September 2009Archive

Number notation in kanji and number pronunciation in kanji.

Pronunciation of number in Japanese, and notation of number in kanji symbol.

Because it is regular writing number in kanji, it might be not very difficult for you.
But, when the digit increases, number in kanji becomes very long.
Moreover, the pronunciation of a big number is very long.

Fortunately, number in kanji is hardly used in recent Japan.
In an official document etc., also the use of number in kanji has decreased.
Therefore, these might be not important for you who studies Japanese.

But, I think you had better learn number in kanji from 1 to 100.
Because they are often used for Japanese place-name and the name of a person.

 

The list: pronunciation of number in kanji & notation of number in kanji

I filled in other notes on the following table.
The most basic number is 1-10.
And, if it is possible for you, learn kanji from 1 to 100.

<Note>:
*Kanij in parentheses in the kanji number cell from 1 to 10 is old&special kanji.
(Though it is hardly used in daily life, it is used for a special contract and the congratulation money package etc..)
*In the pronunciation's parentheses is okurigana.
*The character that shows the pronunciation for which your attention is necessary is marked with dark red.

No.	Kanji	Pronunciation
1	一　[ 壱 ] ; 一つ	ichi ; hito[tsu]
2	二　[ 弐 ] ; 二つ	ni ; futa[tsu]
3	三　[ 参 ] ; 三つ	san ; mi[ttsu]
4	四　[ 肆 ] ; 四つ	shi ,yon ; yo[ttsu]
5	五　[ 伍 ] ; 五つ	go ; itsu[tsu]
6	六　[ 陸 ] ; 六つ	roku ; mu[ttsu]
7	七　[ 漆 ] ; 七つ	nana ,shichi ; nana[tsu]
8	八　[ 捌 ] ; 八つ	hachi ; ya[ttsu]
9	九　[ 玖 ] ; 九つ	kyu, ku : kokono[tsu]
10	十　[ 拾 ]	jyu, tou

No.	Kanji	Pronunciation
11	十一	jyu ichi
12	十二	jyu ni
13	十三	jyu san
14	十四	jyu shi , jyu yon
15	十五	jyu go
16	十六	jyu roku
17	十七	jyu shichi , jyu nana
18	十八	jyu hachi
19	十九	jyu ku, jyu kyu
20	二十	ni-jyu

 

< About "20" >
"20" is pronounced with "hatachi", when used for the meaning showing "20 years old."

No.	Kanji	Pronunciation
21	二十一	ni-jyu ichi
22	二十二	ni-jyu ni
23	二十三	ni-jyu san
24	二十四	ni-jyu shi , ni-jyu yon
25	二十五	ni-jyu go
26	二十六	ni-jyu roku
27	二十七	ni-jyu shichi , ni-jyu nana
28	二十八	ni-jyu hachi
29	二十九	ni-jyu ku , ni-jyu kyu
30	三十	san-jyu

No.	Kanji	Pronunciation
10	十	jyu
20	二十	ni-jyu
30	三十	san-jyu
40	四十	yon-jyu, shi-jyu
50	五十	go-jyu
60	六十	roku-jyu
70	七十	nana-jyu
80	八十	hachi-jyu
90	九十	kyu-jyu
100	百	hyaku

 

< About the pronunciation of 4 and 9 of "The first digit." >

Usually, 4 is pronounced "shi or yon", and 9 is pronounced "KU or KYU."
This is various by a case and a person.

It is the easiest for you to use "YON and KYU" to avoid your confusion.
If you use these, your Japanese is always correct.

No.	Kanji	Pronunciation
101	百一	hyaku-ichi
102	百二	hyaku-ni
103	百三	hyaku-san
104	百四	hyaku-yon
105	百五	hyaku-go
106	百六	hyaku-roku
107	百七	hyaku-nana
108	百八	hyaku-hachi
109	百九	hayku-kyu
110	百十	hyaku-ju

No.	Kanji	Pronunciation
111	百十一	hyaku-ju-ichi
112	百十二	hyaku-ju-ni
113	百十三	hyaku-ju-san
114	百十四	hyaku-yu-yon, hyaku-ju-shi
115	百十五	hyaku-ju-go
116	百十六	hyaku-ju-roku
117	百十七	hayku-ju-nana, hyaku-ju-shichi
118	百十八	hyaku-ju-hachi
119	百十九	hyaku-ju-kyu, hyaku-ju-ku
120	百二十	hayku-ni-ju

