Japanese numbers and counter suffixes

In English, once you learn to count numbers, it's pretty straightforward to use them. Whether you're talking about time, people, or objects, the numbers stay the same. However, in Japanese, counting is much more complex. The way numbers are read changes depending on the context, like hours, minutes, dates, months, ages, and more. On top of that, Japanese uses “counter suffixes”, which are words that come after numbers and indicate what kind of thing you are counting.

 

Especially, the numbers 4,7 and 9 have two different readings depending on the counter suffix.

4: よん or し 
7: なな or しち 
9: きゅう or く  

Different Ways to Read the Same Number

In Japanese, how you read numbers changes depending on what you're counting. Let's look at a few examples: 

1. Person  人(にん、り)
one person: 1人(ひとり)  two persons: 2人(ふたり)  four persons: 4人(よにん)
 

2. Ages  歳(さい)
 1 year old: 1歳(いっさい)  7 years old: 7歳(ななさい)  9 years old: 9歳(きゅうさい)
 

3. Days of the Month 日 (にち)
1st of the month: 1日(ついたち)  2nd of the month: 2日(ふつか)
3日(みっか) 4日(よっか) 5日(いつか) 6日(むいか) 7日(なのか) 8日(ようか) 9日(ここのか) 10日(とおか)

 

4. Months  月(がつ)
April: 4月(しがつ)  July: 7月(しちがつ)  September: 9月(くがつ)

 

5. Hours  時 (じ) 
4 o'clock: 4時(よじ)  7 o'clock: 7時(しちじ)  9 o'clock: 9時(くじ)
 

6. Minutes   分(ふん、ぷん) 
4 minutes: 4分(よんぷん)  7 minutes: 7分(ななふん)  9 minutes: 9分(きゅうふん) 
 

These examples show that even common numbers like 4, 7, and 9 are read in different ways depending on what you're counting. It can feel tricky at first, but with practice, you'll get used to it!
 

 2. Flat objects like paper  枚(まい)
1枚(いちまい) 7枚(ななまい) 9枚(きゅうまい)

 3. Long objects like pencils  本(ほん、ぼん、ぽん)
1本(いっぽん)  2本(にほん) 3本(さんぼん)  4本(よんほん)  5本(ごほん)  6本(ろっぽん)  7本(ななほん)  8本(はっぽん)  9本(きゅうほん) 10本(じゅっぽん)

 4. (rather small) Animals 匹(ひき、びき、ぴき)
1匹(いっぴき) 2匹(にひき) 3匹(さんびき) 4匹(よんひき)  5匹(ごひき) 6匹(ろっぴき) 7匹(ななひき) 8匹(はっぴき) 9匹(きゅうひき) 10匹(じゅっぴき)  

 

 5. Birds  羽(わ)
 羽(いちわ) 4羽(よんわ) 7羽(ななわ) 9羽(きゅうわ)

This is just a small sample—there are around 500 different counter suffixes in Japanese! It may sound overwhelming, but they are essential for everyday conversation.

something small  個(こ)
mails, emails  通(つう)
schools  校(こう)
pairs of shose, socks, etc.  足(そく) 

subjects, issues, etc.  件(けん) 

The list goes on and on!

   
Why Are Counters Important?While Japanese counters may seem complicated at first, they are actually a key part of the language. Using the correct counter shows that you understand what you're talking about, whether it's people, animals, or objects. Even though it can take some time to get used to, once you learn the common counters, you'll feel more confident speaking Japanese.

 

 Japanese numbers and counter suffixes can be tricky for beginners because there are so many rules about how to read numbers depending on what you're counting. However, with practice and exposure, it becomes easier. Counters are an essential part of the language, and mastering them will help you speak more naturally in Japanese conversations. So don't worry—just take it step by step, and you'll improve in no time!