Learn basic Japanese number vocabulary and how to count to 10
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| 零 (rei) |
| 一 (ichi) |
| 二 (に) |
| What do these words mean? Stick around. In this quick lesson, you’ll learn Japanese number vocabulary and how to count to 10. |
| But first, do you know how Japanese count with their fingers? It’s not like this. |
| Keep watching till the end to see how. |
| 零 (rei) |
| "zero" |
| [SLOW] 零 (rei) |
| 零 (rei) |
| When it's written in Kanji, it's normally read as rei. |
| But referring to number 0, both ゼロ (zero) and れい (rei) works. |
| Susan comments on the weather before heading out with Lina. |
| Susan: 外は零度で、雪が降っています。 (Soto wa rei-do de, yuki ga futte imasu.) |
| Lina: じゃあ、一番暖かいコートを着ます。 (Jā, ichiban atatakai kōto o kimasu.) |
| 一 (ichi) |
| "one" |
| [SLOW] 一 (ichi) |
| 一 (ichi) |
| In Japan, many Arabic numerals are used. |
| But in some restaurants or some places, you might see numbers in Kanji, so it's good to remember them. |
| Steve and Oscar prepare to pay at a supermarket. |
| Steve: オスカーさん、一円ありますか。 (Osukā-san, ichi-en arimasu ka.) |
| Oscar: いいえ、ありません。 (Iie, arimasen.) |
| 二 (ni) |
| "two" |
| [SLOW] 二 (ni) |
| 二 (ni) |
| One plus one equals two. |
| 二 (ni) |
| Susan and Lina talk about their favorite number. |
| Susan: 私の好きな数字は二です。 (Watashi no suki na sūji wa ni desu.) |
| Lina: そうですか。私は七です。 (Sō desu ka. Watashi wa nana desu.) |
| 三 (san) |
| "three" |
| [SLOW] 三 (san) |
| 三 (san) |
| There are some Japanese proverbs using the number 3. |
| For example, 三度目の正直 (san-do-me no shōjiki), which means "third times the charm." |
| It's to encourage someone who failed twice and try it again. |
| Jack asks Steve if he can borrow a pen. |
| Jack: ペンありますか。 (Pen arimasu ka.) |
| Steve: はい、三本あります。これ使ってください。 (Hai san-bon arimasu. Kore tsukatte kudasai.) |
| 四 (shi, yon) |
| "four" |
| [SLOW] 四 (shi, yon) |
| 四 (shi, yon) |
| Did you know in Japan, number four is considered as unlucky number? |
| Because sometimes it's pronounced as shi, same pronunciation for death, shi. |
| Susan asks Lina for help while shopping for groceries. |
| Susan: パイを作ります。りんごを四個取ってください。 (Pai o tsukurimasu. Ringo o yon-ko totte kudasai.) |
| Lina: はい、一番いいのを選びますね。 (Hai, ichiban ii no o erabimasu ne.) |
| 五 (go) |
| "five" |
| [SLOW] 五 (go) |
| 五 (go) |
| The five-yen coin is commonly used as a shrine offering. |
| It's lucky. |
| "Goen" means good fortune. |
| Oscar comments on some starfish while at the beach with Tom. |
| Oscar: ヒトデを見てください。足が五本あります。 (Hitode o mite kudasai. Ashi ga go-hon arimasu.) |
| Tom: 本当に面白い生き物ですね！ (Hontō ni omoshiroi ikimono desu ne!) |
| 六 (roku) |
| "six" |
| [SLOW] 六 (roku) |
| 六 (roku) |
| There is a famous district in Tokyo called Roppongi, which translates as "six trees." |
| Steve asks Jack for the time. |
| Steve: 何時ですか。 (Nan-ji desu ka.) |
| Jack: 六時です。 (Roku-ji desu.) |
| 七 (shichi, nana) |
| "seven" |
| [SLOW] 七 (shichi, nana) |
| 七 (shichi, nana) |
| Lucky, seven. |
| Masaaki and Tomoko discuss a student's study habits. |
| Tomoko: 彼は何冊本を持ってきましたか。 (Kare wa nan-satsu hon o motte kimashita ka.) |
| Tomoko: 七冊です。 (Nana-satsu desu.) |
| 八 (hachi) |
| "eight" |
| [SLOW] 八 (hachi) |
| 八 (hachi) |
| Infinity. |
| Jack and Steve talk about lucky numbers over dinner. |
| Jack: ある文化では、八は運のいい数字です。 (Aru bunka de wa, hachi wa un no ii sūji desu.) |
| Steve: そうなんですね。どうしてでしょうか。 (Omoshiroi desu ne. Dōshite deshō ka.) |
| 九 (kyū, ku) |
| "nine" |
| [SLOW] 九 (kyū, ku) |
| 九 (kyū, ku) |
| Like number four, number nine is also considered as unlucky number because it can be pronounced as ku, which means suffering. |
| Susan and Lina reminisce about their friend's wedding. |
| Susan: 彼女はいつ結婚しましたか。 (Kanojo wa itsu kekkon shimashita ka.) |
| Lina: 九年前に結婚しました。 (Kyū-nen mae ni kekkon shimashita.) |
| 十 (jū) |
| "ten" |
| [SLOW] 十 (jū) |
| 十 (jū) |
| Don't forget, number ten also pronounced as とお (tō), as in とおか (tōka), which means tenth day. |
| Oscar informs Tom on his flight's arrival time. |
| Oscar: フライトは時間通りです。十時に着きます。 (Furaito wa jikan dōri desu. Jū-ji ni tsukimasu.) |
| Tom: 分かりました。迎えに行きます。 (Wakarimashita. Mukae ni ikimasu.) |
| Let's review. |
| You'll see the words in English and your job is to say the words in Japanese. |
| Ready? |
| Do you remember how to say "zero"? |
| 零 (rei) |
| 零 (rei) |
| And how to say "one"? |
| 一 (ichi) |
| 一 (ichi) |
| What about "two"? |
| 二 (ni) |
| 二 (ni) |
| Do you remember how to say "three"? |
| 三 (san) |
| 三 (san) |
| Let's try "four"! |
| 四 (shi, yon) |
| 四 (shi, yon) |
| What about "five"? |
| 五 (go) |
| 五 (go) |
| Now, let's see if you remember how to say "six"! |
| 六 (roku) |
| 六 (roku) |
| Another one! What about "seven"? |
| 七 (shichi, nana) |
| 七 (shichi, nana) |
| Do you remember how to say "eight"? |
| 八 (hachi) |
| 八 (hachi) |
| And how to say "nine"? |
| 九 (kyū, ku) |
| 九 (kyū, ku) |
| And finally, do you remember how to say "ten"? |
| 十 (jū) |
| 十 (jū) |
| Do you know how Japanese people count with their hands? |
| I'll show you. |
| 一 (ichi) |
| 二 (ni) |
| 三 (san) |
| 四 (shi) |
| 五 (go) |
| 六 (roku) |
| 七 (shichi) |
| 八 (hachi) |
| 九 (kyū) |
| 十 (jū) |
| Thanks for watching! Don't forget to practice these new words and phrases, and see you next time! |
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