Basic Digits 一 through 十
| Value | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 零 | れい | rei | |
| 1 | 一 | いち | ichi | |
| 2 | 二 | に | ni | |
| 3 | 三 | さん | san | |
| 4 | 四 | よん / し | yon / shi | |
| 5 | 五 | ご | go | |
| 6 | 六 | ろく | roku | |
| 7 | 七 | なな / しち | nana / shichi | |
| 8 | 八 | はち | hachi | |
| 9 | 九 | きゅう / く | kyuu / ku | |
| 10 | 十 | じゅう | juu |
Larger Numbers 百, 千, 万, 億, 兆
| Value | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 百 | ひゃく | hyaku | |
| 1,000 | 千 | せん | sen | |
| 10,000 | 万 | まん | man | |
| 100,000,000 | 億 | おく | oku | |
| 1,000,000,000,000 | 兆 | ちょう | chou |
When to Use Kanji vs Arabic Numerals
Books, newspapers, and traditional documents use kanji in vertical text.
Modern horizontal text typically uses arabic numerals.
Formal kanji (大字, daiji) prevent alteration — 一 could become 二 or 三, but 壱 cannot.
Everyday prices use arabic numerals for clarity.
Both forms are common. Official documents tend toward kanji.
Kanji is traditional (especially 二十歳, hatachi), arabic is modern.
Kanji in formal/vertical, arabic in casual/horizontal writing.
Small numbers often use kanji; larger numbers use arabic.
Formal Kanji 大字 Daiji
Formal kanji exist to prevent fraud on financial documents. Simple strokes like 一 can be altered to 二 or 三, but formal kanji like 壱 cannot be easily modified.
| Standard | Formal | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 一 | 壱 | 1 |
| 二 | 弐 | 2 |
| 三 | 参 | 3 |
| 五 | 伍 | 5 |
| 十 | 拾 | 10 |
| 百 | 佰 | 100 |
| 千 | 仟 | 1,000 |
| 万 | 萬 | 10,000 |
Cultural Notes
The reading し (shi) sounds like 死 (death). Avoided in hospitals (no room 4), gifts, and floor numbers. よん (yon) is preferred in most contexts.
The reading く (ku) sounds like 苦 (suffering). Similarly avoided in hospitals and formal contexts. きゅう (kyuu) is the safer reading.
Considered lucky because the kanji 八 widens at the bottom, suggesting expanding prosperity (末広がり, suehirogari).
Lucky number in Japan, associated with the Seven Gods of Fortune (七福神, shichifukujin) and the Tanabata festival on July 7th.