Lesson 4: Numbers, Time, and Money — Practical Japanese

Master Japanese numbers 1-10,000, basic counters, telling time, and shopping phrases. Learn to read prices, understand schedules, and navigate real-world situations.

Lesson 4: Numbers, Time, and Money — Practical Japanese 🧮💴⏰

Introduction

Welcome to one of the most practical lessons in your Japanese journey! Numbers are everywhere in daily life—reading prices at convenience stores, catching the right train, stating your age, or ordering items at a restaurant. In this lesson, you'll learn the Japanese number system from 1 to 10,000, discover how counters work, tell time like a native, and master essential shopping phrases.

💡 Why this matters: Unlike English where we say "three books" or "three dogs" using the same number, Japanese uses different counters depending on what you're counting. Don't worry—we'll start with the basics!

Core Concepts: Japanese Numbers (数字 - すうじ)

Numbers 0-10 🔢

Let's start with the foundation:

+--------+----------+--------------+
| Number | Kanji    | Hiragana     |
+--------+----------+--------------+
| 0      | 零/〇    | れい/ゼロ    |
| 1      | 一       | いち         |
| 2      | 二       | に           |
| 3      | 三       | さん         |
| 4      | 四       | し/よん      |
| 5      | 五       | ご           |
| 6      | 六       | ろく         |
| 7      | 七       | しち/なな    |
| 8      | 八       | はち         |
| 9      | 九       | きゅう/く    |
| 10     | 十       | じゅう       |
+--------+----------+--------------+

⚠️ Critical Note: The numbers 4 (し) and 7 (しち) have alternative readings (よん and なな) because し sounds like 死 (death). In most contexts, Japanese speakers prefer よん and なな to avoid the unlucky association.

🧠 Mnemonic Device:

いち (ichi) → "each" (one of each)
に (ni) → "knee" (you have two)
さん (san) → "sun" (three rays of light)
よん (yon) → "yawn" (four hours of sleep = yawn)

Numbers 11-99 📈

Japanese numbers follow a logical pattern:

11-19: じゅう + [1-9]

11 = じゅういち (10 + 1)
12 = じゅうに (10 + 2)
15 = じゅうご (10 + 5)
19 = じゅうきゅう (10 + 9)

20, 30, 40...: [2-9] + じゅう

20 = にじゅう (2 × 10)
30 = さんじゅう (3 × 10)
50 = ごじゅう (5 × 10)
90 = きゅうじゅう (9 × 10)

21-99: [2-9] + じゅう + [1-9]

23 = にじゅうさん (20 + 3)
47 = よんじゅうなな (40 + 7)
85 = はちじゅうご (80 + 5)

      Building Block System:
      
      37 = さんじゅうなな
           ↓     ↓    ↓
          (3) × (10) + (7)

Numbers 100-10,000 💯

Hundreds (百 - ひゃく):

+--------+------------------+
| 100    | ひゃく           |
| 200    | にひゃく         |
| 300    | さんびゃく ⚠️    |
| 400    | よんひゃく       |
| 500    | ごひゃく         |
| 600    | ろっぴゃく ⚠️    |
| 700    | ななひゃく       |
| 800    | はっぴゃく ⚠️    |
| 900    | きゅうひゃく     |
+--------+------------------+

⚠️ Sound Changes (Rendaku): Notice 300, 600, and 800 change pronunciation for easier speaking!

Thousands (千 - せん):

+--------+------------------+
| 1,000  | せん             |
| 2,000  | にせん           |
| 3,000  | さんぜん ⚠️      |
| 4,000  | よんせん         |
| 5,000  | ごせん           |
| 6,000  | ろくせん         |
| 7,000  | ななせん         |
| 8,000  | はっせん ⚠️      |
| 9,000  | きゅうせん       |
| 10,000 | いちまん         |
+--------+------------------+

💡 Important: Japanese counts in units of 10,000 (万 - まん), not 1,000 like English! So 50,000 is "five ten-thousands" (ごまん), not "fifty thousand."

Examples of larger numbers:

365 = さんびゃくろくじゅうご (300 + 60 + 5)
1,520 = せんごひゃくにじゅう (1,000 + 500 + 20)
8,742 = はっせんななひゃくよんじゅうに (8,000 + 700 + 40 + 2)

🔧 Try this: Say your birth year in Japanese! For 1995: せんきゅうひゃくきゅうじゅうご

Counters (助数詞 - じょすうし) 🔢

In Japanese, you can't just say "three" when counting objects. You need a counter that matches what you're counting.

General Counter: つ (1-10 only)

This is your best friend as a beginner! Use つ for counting most objects when you don't know the specific counter:

+--------+------------+
| Number | つ counter |
+--------+------------+
| 1      | ひとつ     |
| 2      | ふたつ     |
| 3      | みっつ     |
| 4      | よっつ     |
| 5      | いつつ     |
| 6      | むっつ     |
| 7      | ななつ     |
| 8      | やっつ     |
| 9      | ここのつ   |
| 10     | とお       |
+--------+------------+

⚠️ Common Mistake: つ only works up to 10! For 11+, use specific counters or 個 (こ).

