Numbers up to 1000

Today, let's add numbers up to 1000. There are some variations to note with the numbers '4,' '7,' and '9.'

It's probably easier if you read the numbers in romaji and explanations first. Then listen to the audio and practice speaking.

1 - ichi
2 - ni
3 - san
4 - shi or yon. Both words are currently used, so you'll have to recognize them.
5 - go
6 - roku
7 - shichi or nana. Both are used, but nana is preferred in telephone conversations and by younger speakers.
8 - hachi
9 - ku or kyuu. Both are used, but kyuu is preferred in telecommunication.
10 - juu
11 - juu-ichi
12 - juu-ni
13 - juu-san
14 - juu-shi
15 - juu-go
16 - juu-roku
17 - juu-shichi
18 - juu-hachi
19 - juu-ku or juu-kyuu
20 - nijuu
21 - nijuu-ichi
22 - nijuu-ni
23 through 29 follow the same pattern of adding 3 to 9 to nijuu.

30 - sanjuu
31 - sanjuu-ichi

40 - yonjuu
41 - yonjuu-ichi

50 - gojuu
60 - rokujuu
70 - shichijuu or nanajuu. Currently, nanajuu is getting more popular.
80 - hachijuu
90 - kyuujuu

100 - hyaku
200 - nihyaku
300 - sambyaku. Please note the sound change associated with san+hyaku, in which san becomes sam and hyaku becomes byaku.
400 - yonhyaku
500 - gohyaku
600 - roppaku. roku+hyaku becomes roppyaku.
700 - nanahyaku
800 - happyaku. hach+hyaku becomes happyaku.
900 - kyuuhyaku
1000 - sen or issen. ichi+sen becomes issen.

The best way to master the numbers and associated combination rules is to repeat after the model speech and let your ears and tongue remember them. As you repeat many times these rules will become automatic to you. Then, you've learned Japanese.

OK, let's call in the audio portion of this lesson by clicking the underlined word Audio here.

I'll be back soon.

Dr. Han

What time is it now?

Let's practice how to tell time in Japanese.

ima nanji desu ka? (What time is it now?)

No. 1. ima ichiji desu. (It's one o'clock, now.)
No. 2. ima niji desu. (It's two o'clock, now.)
No. 3. ima sanji desu. (It's three o'clock, now.)
No. 4. ima yoji desu. (It's four o'clock, now.)
No. 5. ima goji desu. (It's five o'clock, now.)
No. 6. ima rokuji desu. (It's six o'clock, now.)
No. 7. ima shichiji desu. (It's seven o'clock, now.)
No. 8. ima hachiji desu. (It's eight o'clock, now.)
No. 9. ima kuji desu. (It's nine o'clock, now.)
No. 10. ima juuji desu. (It's ten o'clock, now.)
No. 11. ima juuichiji desu. (It's eleven o'clock, now.)
No. 12. ima juuniji desu. (It's twelve o'clock, now.)

Please listen to the audio, and repeat after me.

Numbers 0, 1-10

Hello, everyone! How are you today? konnichiwa! minasan, ogenki desu ka?
Let's study Japanese together. saa, isshoni nihongo o benkyoo shimashoo.

Today, we'll study numbers; the numbers 0, 1 ... 10. The number system in Japanese is rather complex, but here is the first set that is used in daily communications such as with telephone numbers, ID numbers, and room numbers and so forth.

For the word "zero" we say 'zero.'
"one" is 'ichi'
"two" is 'ni'
"three" is 'san'
"four" is 'yon'
"five" is 'go'
"six" is 'roku'
"seven" is 'nana'
"eight" is 'hachi'
"nine" is 'kyuu'
"ten' is 'juu.'

I will speak twice, first for listening, and second for repetition. Please repeat after me aloud and memorize the numbers. Please click here to connect to the audio.

I will be back soon.

Dr. Han

Greetings and Other Useful Expressions

Today, let's review and practice greetings and other useful daily exchanges. I will speak each expression twice. Please make sure you repeat after me. It's important to practice aloud.

The following are the common greetings.

ohayoo gozaimasu. (Good morning.)
konnichiwa. (Hello! or Good afternoon.)
kombanwa. (Good evening.)
ja mata, or dewa mata. (Well, then, I'll see you.)
sayoonara, or sayonara. (Good-bye, or Bye!)
oyasuminasai. (Good night.)
gokigenyoo. (Farewell, Good-bye.)

The following are other useful daily exchanges.

ogenki desu ka? (Are you in good health? or How are you?)
ikaga desu ka? (How are you doing?)
okagesamade. (Thank you for asking [implying a good answer].)
genki desu. (I'm fine. or I'm in good health.)
maa maa desu. (I'm so so. or Not bad, thank you.)

Please click here to get the audio portion of this lesson.

I'll be back soon.

Dr. Han