう」