Two Ways to Count in Japanese: Shared Roots Across Asia

How Japanese counts numbers and shared traits in Asian languages

Japanese keeps two systems for counting: the native 「ひとつ・ふたつ・みっつ…」 and the Sino-Japanese 「いち・に・さん…」. Globally, it is not very common for one language to keep two strong systems side by side. Japanese values older words while also adopting useful systems from abroad.

Note

This article targets beginner learners (CEFR A2). We use clear sentences and explain terms simply. Japanese text appears only inside 「」 or（） with translations in parentheses.

Native system (「和語（わご, Wago）」): everyday and up to ten

「ひとつ」「ふたつ」「みっつ」 are old native words in Japanese. A key point: this set goes only up to 「とお（ten）」. There are no native words for eleven or twelve.

In old writing, people used explanatory phrases like 「とおあまりひとつ」（ten and one）. This system was used more to feel amounts in daily life than to do exact calculation.

Example: 「りんごをみっつ買いました／子どもがふたりいます」（I bought three apples / I have two children）
Only for one and two people the forms are special: 「ひとり」「ふたり」. From three, it is 「さんにん」「よにん」 and so on.

The native system still sounds warm and familiar in conversation today.

Sino-Japanese system (「漢語（かんご, Kango）」): systematic and efficient

The sequence 「いち・に・さん・し・ご…」 came from Chinese. It fits base‑10 well and builds larger numbers by combination.

例：十一（じゅういち）／十二（じゅうに）／百（ひゃく）／千（せん）／一万人（いちまんにん） (Examples: eleven / twelve / hundred / thousand / ten thousand people)

For public documents, education, and Buddhist texts, accuracy and efficiency mattered. This is why the Sino-Japanese set spread for counting and record keeping.

Pronunciation tips you will meet often:

4 is often said as 「よん」 in daily life, not 「し」 (to avoid an unlucky sound)
7 is often said as 「なな」 rather than 「しち」
Sound shifts: 「一分（いっぷん）」「三百（さんびゃく）」「六百（ろっぴゃく）」「八本（はっぽん）」

Counters and how the two systems work together

Japanese uses counters (words attached to numbers for kinds of things). Many counters go with the Sino-Japanese numbers. For small counts up to ten, the native 「〜つ」 is also common.

Item	Counter	Common forms
General objects	「〜つ」	「ひとつ」「ふたつ」「みっつ」…「とお」
People	「〜にん」	「ひとり」「ふたり」「さんにん」「よにん」…
Long thin objects	「〜ほん」	「いっぽん」「にほん」「さんぼん」…
Thin flat objects	「〜まい」	「いちまい」「にまい」「さんまい」…
Small animals	「〜ひき」	「いっぴき」「にひき」「さんびき」…
Time	「〜じ」「〜ふん」	「いちじ」「にじ」…／「いっぷん」「にふん」「さんぷん」…

Tips:

Up to ten, 「〜つ」 gives a friendly, conversational tone.
From eleven or when a unit is needed, Sino-Japanese + counter feels natural (for example: 「十一人」「十二枚」「三十分」).

In modern Japanese, the two systems share roles.

Use	Common choice	Examples
Everyday, sensory	Native 「〜つ」	「みっつ」「よっつ」「とお」
Calculation, units	Sino-Japanese	「さんにん」「じゅうえん」「ろっぽん」
Age	Sino-Japanese 「〜さい」	「いっさい」「はたち（special case）」「にじゅういっさい」
Money, time	Sino-Japanese	「ごひゃくえん」「さんじゅっぷん」

Rather than simply keeping something old, Japanese found living roles for both the native set and the Sino-Japanese set.

Shared patterns across Asian languages

Japanese 「いち・に・さん」 comes from Chinese 「一 yī・二 èr・三 sān」. Similar sounds spread to Korea and Southeast Asia through history.

Language	3	4	10
Chinese	sān	sì	shí
Korean	삼 (sam)	사 (sa)	십 (sip)
Thai	สาม (sǎːm)	สี่ (sìː)	สิบ (sìp)
Vietnamese (Sino‑Vietnamese)	tam	tứ	thập
Japanese	「さん」	「し／よん」	「じゅう」

These links grew from cultural exchange. Chinese once worked as a shared language for Buddhism, trade, and government writing.

Why Japanese kept its own flavor

Japanese adopted Chinese number words but did not abandon the native set. Besides convenience, it also kept a way of feeling the world through words.

「みっつ」 feels close to the hand and to daily life.
「さん」 expresses numbers clearly and suits calculation.

The three scripts—hiragana, katakana, and kanji—also helped keep different layers of words alive. So Japanese became a language where an old native sense and an imported system live together.

Study tips: gentle usage

Small counts up to ten: in speech, 「〜つ」 sounds natural (for example: 「みっつ」「よっつ」)
With units: use Sino-Japanese + counter (for example: 「さんぼん」「にじゅっぷん」)
People: 「ひとり」「ふたり」 are special; from three use 「〜にん」
For 4 and 7: use 「よん」「なな」 in daily speech to feel safe

Summary: cultural choices inside numbers

Japanese keeps two systems: native and Sino-Japanese.
Native words carry sensory and cultural value; Sino-Japanese brings structure and efficiency.
Other Asian languages share Chinese roots, while Japanese blends them in its own way.
Words that survive even if they seem less efficient can shape cultural identity.

📝 Terms (simple notes)

「和語（わご）」: native Japanese words.
「漢語（かんご）」: Sino-Japanese words, often read with on‑yomi (Chinese‑derived readings).
「数詞（すうし）」: words for numbers (for example: 「いち」「に」「みっつ」).
「助数詞（じょすうし）」: counters attached when counting (for example: 「〜にん」「〜ほん」「〜まい」).
「十進法（じっしんほう）」: base‑10 way to group digits and places.
「漢越語（かんえつご）」: Chinese‑origin readings inside Vietnamese.