People Counter: 人 (ひと/にん)

+--------+--------------+
| Number | People       |
+--------+--------------+
| 1      | ひとり ⚠️    |
| 2      | ふたり ⚠️    |
| 3      | さんにん     |
| 4      | よにん       |
| 5      | ごにん       |
| 6      | ろくにん     |
| 7      | ななにん     |
| 8      | はちにん     |
| 9      | きゅうにん   |
| 10     | じゅうにん   |
+--------+--------------+

⚠️ Warning: 1 and 2 people are irregular: ひとり and ふたり, not いちにん/ににん!

Object Counter: 個 (こ)

Used for small, discrete objects (apples, balls, erasers):

1個 = いっこ ⚠️
2個 = にこ
3個 = さんこ
4個 = よんこ
8個 = はっこ ⚠️
10個 = じゅっこ ⚠️

💡 Pattern: Notice the sound changes at 1, 8, and 10 for smoother pronunciation.

Quick Counter Reference

+----------+--------+------------------+
| Category | Counter| Example          |
+----------+--------+------------------+
| General  | つ     | りんごみっつ     |
| (1-10)   |        | (3 apples)       |
+----------+--------+------------------+
| People   | 人     | がくせいさんにん |
|          |        | (3 students)     |
+----------+--------+------------------+
| Objects  | 個     | たまごろっこ     |
|          |        | (6 eggs)         |
+----------+--------+------------------+
| Age      | 歳/才  | じゅうごさい     |
|          |        | (15 years old)   |
+----------+--------+------------------+

Telling Time ⏰

Hours (時 - じ)

+--------+------------------+
| Hour   | Reading          |
+--------+------------------+
| 1:00   | いちじ           |
| 2:00   | にじ             |
| 3:00   | さんじ           |
| 4:00   | よじ ⚠️         |
| 5:00   | ごじ             |
| 6:00   | ろくじ           |
| 7:00   | しちじ           |
| 8:00   | はちじ           |
| 9:00   | くじ ⚠️         |
| 10:00  | じゅうじ         |
| 11:00  | じゅういちじ     |
| 12:00  | じゅうにじ       |
+--------+------------------+

⚠️ Irregular readings: 4:00 is よじ (not よんじ) and 9:00 is くじ (not きゅうじ)!

Minutes (分 - ふん/ぷん)

Minutes have sound changes:

+--------+------------------+
| Minutes| Reading          |
+--------+------------------+
| 1 min  | いっぷん ⚠️      |
| 2 min  | にふん           |
| 3 min  | さんぷん ⚠️      |
| 4 min  | よんぷん ⚠️      |
| 5 min  | ごふん           |
| 6 min  | ろっぷん ⚠️      |
| 7 min  | ななふん         |
| 8 min  | はっぷん ⚠️      |
| 9 min  | きゅうふん       |
| 10 min | じゅっぷん ⚠️    |
| 15 min | じゅうごふん     |
| 30 min | さんじゅっぷん   |
+--------+------------------+

Pattern: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10 use ぷん; others use ふん.

Complete Time Expressions

3:15 = さんじじゅうごふん
7:30 = しちじさんじゅっぷん (or しちじはん - "half past")
9:45 = くじよんじゅうごふん

Asking the time:

いまなんじですか。(What time is it now?)
でんしゃはなんじですか。(What time is the train?)

🤔 Did you know? Japanese people often use はん (half) for 30 minutes: 3:30 = さんじはん (3 o'clock half).

Money and Shopping 💴🛒

Japanese Currency

Japanese yen (円 - えん) is straightforward—no cents/pence!

Common amounts:

100円 = ひゃくえん (100 yen coin)
500円 = ごひゃくえん (500 yen coin)
1,000円 = せんえん (1,000 yen bill)
5,000円 = ごせんえん (5,000 yen bill)
10,000円 = いちまんえん (10,000 yen bill)

Essential Shopping Phrases

いくらですか。 (How much is it?)

The most important phrase! Literally "How much is it?"

これをください。 (I'll take this, please.)

これ = this, ください = please give me

〜円です。 (It's ___ yen.)

Response from shop staff

レシートをください。 (Receipt, please.)

ふくろはいりません。 (I don't need a bag.)

Eco-friendly phrase! いりません = don't need

Price Examples

Item Prices:

コーヒー: 380円
(Coffee: 380 yen = さんびゃくはちじゅうえん)

べんとう: 680円
(Bento: 680 yen = ろっぴゃくはちじゅうえん)

ノート: 150円
(Notebook: 150 yen = ひゃくごじゅうえん)

Tシャツ: 2,500円
(T-shirt: 2,500 yen = にせんごひゃくえん)

Examples with Explanations 📝

Example 1: At a Convenience Store (コンビニ)

Scenario: You're buying snacks at a 7-Eleven.

