Mastering Big Numbers in Japanese

Introduction: Understanding Big Numbers in Japanese

Counting in Japanese can feel simple at first—learning numbers from 1 to 10 is straightforward. However, as you progress to thousands, millions, and beyond, things can get tricky due to Japan’s unique numerical grouping system based on units of ten thousand (万, man).

This guide will break down big numbers in Japanese, helping you master reading, writing, and pronouncing large numerical figures with confidence.

📌 New to Japanese numbers? Before diving into big numbers, start with the basics! Download the free guide:
👉 Counting to 100 in Japanese for an easy-to-follow reference on numbers 1 to 100 in kanji and hiragana.

The Japanese Numbering System

Two Ways to Count in Japanese

Japanese numbers can be read in two different ways:

1. Sino-Japanese (On’yomi, 音読み) – Derived from Chinese characters, this is used for counting large numbers.
2. Native Japanese (Kun’yomi, 訓読み) – An older, more traditional system, used primarily for counting small objects (up to 10).

For big numbers in Japanese, we exclusively use the Sino-Japanese system.

Counting Large Numbers in Japanese

The Basics: 1 to 10,000

Before tackling big numbers, let’s ensure you understand 1 to 10,000:

📌 Need more practice with small numbers?
Grab your free cheat sheet 👉 Counting to 100 in Japanese to master basic numbers before moving on to large ones.

The Secret to Big Numbers: Understanding 万 (Man)

In English, we count numbers in thousands (1,000 / 10,000 / 100,000).
In Japanese, numbers are grouped by ten thousand (万, man).

This means:

• 10,000 (ten thousand) is 一万 (ichi-man), NOT じゅうせん (juu-sen).
• 100,000 (one hundred thousand) is 十万 (juu-man).
• 1,000,000 (one million) is 百万 (hyaku-man).
• 10,000,000 (ten million) is 千万 (sen-man).

Breakdown of Large Numbers:

How to Count Millions and Billions

Once you reach 100 million, Japanese introduces a new unit: 億 (oku).

For numbers even larger than one billion, the unit 兆 (chou) is introduced:

• 1,000,000,000,000 (one trillion) = 一兆 (itchou).
• 10,000,000,000,000 (ten trillion) = 十兆 (juu-chou).

Larger Numbers for Reference

Common Mistakes When Using Big Numbers in Japanese

1. Forgetting that 10,000 = 万 (man)
   • ❌ じゅうせん (juu-sen) → ✅ いちまん (ichi-man)
2. Mispronouncing numbers with euphonic changes
   • 300 (三百) is さんびゃく (san-byaku), NOT さんひゃく (san-hyaku).
   • 8000 (八千) is はっせん (hassen), NOT はちせん (hachi-sen).
3. Mixing up million and billion
   • 1,000,000 (one million) is 百万 (hyaku-man), but
   • 1,000,000,000 (one billion) is 十億 (juu-oku).

How to Practice Big Numbers in Japanese

1. Use Real-World Examples

Try reading large numbers in Japanese from:

• Price tags on Japanese websites (e.g., ¥1,280,000 = 百二十八万)
• Population numbers in Japan (e.g., Tokyo’s population: 約1400万人 (about 14 million people))
• News headlines about finances and statistics.

2. Convert Large Numbers into Japanese

Take random large numbers and practice converting them:

• 2,750,000 → 二百七十五万 (ni-hyaku-nana-juu-go-man)
• 16,800,000 → 千六百八十万 (sen-roppyaku-hachi-juu-man)

3. Say Large Numbers Out Loud

Speaking numbers aloud helps solidify them in memory. Try reading phone numbers, dates, and big figures in Japanese.

Conclusion: Mastering Big Numbers in Japanese

While learning big numbers in Japanese may seem overwhelming at first, breaking them into manageable units of 10,000 makes them much easier to grasp. Understanding key concepts like man (万), oku (億), and chou (兆) will help you read and use large numbers fluently.

📌 Still learning basic numbers? Download this free guide 👉 Counting to 100 in Japanese to build a strong foundation before tackling large numbers!

By practicing real-world examples and reinforcing pronunciation, you’ll soon master Japanese numbers like a pro. 🚀🎌

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