No.	Kanji	Pronunciation
121	百二十一	hyaku-ni-ju-ichi
122	百二十二	hyaku-ni-ju-ni
123	百二十三	hyaku-ni-ju-san
124	百二十四	hyaku-ni-ju-yon, hyaku-ni-ju-shi
125	百二十五	hyaku-ni-ju-go
126	百二十六	hauku-ni-ju-roku
127	百二十七	hayku-ni-ju-nana, hayku-ni-ju-shichi
128	百二十八	hyaku-ni-ju-hachi
129	百二十九	hyaku-ni-ju-kyu, hyaku-ni-ju-ku
130	百三十	hyaku-san-ju

 

< About the pronunciation 7 >

"NANA" and "SHICHI".
There is no problem in many cases even if either is used.

No.	Kanji	Pronunciation
110	百十	hyaku-ju
120	百二十	hyaku-ni-ju
130	百三十	hyaku-san-ju
140	百四十	hyaku-yon-ju
150	百五十	hyaku-go-ju
160	百六十	hyaku-roku-ju
170	百七十	hyaku-nana-ju
180	百八十	hyaku-hachi-ju
190	百九十	hyaku-kyu-ju
200	二百	ni-hyaku

No.	Kanji	Pronunciation
221	二百二十一	ni-hyaku-ni-ju-ichi
222	二百二十二	ni-hyaku-ni-ju-ni
223	二百二十三	ni-hyaku-ni-ju-san
224	二百二十四	ni-hyaku-ni-ju-yon[shi]
225	二百二十五	ni-hyaku-ni-ju-go
226	二百二十六	ni-hyaku-ni-ju-roku
227	二百二十七	ni-hyaku-ni-ju-nana[shichi]
228	二百二十八	ni-hyaku-ni-ju-hachi
229	二百二十九	ni-hyaku-ni-ju-kyu[ku]
230	二百三十	ni-hyaku-san-ju

No.	Kanji	Pronunciation
100	百	hyaku
200	二百	ni-hyaku
300	三百	san-byaku
400	四百	yon-hyaku
500	五百	go-hyaku
600	六百	roppyaku
700	七百	nana-hyaku
800	八百	happyaku
900	九百	kyu-hyaku
1,000	千	sen

No.	Kanji	Pronunciation
1,001	千一	sen-ichi
1,002	千二	sen-ni
1,003	千三	sen-san
1,004	千四	sen-yon
1,005	千五	sen-go
1,006	千六	sen-roku
1,007	千七	sen-nana
1,008	千八	sen-hachi
1,009	千九	sen-kyu
1,010	千十	sen-ju

No.	Kanji	Pronunciation
1,011	千十一	sen-ju-ichi
1,012	千十二	sen-ju-ni
1,013	千十三	sen-ju-san
1,014	千十四	sen-ju-yon[shi]
1,015	千十五	sen-ju-go
1,016	千十六	sen-ju-roku
1,017	千十七	sen-ju-nana[shichi]
1,018	千十八	sen-ju-hachi
1,019	千十九	sen-ju-kyu[ku]
1,020	千二十	sen-ni-ju

No.	Kanji	Pronunciation
1,010	千十	sen-ju
1,020	千二十	sen-ni-ju
1,030	千三十	sen-san-ju
1,040	千四十	sen-yon-ju
1,050	千五十	sen-go-ju
1,060	千六十	sen-roku-ju
1,070	千七十	sen-nana-jyu
1,080	千八十	sen-hachi-ju
1,090	千九十	sen-kyu-ju
1,100	千百	sen-hyaku

No.	Kanji	Pronunciation
1,111	千百十一	sen-hyaku-ju-ichi
1,112	千百十二	sen-hyaku-ju-ni
1,113	千百十三	sen-hyaku-ju-san
1,114	千百十四	sen-hyaku-ju-yon[shi]
1,115	千百十五	sen-hyaku-ju-go
1,116	千百十六	sen-hyaku-ju-roku
1,117	千百十七	sen-hyaku-ju-nana[shichi]
1,118	千百十八	sen-hyaku-ju-hachi
1,119	千百十九	sen-hyaku-ju-kyu[ku]
1,200	千二百	sen-ni-hyaku

No.	Kanji	Pronunciation
1,000	千	sen
2,000	二千	ni-sen
3,000	三千	san-zen
4,000	四千	yon-sen
5,000	五千	go-sen
6,000	六千	roku-sen
7,000	七千	nana-sen
8,000	八千	hassen
9,000	九千	kyu-sen
10,000	一万	ichi-man

No.	Kanji	Pronunciation
10,001	一万一	ichi-man-ichi
10,002	一万二	ichi-man-ni
10,003	一万三	ichi-man-san
10,004	一万四	ichi-man-yon
10,005	一万五	ichi-man-go
10,006	一万六	ichi-man-roku
10,007	一万七	ichi-man-nana
10,008	一万八	ichi-man-hachi
10,009	一万九	ichi-man-kyu
10,010	一万十	ichi-man-ju

No.	Kanji	Pronunciation
10,000	一万	ichi-man
20,000	二万	ni-man
30,000	三万	san-man
40,000	四万	yon-man
50,000	五万	go-man
60,000	六万	roku-man
70,000	七万	nana-man
80,000	八万	hachi-man
90,000	九万	kyu-man
100,000	十万	ju-man

No.	Kanji	Pronunciation
110,000	十一万	ju-ichi-man
120,000	十二万	ju-ni-man
103,000	十三万	ju-san-man
140,000	十四万	ju-yon-man
150,000	十五万	ju-go-man
160,000	十六万	ju-roku-man
170,000	十七万	ju-nana[shichi]-man
180,000	十八万	ju-hachi-man
190,000	十九万	ju-kyu-man
200,000	二十万	ni-ju-man

No.	Kanji	Pronunciation
100,000	十万	ju-man
200,000	二十万	ni-ju-man
300,000	三十万	san-ju-man
400,000	四十万	yon-ju-man
500,000	五十万	go-ju-man
600,000	六十万	roku-ju-man
700,000	七十万	nana-ju-man
800,000	八十万	hachi-ju-man
900,000	九十万	kyu-ju-man
1,000,000	百万	hyaku-man

No.	Kanji	Pronunciation
1,000,000	百万	hyaku-man
2,000,000	二百万	ni-hyakuk-man
3,000,000	三百万	san-byaku-man
4,000,000	四百万	yon-hyaku-man
5,000,000	五百万	go-hyaku-man
6,000,000	六百万	roppyaku-man
7,000,000	七百万	nana-hyaku-man
8,000,000	八百万	happyaku-man
9,000,000	九百万	kyu-hyaku-man
10,000,000	一千万	issen-man, sen-man

No.	Kanji	Pronunciation
10,000,000	一千万	issen-man, sen-man
20,000,000	二千万	ni-sen-man
30,000,000	三千万	san-zen-man
40,000,000	四千万	yon-sen-man
50,000,000	五千万	go-sen-man
60,000,000	六千万	roku-sen-man
70,000,000	七千万	nana-sen-man
80,000,000	八千万	hassen-man
90,000,000	九千万	kyu-sen-man
100,000,000	一億	ichi-oku

 

No.	Kanji	Pronunciation
One billion	十億	ju-oku
10 billion	百億	hyaku-oku
100 billion	千億	sen-oku
One trillion	一兆	iccho
10 trillion	百兆	hyaku-cho
One quadrillion	千兆	sen-cho

 

By Hararie

Japanese kanji's pronunciation isn't often one, and further it has onyomi and kunyomi.

 

There are 音読み[onyomi ] and 訓読み[kunyomi] in a Japanese kanji.

Two kinds of pronunciations "音読み(onyomi) and 訓読み(kunyomi) of a Japanese kanji" are very important for you who is learning Japanese.

 

Reason why Japan kanji has ONYOMI and KUNYOMI.

A kanji is a character introduced into Japan from ancient China, and onyomi is the pronunciation of the China form.
But, those kanji are used with Japan style pronunciation.