You:     すみません、これはいくらですか。
         (Excuse me, how much is this?)

Clerk:   それは420円です。
         (That's 420 yen.)
         [よんひゃくにじゅうえん]

You:     じゃあ、これをふたつください。
         (Then, I'll take two of these please.)
         [General counter つ for objects]

Clerk:   840円です。ふくろはいりますか。
         (840 yen. Do you need a bag?)
         [はっぴゃくよんじゅうえん]

You:     いいえ、いりません。
         (No, I don't need one.)

Breakdown:

420円 = よんひゃくにじゅうえん (400 + 20)
ふたつ = two (general counter)
840円 = はっぴゃくよんじゅうえん (notice はっぴゃく sound change!)

Example 2: Asking About Train Times 🚃

Scenario: At Tokyo Station

You:     すみません、よこはまへのでんしゃはなんじですか。
         (Excuse me, what time is the train to Yokohama?)

Staff:   10時25分です。
         (It's 10:25.)
         [じゅうじにじゅうごふん]

You:     ありがとうございます。いくらですか。
         (Thank you. How much is it?)

Staff:   470円です。
         (470 yen.)
         [よんひゃくななじゅうえん]

Key points:

なんじ = what time
10時25分 = じゅうじにじゅうごふん
Always say ありがとうございます after receiving help!

Example 3: Saying Your Age 👤

Scenario: Meeting new friends

Friend:  おいくつですか。/ なんさいですか。
         (How old are you?)
         [Polite / Casual versions]

You:     23歳です。
         (I'm 23 years old.)
         [にじゅうさんさい]

Friend:  そうですか。わたしは25歳です。
         (I see. I'm 25 years old.)
         [にじゅうごさい]

Age counter: 歳 (さい)

10歳 = じゅっさい / じっさい (both OK)
20歳 = はたち ⚠️ (special word for 20!)
25歳 = にじゅうごさい

Example 4: Ordering at a Restaurant 🍜

Scenario: Ordering ramen

You:     すみません、ラーメンをひとつください。
         (Excuse me, one ramen please.)

Waiter:  はい。おのみものは？
         (Yes. And for drinks?)

You:     みずをください。
         (Water, please.)

Waiter:  かしこまりました。ぜんぶで850円です。
         (Certainly. That's 850 yen total.)
         [はっぴゃくごじゅうえん]

Breakdown:

ひとつ = one (general counter)
ぜんぶで = in total
850円 = はっぴゃくごじゅうえん

Common Mistakes ⚠️

Mistake 1: Using the Wrong Counter

❌ Wrong: りんごさんにん (three apples)

にん is for people only!

✅ Correct: りんごみっつ or りんごさんこ

Mistake 2: Forgetting Sound Changes

❌ Wrong: さんひゃく (300) ✅ Correct: さんびゃく

❌ Wrong: はちひゃく (800) ✅ Correct: はっぴゃく

💡 Tip: These sound changes make pronunciation smoother—your mouth naturally wants to say them this way!

Mistake 3: Using いち/に for People

❌ Wrong: いちにん、ににん (1 person, 2 people) ✅ Correct: ひとり、ふたり

These are irregular and must be memorized!

Mistake 4: Wrong Reading for 4 and 9 O'clock

❌ Wrong: よんじ (4:00), きゅうじ (9:00) ✅ Correct: よじ、くじ

These are fixed expressions—don't add ん!

Mistake 5: Confusing Price Reading

❌ Wrong: 300円 = さんまんえん ✅ Correct: 300円 = さんびゃくえん

Remember: まん = 10,000, not 100!

Cultural Context 🎭

Lucky and Unlucky Numbers:

4 (し) sounds like 死 (death) → often avoided (hospitals skip floor 4)
9 (く) sounds like 苦 (suffering) → also avoided sometimes
8 (はち) is lucky! The shape (八) expands upward = prosperity
7 (なな) is lucky in Buddhism

🤔 Did you know? Many buildings in Japan don't have a 4th floor—it goes 1, 2, 3, 5! This is similar to Western buildings skipping the 13th floor.

Cash Culture: Japan is still very cash-based. Always carry yen! Small shops and restaurants often don't accept cards. The ubiquitous 100-yen shops (like Daiso) are perfect for budget travelers.

Politeness in Prices: When shop staff tell you the price, they often add になります: "850円になります" (It comes to 850 yen). This is more polite than just "850円です."

