Background

Let's learn the basic numbers.

You'll notice that numbers 4, 7, and 9 have two options. Japanese speakers use either, but some are more common in different contexts. For example is common in months (九月「くがつ」 = September), and しち appears in dates (七月 「しちがつ」 = July). Knowing both is important.

Just like most languages, 1–10 are essential. But unlike English, there are no unique words for eleven, twelve, twenty, thirty, etc. Instead, Japanese builds numbers in formulas:

Formula for 11–19: じゅう + [ones digit]

Formula for 20–99: [tens digit] + じゅう + [ones digit]

To make eleven, you combine "ten" + "one" →

じゅうjuuいちichi

To make twenty, you combine "two" + "ten" →

niじゅうjuu

To make twenty-one, you combine "two" + "ten" + "one" →

niじゅうjuuいちichi

To make sixty-nine, you combine "six" + "ten" + "nine" →

ろくrokuじゅうjuuきゅうkyuu

Think you can say 98? Give it a try!

0–10

ゼロzeroれいrei
いちichi
ni
さんsan
よんyonshi
go
ろくroku
ななnanaしちshichi
はちhachi
きゅうkyuuku
10
じゅうjuu

11–20

Formula: じゅう + [ones digit]
11
じゅういちjuuichi
12
じゅうjuuni
13
じゅうさんjuusan
14
じゅうよんjuuyon
15
じゅうjuugo
20
じゅうnijuu

Tens

Formula: [digit] + じゅう
30
さんじゅうsanjuu
40
よんじゅうyonjuu
50
じゅうgojuu
60
ろくじゅうrokujuu
70
ななじゅうnanajuu
80
はちじゅうhachijuu
90
きゅうじゅうkyuujuu
100
ひゃくhyaku