Therefore, please don't forget "The pronunciation of Chinese and Japanese is quite different."

Well, often the one kanji has many pronunciations.
The onyomi, the Sino-Japanese reading, is the modern descendent of the Japanese approximation of the Chinese pronunciation of the character at the time it was introduced. Some kanji were introduced from different parts of China at different times, and so have multiple on'yomi, and often multiple meanings.

In a word, most of a Japanese kanji is to have two or more onyomi and two or more kunyomi.

Look at the kanji as a example, please.
This kanji is "納[nou]".

<Kanji of Japan with the most a lot of onyomi >

This is the Japanese kanji that has most a lot of onyomi.

• 音読み(Onyomi) : nou, tou, na, nat, nan,
• 訓読み(Kunyomi) : osa(meru), osa(maru),

Please see the example of the word for which this kanji is used as onyomi kanji.

Kanji	Pronunciation	Meaning
納税	nou zei	Payment of taxes
納豆	nattou	Natto
結納	yui nou	a ceremonial exchange of engagement gifts
納得	nattoku	understanding, consent, satisfaction, conviction
納期	nou ki	Delivery date
納品	nou hin	Delivery of goods

These are a part of only idioms as the example.
Kanji with a lot of Onyomi; It shows that there are a lot of words for which that kanji is used.

 

When is ONYOMI used?

Onyomi is mainly used on a kanji idiom.

Japanese is a language of mixed writing of kanji and kana.
Kunyomi makes sense by accompanying the hiragana though Onyomi hardly needs the hiragana.

The meaning of the word is understood by reading the compounded kanji symbols aloud by Onyomi.
But , the Onyomi idiom kanji has the troublesome problem.

It means that there is many "idioms of the same pronunciation."
"The troublesome problem" is that quite a lot of kanji idioms with "Same pronunciation by Onyomi" exists in Japanese.

Look at the following examples, please.
The meaning is quite different though these have the same pronunciation.

Kanji	Pronunciation	Meaning
移動	idou	movement, transfer.
異同	idou	difference
異動	idou	a change
監視	kanshi	watch, keep, guard,
看視	kanshi	on the lookout
冠詞	kanshi	article
漢詩	kanshi	Chinese poem
期間	kikan	a period
機関	kikan	an engine, a means, an agency
器官	kikan	an organ
帰還	kikan	return, repatriation
基幹	kikan	a foundation
奇観	kikan	a spectacular sight
季刊	kikan	quarterly

 

Next, this is a kanji idiom where it has a different meaning though it has the most a lot of same pronunciations, in Japan.

交渉、高尚、公証、考証、厚相、公称、公傷、公証、鉱床、口承、哄笑、工廠、工商、興商、公娼、好尚、康正、工匠、高唱、校章、口証
(I omit the explanation about the meaning of these kanji idioms because there are quite a lot of numbers.)

Pronunciations: こうしょう[koushou]

The pronunciations of these kanji idiom are all "koushou."
(But, the idiom not so used is included in these kanji.)

 

Well, did you understand Onyomi?

To tell the truth, I feel that Japanese is very difficult language for the Japanese, too.
It is natural that you feel Japanese difficult.

Keep up your effort, please!

 

By Hararie

 

 

Words for family, and brothers relations.

Take a look at the image.
This is an image of the big family in Japan.
These are names in general family relationships.
In Japanese, the terms of family relationships differ according to whether you are talking about your own family to someone else, or the other person's family.

Name used at home

If the basis is me, A is my elder sister, and B is my elder brother.

My elder sister is あね/姉[ane] in Japanese.
And, my elder brother is あに/兄[ani] in Japanese.

"Elder brother, younger brother...".

These are regular expression in English.
The expression in Japanese is not only one.
I teach you several expressions that each of the Japanese uses.

• The asterisk mark is a name being liked by the Japanese.
• A polite name is used by the conversation etc. between an official document and others.

<INDEX>:
Father, Mother, Elder brother, Elder sister, Younger brother, Younger sister, Grandfather, Grandmother.

