Japanese Numbers 1–10: Kanji, Kana, and Romaji

Japanese numbers 1–10 form the base for larger numbers. Learn the Kanji and the standard reading together; after ten, the system becomes highly regular.

Japanese numbers chart

Our tool writes long vowels as uu in plain Romaji, so きゅう appears as kyuu and じゅう as juu. Both styles describe the same long vowel.

Alternative readings for 4, 7, and 9

Four can also be read shi, seven shichi, and nine ku. The preferred form depends on the counter, fixed expression, and context. For general standalone counting, yon, nana, and kyū are beginner-friendly forms.

Numbers versus counters

Japanese usually combines a number with a counter that matches the object. One person is 一人 (hitori), two people is 二人 (futari), and three people is 三人 (sannin). These are not always predictable from the standalone number.

Do not try to master every counter at once. First recognize 1–10, then learn counters you need for people, flat objects, small objects, age, dates, and time.

Practice in both directions

Read 7 and say nana; see 八 and say hachi; hear san and write 三. Mixing recognition and production makes the forms easier to retrieve.

Use the Japanese Number Converter to compare Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana, and Romaji for any supported value. Try 4, 7, and 9 first, then continue to 11, 20, and 67.