Counting (with counters!) above 10

Japanese Language
1

Hey :slight_smile:

I feel like we always get taught how to use the first 10 numbers with counters, and above that we are just left to guess whether we have to use the same words but with other numbers before, or just use it “normally”…

Let me explain: for example, 1 person is ひとり, right? - but 31 people is さんじゅういちにん and notさんじゅうひとり. On the other hand, because four days is よっか, 24 days becomes にじゅうよっか and not にじゅうよんにち.

How are we supposed to know which way around is it for all numbers and all counters?
Do you know of any page detailing this?

Thanks :slight_smile:

1 Like
2

I don’t have any resources for all counting numbers or anything, just wanted to point out that にじゅうよっか and にじゅうよんにち are both acceptable.

3

That should help with almost everything you’ve asked for.

http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar/numbers

4

Thanks, but I already saw this page and it doesn’t satisfy me :stuck_out_tongue: It talks about numbers above 10, like 100, 1000, 10000, etc. but it still doesn’t deal with numbers like 46, 97, 623, 100004, etc. with different counters. (Or maybe I didn’t read enough in the fine lines)

–
Also, does anyone know a good way of practicing numbers? I’m at an intermediate/advanced level of Japanese and yet I still struggle catching, reading and saying numbers without taking way too long to do it :stuck_out_tongue:

5

Oh yes, doesn’t one mean the numbers of days and the other the xth day of the month?

(or do you know if it is always like that where both ways are acceptable?)

6

They are both acceptable for reading the date. Presumably for number of days too, but I don’t know that for sure.

7

Thank you! :slight_smile:

I ended up asking on “Hi Native” and it seems like Japanese people don’t know either and that in general they will just always use the number as it is + the counter separately (days are an exception).

8

I wonder if that’s the same for the counter つ.

9

For generic counting above 10 you can’t use the つ format. 個 is the most popular generic counter for larger numbers.

4 Likes
10

I remember reading about つ in particular. It’s technically possible to count above ten with it, but it’s

  • Not actually done in everyday life, and
  • It uses the old numbering system and gets confusing really fast.

Like Liras’s link above shows, １０つ is even just pronounced とお. It gets weird.

1 Like
11

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