Now that you know the Japanese numbers and know how to count to the billiards and even further for the craziest of you, let’s see together the alternative forms of Japanese numbers. Don’t worry, this course will be very relaxing, you will see !
So, what is this story about alternative forms of numbers ? Note that in Japanese there are certain ways of writing numbers that are a little different from the official writing system. As we have seen in the previous three chapters, Japanese numbers are officially written in kanji, but sometimes, in certain contexts, Japanese people may write them differently.
This chapter deals with an additional subject and aims to introduce you to these few alternative forms so that you at least know that they exist. If you ever come across it, and maybe most of you have already, you will know by now.
Some number kanji exist in two versions. We will then talk about legal alternative kanji. Indeed, the Japanese have a separate set of kanji for numbers in legal documents. These kanji, you will find them on documents such as deeds of purchase, contracts, checks and even bank notes... These legal alternative kanji appeared in particular at the time when everything was still written by hand so as to prevent potential fraudsters from transforming the 一 (1) in 二 (2) or in 三 (3) or even from transforming the 一 (1) in 十 (10). Thus, the kanji of the numbers one, two and three are replaced by those indicated below :
一 → 壱
二 → 弐
三 → 参
十 → 拾
万 → 萬
Know that there are legal kanji for all Japanese numbers. I have put the five most used legal versions for you because there is no need to bother with all the legal versions of all the numbers but if you are interested, you can go to Wikipedia for more information. In addition, the legal versions of certain figures are no longer used at all today.
Having explained this, I give you a slightly more concrete example below. If we write the number 23, first in traditional kanji and then in legal kanji :
23 → 二十三 (traditional kanji)
23 → 弐拾参 (legal kanji)
You’ll quickly realize that it’s much more complicated. Now let’s try a higher number, 27,415, first in traditional kanji and then in legal kanji. I put the legal kanji in a very specific color :
27 415 → 二十七万四百十五 (traditional kanji)
27 415 → 弐拾七萬四百壱拾五 (legal kanji)
Note the legal kanji of 壱 in red underlined. When you have a dozen starting with a « one », you should use this kanji, 壱, to indicate it.
Same for the number hundred which is written in legal version, 壱百 and the number thousand which is written in legal version, 壱千.
Before moving on to the second alternative form, if you have to go to Japan, you will have to convert your euros into yen but don’t worry, the Japanese have thought of tourists, so if you don’t remember how to read these legal kanji, you always have the value of the ticket written in Arabic numbers that you know so well.
There are kanji for decimals. So, I reassure you right away, this second point is strictly for your general knowledge. Today, the Japanese write decimal numbers exclusively in numbers. However, it is important that you know how to read a decimal number in Japanese. There are only two things to remember : the comma is pronounced テン and the numbers after the decimal point are pronounced distinctly from each other. See the examples below :
42,76 → 四十二 テンななロク
1,14 → 一 テンイチよん
852,550 → 八百五十二 テンゴゴゼロ
Today it is possible to use the kanji of numbers as Arabic numerals. Just take a look at the examples below. You’ll see, it’s super simple :
47 → 四七 . よんなな
407 → 四〇七 . よん〇なな
470 → 四七〇 . よんなな〇
4007 → 四〇〇七 . よん〇〇なな
2021 → 二〇二一 . ニ〇ニイチ
This way of writing is sometimes used to write the years but we will see later what is the official way of writing the years in Japanese. Anyway, remember that the Japanese mainly use Arabic numerals in everyday life and much less often the kanji of numbers for practical reasons of course.
Another smooth course. Well, this one was not very long and dealt exclusively with three small peculiarities concerning Japanese numbers. Now, it’s done.
In the following course, we will discuss the conversion of euros to yen. Once again, this will be a very short lesson, very simple to understand and which will deal more with the little things to know if you want to go on a trip to Japan.
I now give you your exercises. In the first, I give you the numbers written with the legal kanji and you write them in Arabic numbers. In the second, I give you decimal numbers and you indicate the Japanese readings in kana. In the third, I give you decimal numbers in kana and you write them in Arabic numbers.
Reread this course well, it’s can be hard but you have to go through it.
This course is now over, thank you for reading. Continue to be diligent in your work and you will make progress, I guarantee it.
I wish you to revise your course well and see you next time.
Introduction