Explore Japanese: Kanji Numbers

In this lesson, you will explore Japanese a little more.

Numbers in Kanji

Japanese use Arabic numbers (1, 2, 3...) as well as kanji numbers. Most kanji numbers are quite easy to learn and read. Often, in Japanese language kanji numbers are combined with counters and make combinations of kanji. They are not as easy as reading kanji numbers by themselves.

Kanji Numbers List

Select each number to reveal readings and examples for the kanji numbers 1-10. Be sure to take careful notes on this information, as you will be expected to recognize these kanji moving forward.

一 (one; first)

**One**
Details	Kun-yomi (Japanese)	On-yomi (Chinese)
Reading	hito-tsu	ichi・is-
Examples	一つ (hito-tsu) = one item 一人 (hito-ri) = one person 一日 (tsuitachi) = the first day	一じ (ichi-ji) = one o'clock 一さい (is-sai) = one year old 一月 (ichi-gatsu) = January 一ばん (ichi-ban) = number one

二 (two; second)

**Two**
Details	Kun-yomi (Japanese)	On-yomi (Chinese)
Reading	futa-tsu	ni
Examples	二つ (futa-tsu) = two items 二人 (futa-ri) = two people 二日 (futsu-ka) = second day; two days	二じ (ni-ji) = two o'clock 二さい (ni-sai) = two years old 二月 (ni-gatsu) = February 二ばん (ni-ban) = number two

三 (three; third)

**Three**
Details	Kun-yomi (Japanese)	On-yomi (Chinese)
Reading	mit-tsu	san
Examples	三つ (mit-tsu) = three items 三日 (mik-ka) = third day; three days	三人 (san-nin) = three people 三じ (san-ji) = three o'clock 三さい (san-sai) = three years old 三月 (san-gatsu) = March

四 (four; fourth)

**Four**
Details	Kun-yomi (Japanese)	On-yomi (Chinese)
Reading	yot-tsu・yon-・yo-	shi
Examples	四つ (yot-tsu) = four items 四日 (yok-ka) = fourth day; four days 四人 (yo-nin) = four people 四じ (yo-ji) = four o'clock 四さい (yon-sai) = four years old	四月 (shi-gatsu) = April

五 (five; fifth)

**Five**
Details	Kun-yomi (Japanese)	On-yomi (Chinese)
Reading	itsu-tsu	go
Examples	五つ (itsu-tsu) = five items 五日 (itsu-ka) = fifth day; five days	五人 (go-nin) = five people 五じ (go-ji) = five o'clock 五さい (go-sai) = five years old 五月 (ga-gatsu) = May

六 (six; sixth)

**Six**
Details	Kun-yomi (Japanese)	On-yomi (Chinese)
Reading	mut-tsu	roku・rot-
Examples	六つ (mut-tsu) = six items 六日 (mui-ka) = sixth day; six days	六人 (roku-nin) = six people 六じ (roku-ji) = six o'clock 六さい (roku-sai) = six years old 六月 (roku-gatsu) = June

七 (seven; seventh)

**Seven**
Details	Kun-yomi (Japanese)	On-yomi (Chinese)
Reading	nana-tsu・nano-	shichi
Examples	七つ (nana-tsu) = seven items 七日 (nano-ka) = seventh day; seven days 七さい (nana-sai) = seven years old 七ばん (nana-ban) = number seven	七人 (shichi-nin) = seven people 七じ (shichi-ji) = seven o'clock 七月 (shichi-gatsu) = July

八 (eight; eighth)

**Eight**
Details	Kun-yomi (Japanese)	On-yomi (Chinese)
Reading	yat-tsu・yoo-	hachi・hat-
Examples	八つ (yat-tsu) = eight items 八日 (yoo-ka) = eighth day; eight days	八人 (hachi-nin) = eight people 八じ (hachi-ji) = eight o'clock 八さい (hat-sai) = eight years old 八ばん (hachi-ban) = number eight

九 (nine; ninth)

**Nine**
Details	Kun-yomi (Japanese)	On-yomi (Chinese)
Reading	kokono-tsu	kyuu・ku
Examples	九つ (kokono-tsu) = nine items 九日 (kokono-ka) = ninth day; nine days	九人 (kyuu-nin) = nine people 九じ (ku-ji) = nine o'clock 九さい (kyuu-sai) = nine years old 九ばん (kyuu-ban) = number nine

十 (ten; tenth)

**Ten**
Details	Kun-yomi (Japanese)	On-yomi (Chinese)
Reading	too	juu・jus-
Examples	十 (too) = ten items 十日 (too-ka) = tenth day	十人 (juu-nin) = ten people 十じ (juu-ji) = ten o'clock 十さい (jus-sai) = ten years old 十ばん (juu-ban) = number ten

Note: Kanji Text Display

Because of how characters are encoded for digital use, you will often see slight variations in appearance with typed kanji. For the kanji numbers, the most obvious difference happens with the number 8. You will see both of the following:

The proper Japanese character, based on how it is written: 八
The alternative character found in some digital sources: 八

Embedded practice activities, like the ones on this page, will always display 八. Take note of this difference, so that you can always recognize eight, whether it's 八 or 八!

Practice Activity: Kanji Review

Complete the following activities to review the kanji from this lesson.

Activity 1: Kanji Matching

Select the correct kanji for the provided term.

Activity 2: Reading Practice

Practice reading the following lines until you can read them smoothly. Check your reading accuracy by clicking the audio icon. When you turn the card over for this exercise, you will not have any additional information. Attempt the practice activity below to check your understanding of the meaning for each phrase.

Activity 3: Reading Comprehension

Select the correct meaning for each phrase.

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