Articles

Counting in Japanese
By Bernard Schenkler (Rev. 4-12-09)

We recite ich, ni, san etc. from memory but we don’t really understand how the Japanese number system works. A basic understanding will help you remember.

First, the basics:

• Ichi - one (drop the final “i” when we count—just say “ ich”(pronounced “each”)
• Ni - two
• San - three
• Chi - four (also, Shi) (use “yon” if it is a prefix- in front of other numbers)
• Go - five
• Roku - six
• Sichi -seven (use “nana” if it is a prefix- in front of other numbers).
• Hachi -eight
• Kyu -nine
• Ju - ten

Chi (Shi) is the number 4. But “4th” is Yon. Thus, a 4th degree black belt is a “Yon Dan” (4th Dan) not a Chi-Dan. Likewise, 7th is “Nanna”. Sensei Byron Marriner is a Nanna Dan, (7th Dan) not a Shichi Dan. But the other numbers remain the same. Thus, a second degree black belt is a Ni Dan.

There are also specific words to describe things. Example: one person is “hitori”. Two people are “futari.” In karate, we generally count the number of push ups or jumping jacks etc, so the simple counting is appropriate.

10-20

Ten (“Ju”) becomes the basic number as we go from 11 to 99.

• Ju ichi - 11
• Ju ni - 12
• Ju san -13
• Ju chi - 14 (Since chi is at the end, not beginning, a “yon” is not necessary.)
• Ju go - 15
• Ju roku -16
• Ju sichi - 17 (Since sichi is at the end, not beginning, a “nanna” is not necessary.)
• Ju haji - 18
• Ju kyu - 19
• Ni ju -20

20-100

So from 11 to 19, the numbers are 10 + 1, 10 + 2 etc.

Starting at 20, Ni ju means 2 x 10

Ni ju ich 21 means 2 x 10 + 1

Ni ju ni 22 means 2 x 10 + 2

And so on

San ju 30 means 3 x 10

Yon ju 40 means 4 x 10.

Here, since the 4 is at the beginning, we use “Yon.”

Yon ju ich 41 means 4 x 10 + 1

Go ju 50 means 5 x 10

Roku ju 60 means 6 x 10

Nanna ju 70 means 7 x 10

Here, since the 7 is at the beginning, we use “nanna.”

Hachi ju 80 means 8 x 10

Kyu ju 90 means 9 x 10

Kyu ju ich 91 means 9 x 10 + 1

100-10000

Now we jump to a new number- 100 which is “hya-ku”

Hyaku 100

Hyaku ichi 101 means 100 +1

Hyaku ju ichi 111 means 100 + 10 + 1

Hyaku ni ju ichi 121 means 100 + 2 x 10 + 1

Hyaku nana ju 170 means 100 + 7 x 10

Now, Hykau become the basic number, so

Ni Hyaku means 2 x 100

But the rules change a little for:

• 300 - Sanbyoku
• 400 - Yanhyaku
• 600 - Ropphyaku
• 700 - Nannahyaku
• 800 - Hopphyaku

• 1000 - Sen
• 1001 - Sen ichi
• 8000 - Hassen

10,000 - 1,000,000

“ Man” is a unit of 10,000. So 10,000 is ichiman 20,000 is niman 100,000 – Juman (10 x 10,000)

10,000 is also used to describe “ a lot” or “many.” If I see 10,000 stars in the sky, I don’t really mean exactly 10,000. I mean a lot of stars. Also, san (3) is sometimes used to describe several and not literally 3. It’s like ordering a couple of donuts. It could be two, three or it could be four.

1,000,000 Hyakuman (100 [hyaku] x 10,000 [man])

Hopefully, you will not be asked to do hyakuman pushups so we’ll stop here.

Bs/mt

© Peaceful Valley Martial Arts 2013+
Created and maintained by Alan Schenkler

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