Japanese numbers: reading and counting
Learn the basic number readings and use them with a counter for people or objects. Read examples and try the explained exercises.
Read and practiseAdventure journal
All Japanese lessons
Choose a topic, read the examples and try the exercises before revealing the answers. Follow a related lesson when you are ready to use the same idea in a new situation.
Adventure journal
Your lesson journal
Choose your level
The lesson search could not load. You can still browse the pages.
No matching lesson. Try a shorter search or another topic.
Counting long objects with 本
Use 本 after a number to count pencils, bottles, umbrellas and other long objects. Read examples and try the explained exercises.
Read and practiseCounting people with 人
Ask and say how many people there are using the person counter 人. Read examples and try the explained exercises.
Read and practiseCounting things in Japanese with つ
Learn the general Japanese counting forms from one to ten, including small っ, and practise asking how many.
Read and practiseJapanese yen: reading prices with 円
Read prices in Japanese yen, practise asking and answering about cost, and learn irregular hundred and thousand readings.
Read and practiseJapanese clock time: hours and minutes
Learn to ask and tell the time in Japanese, including special readings for hours, minutes and half past.
Read and practiseDays of the month in Japanese
Read Japanese calendar dates from the first to the thirty-first, including the special forms for the 14th and 20th.
Read and practiseDays of the week in Japanese
The seven weekday names end in 曜日（ようび）. Read examples and practise with explanations for each answer.
Read and practiseMonths and dates in Japanese
A month is a number followed by 月（がつ）. Read examples and practise with explanations for each answer.
Read and practiseSaying your age with 歳
Add 歳（さい） to a number for age: 三歳 is さんさい. Read examples and practise with explanations for each answer.
Read and practiseCounting flat objects with 枚
Learn to count sheets, photographs, tickets and other flat objects with 枚, including the readings from one to ten and how to ask how many.
Read and practiseCount occurrences with 回
Learn how to say once, twice and how many times in Japanese using 回, and practise its sound changes in everyday examples.
Read and practiseHours and minutes with 時 and 分
Read Japanese clock times with 時 and 分, learn irregular hour and minute readings, and distinguish clock time from duration.
Read and practiseAsk how many with 何 and a counter
Ask how many people, objects, times or minutes in Japanese by combining 何 with the right counter and reading its sound changes.
Read and practiseHundreds, thousands and ten-thousands in Japanese
Read Japanese hundreds, thousands and ten-thousands, including sound changes and how to group numbers by 万. Practise with prices and quantities.
Read and practiseSound changes in Japanese counters
Compare how numbers and counters change their sounds in Japanese, from 一本 and 三本 to 六個 and 六冊, with explained practice.
Read and practiseJapanese calendar years and era names
Learn to read Japanese era years alongside Gregorian years, including 令和元年 and the change from Heisei to Reiwa in 2019.
Read and practiseCounting small objects with 個
Learn to count individual small objects with 個, ask 何個 and pronounce common sound changes through practical Japanese examples.
Read and practiseCounting books and volumes with 冊
Learn to count books, magazines and notebooks with 冊, ask 何冊 and practise the readings of one, six and other quantities.
Read and practiseCounting machines and vehicles with 台
Learn to count cars, bicycles and appliances with 台, ask 何台 and practise the readings of common quantities.
Read and practiseCounting small animals with 匹
Learn to count cats, fish and other small animals with 匹, ask 何匹 and practise the changing readings of common quantities.
Read and practiseCounting cups and glasses with 杯
Learn how 杯 counts cups and glasses of drinks, including the changing sounds in 一杯, 三杯 and 六杯.
Read and practiseCounting animals with 匹 and 頭
Learn when to count small animals with 匹 and large animals with 頭, and practise their changing readings in context.
Read and practiseCounting birds and rabbits with 羽
Learn how 羽 counts birds and rabbits, how number readings change, and how to ask how many with 何羽.
Read and practise