Japanese Names: Words with Numbers329

Japanese names often incorporate words that represent numbers. This can be confusing for foreigners who are not familiar with the Japanese language. In this article, we will explain how to read Japanese names that contain numbers.

Kanji for Numbers

The first step is to learn the kanji for numbers. The following table shows the kanji for numbers 1-10:| Number | Kanji |
|---|---|
| 1 | 一 |
| 2 | 二 |
| 3 | 三 |
| 4 | 四 |
| 5 | 五 |
| 6 | 六 |
| 7 | 七 |
| 8 | 八 |
| 9 | 九 |
| 10 | 十 |

On'yomi and Kun'yomi Readings

Japanese characters can have two types of readings: on'yomi and kun'yomi. On'yomi readings are used when a character is used in a Chinese compound word. Kun'yomi readings are used when a character is used in a native Japanese word.

The kanji for numbers have both on'yomi and kun'yomi readings. The following table shows the on'yomi and kun'yomi readings for the kanji for numbers 1-10:| Number | On'yomi | Kun'yomi |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ichi | hitotsu |
| 2 | ni | futatsu |
| 3 | san | mittsu |
| 4 | shi | yottsu |
| 5 | go | itsutsu |
| 6 | roku | muttsu |
| 7 | shichi | nanatsu |
| 8 | hachi | yattsu |
| 9 | kyu | kokonotsu |
| 10 | ju | to |

Reading Japanese Names with Numbers

When reading Japanese names that contain numbers, the following rules apply:
The number is usually read using its kun'yomi reading.
The number is followed by the word for "person" (人), which is read as "nin".
If the number is 10 or greater, the word for "ten" (十) is used instead of the kun'yomi reading.

For example, the name "一郎" (ichiro) is read as "ichi-nin", which means "first person". The name "三郎" (saburo) is read as "san-nin", which means "third person". The name "十郎" (juro) is read as "ju-nin", which means "tenth person".

Exceptions

There are a few exceptions to the rules for reading Japanese names with numbers.
The number "four" (四) is sometimes read as "shi" instead of "yon".
The number "seven" (七) is sometimes read as "nana" instead of "shichi".
The number "nine" (九) is sometimes read as "kyu" instead of "kokonotsu".

Conclusion

Reading Japanese names with numbers can be confusing at first, but it is not difficult once you understand the rules. By following the tips in this article, you will be able to read Japanese names with confidence.

2025-01-28

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