Key Takeaways 🎯

✅ Numbers 1-10: いち、に、さん、し/よん、ご、ろく、しち/なな、はち、きゅう/く、じゅう

✅ Building numbers: Combine tens + ones (23 = にじゅうさん)

✅ Sound changes: 300 (さんびゃく), 600 (ろっぴゃく), 800 (はっぴゃく), 3000 (さんぜん), 8000 (はっせん)

✅ General counter つ: ひとつ、ふたつ、みっつ... (1-10 only)

✅ People counter: ひとり、ふたり、さんにん...

✅ Object counter 個: いっこ、にこ、さんこ...

✅ Time hours (時): いちじ、にじ、さんじ、よじ、ごじ... (4 = よじ, 9 = くじ)

✅ Time minutes (分): ぷん or ふん depending on number

✅ Essential phrases:

いくらですか = How much?
これをください = I'll take this
なんじですか = What time?
～円です = It's ___ yen

✅ Avoid し and しち: Use よん and なな to avoid unlucky sounds

Further Study 📚

Tofugu - Japanese Numbers Guide: https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/japanese-numbers/ (Comprehensive breakdown with audio examples)
NHK World - Easy Japanese: https://www.nhk.or.jp/lesson/en/ (Lesson 3 covers numbers and shopping situations with video)
JapanesePod101 - Counting in Japanese: https://www.japanesepod101.com/lesson-library/ (Audio lessons for pronunciation practice)

📋 Quick Reference Card

┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  NUMBERS QUICK REFERENCE                │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ 1-10: いち に さん よん ご          │
│       ろく なな はち きゅう じゅう  │
│                                         │
│ 100: ひゃく  1,000: せん              │
│ 10,000: まん                            │
│                                         │
│ COUNTERS:                               │
│ • General (1-10): ~つ (みっつ=3)       │
│ • People: ~にん (ひとり/ふたり 1/2)    │
│ • Objects: ~こ (さんこ=3)              │
│ • Age: ~さい (にじゅっさい=20)         │
│                                         │
│ TIME:                                   │
│ • Hour: ~じ (よじ=4:00, くじ=9:00)     │
│ • Minutes: ~ふん/ぷん                   │
│ • Half: はん (3:30=さんじはん)          │
│                                         │
│ SHOPPING:                               │
│ • いくらですか (How much?)              │
│ • これをください (I'll take this)       │
│ • ~円です (It's ___ yen)               │
│                                         │
│ SOUND CHANGES:                          │
│ 300: さんびゃく  600: ろっぴゃく       │
│ 800: はっぴゃく  3000: さんぜん        │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘

Extended Practice Scenario 🎬

A Day in Tokyo: Using Numbers Everywhere

あなた (You) are spending a day exploring Tokyo. Let's follow your journey:

7:30 AM - Breakfast at a café:

Waiter: いらっしゃいませ！
        (Welcome!)

You:    モーニングセットをひとつください。
        (One morning set, please.)

Waiter: 580円です。
        [ごひゃくはちじゅうえん]

9:15 AM - Train to Shibuya:

You:    すみません、しぶやへのでんしゃはなんじですか。
        (Excuse me, what time is the train to Shibuya?)

Staff:  9時20分です。
        [くじにじゅっぷん]

You:    いくらですか。

Staff:  200円です。
        [にひゃくえん]

11:00 AM - Shopping at a 100-yen store:

You:    これはいくらですか。

Clerk:  ぜんぶ100円です。
        [ひゃくえん] (Everything is 100 yen!)

You:    じゃあ、これをみっつください。
        (Then, I'll take three of these.)

Clerk:  300円です。
        [さんびゃくえん]

1:30 PM - Lunch at a ramen shop:

You:    ラーメンをひとつください。

Waiter: 850円です。なんにんですか。
        [はっぴゃくごじゅうえん]
        (850 yen. How many people?)

You:    ふたりです。
        (Two people.)

3:45 PM - Meeting a friend:

Friend: いまなんじ？
        (What time is it now?)

You:    3時45分だよ。
        [さんじよんじゅうごふん]

Friend: あ、えいがは4時だ！
        [よじ] (Ah, the movie is at 4:00!)

6:00 PM - Buying souvenirs:

You:    このTシャツはいくらですか。
        (How much is this T-shirt?)

Clerk:  2,800円です。
        [にせんはっぴゃくえん]

You:    たかいですね...これは？
        (That's expensive... how about this?)

Clerk:  それは1,500円です。
        [せんごひゃくえん]

You:    じゃあ、それをください！
        (Then I'll take that one!)

This scenario shows how numbers appear constantly in real life! Practice reading these aloud to build fluency.

Congratulations! 🎉 You can now count in Japanese, tell time, and handle basic shopping situations. These skills are essential for daily life in Japan. Practice reading prices in stores, train schedules, and your phone's clock display in Japanese. The more you use these numbers, the more natural they'll become!

がんばってください！(Good luck!)

📝

Ready to practice?

This lesson has 69 questions to help you learn