Japanese Vocabulary for Big Family

English	*	Japanese	Hiragana	Pronunciation
Father	父 (Polite name)		ちち	chichi
	*	お父さん	おとうさん	otô san
	*	親父	おやじ	oyaji
		パパ	ぱぱ	papa
		父さん	とうさん	tô san
		父ちゃん	とうちゃん	tô chan
		おとん	おとん	oton
		Others	-------	-------
Mother	母 (Polite name)		はは	haha
	*	お母さん	おかあさん	okâ san
	*	ママ	まま	mama
	*	母さん	かあさん	kâ san
		お母ちゃん	おかあちゃん	okâ chan
		おかん	おかん	okan
		おっ母	おっかあ	okkâ
		母ちゃん	かあちゃん	kâ chan
		Others	-------	-------
Elder brother	兄 (Polite name)		あに	ani
	*	お兄ちゃん	おにいちゃん	onii chan
	*	兄さん	にいさん	nii san
	*	兄貴	あにき	aniki
	*	兄ちゃん	にいちゃん	nii chan
	*	あんちゃん	あんちゃん	an chan
		お兄さん	おにいさん	onii san
		Others	-------	-------
Elder sister	姉 (Polite name)		あね	ane
	*	お姉ちゃん	おねえちゃん	onē chan
	*	姉さん	ねえさん	nē san
	*	姉ちゃん	ねえちゃん	nē chan
	*	姉貴	あねき	aneki
		お姉さん	おねえさん	onē san
		お姉さま	おねえさま	onē sama
		Others	-------	-------
Younger brother	弟 (Polite name)		おとうと	otôto
	*	First name	-------	-------
	*	First name + 君	-------	First name + kun
		Others	-------	-------
	What meaning is "First name + 君[kun]"? This is used only for boys or men. It's usually casual and only used by friends or relatives, but people from a higher status can use this on the name of someone lower than them. It's not any more impolite.(If anything, it is an honorific title.) Diet members in Japan also are using Kun on official occasions. Example: Kazuo(First name) Yoshida(Family name). He is called "Kazuo kun".
Younger sister	妹 (Polite name)		いもうと	imôto
	*	First name	-------	-------
	*	First name + ちゃん	-------	First name + chan
		Others	-------	-------
	What meaning is "First name + ちゃん[chan]"? This is also similar to "kun". My name is Rie(First name) Hara(Family name). So, I am called "Rie chan". <Advice: Because it is very impolite, you should not use "chan" for woman over 30.
Grandfather	祖父 (Polite name)		そふ	sofu
	*	お爺ちゃん	おじいちゃん	ojii chan
	*	爺ちゃん	じいちゃん	jii chan
	*	爺じ	じいじ	jiiji
	*	爺っちゃん	じっちゃん	jicchan
		お爺さん	おじいさん	ojii san
		爺さん	じいさん	jii san
		Others	-------	-------
Grandmother	祖母 (Polite name)		そぼ	sobo
	*	お婆ちゃん	おばあちゃん	obâ chan
	*	婆ちゃん	ばあちゃん	bâ chan
	*	婆ば	ばあば	bâba
	*	婆っちゃん	ばっちゃん	bacchan
		お婆さん	おばあさん	obâ san
		婆さん	ばあさん	bâ san
		Others	-------	-------

 

Name used with conversation and official document with others

Then, please see the next image.
If the basis is home, another name is used for each name.

These are formal expressions.
In the official documents such as family registers, these are used.
Also in everyday life, it is sometimes used.

 

<Hararie's Bytalk>:
Well, traditionally, the chonan and wife are expected to take care of the chonan's parents, and this often involves living at the same household.
But, because of work and the falling birthrate, this traditional arrangement may be impossible in recent Japan.

	Name in kanji	Pronunciation	Meaning
A	長女	chô jo	Eldest daughter in this home.
B	長男	chô nan	Eldest son in this home.
C	二女（次女）	ji jo	Second daughter in this home.
D	二男（次男）	ji nan	Second son of this home.
E	三男	san nan	Third son of this home.
F	三女	san jo	Third daughter in this home.

Expression of the brother in Japanese

For example, "the brother who consists of six persons."
In Japanese and English, expressions completely differ.

In English, it is "Three brothers and three sisters".
in Japanese, it is "６人兄弟[rokunin kyodai]".

 

Hararie