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Japanese course - lesson 2
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Chapter 2
[Chapter 2.1 - Numbers]
Now let's look at one of the more difficult things in Japanese: Numbers.
There are many ways to express amounts or sizes in Japanese, depending
on what you are describing. But there are also some basic stuff in numbering,
that can be learned rather quickly.
Let's look at the two basically different ways of expressing numbers in
japanese:
The "Chinese" way of counting:
1 = Ichi
2 = Ni
3 = San
4 = Shi (or Yon)
5 = Go
6 = Roku
7 = Shichi (or Nana)
8 = Hachi
9 = Kyuu (variant Ku)
When you are going to write larger numbers, you combine one of the above
with a multiplier. Here are the most common multipliers:
10 = Juu
100 = Hyaku
1000 = Sen
10000 = Man
So if you want to say 18, you say "juuhachi" (10+8), if you want to say
25 you say "nijuugo" (2*10+5), if you want to say 1998 you say 'senkyuuhyakukyuujuuhachi".
"man" differs from "sen", "juu" and "hyaku" in that it needs a one-sound
in front of it if it is used alone. Thus it is:
10000 = Ichiman
20000 = Niman
but
1000 = Sen
2000 = Nisen
100 = Hyaku
200 = Nihyaku
Also some of the numbers change sound slightly, so they are easier to say.
I'd better list all the 10-values, 100-values, 1000-values and the 10000
values:
10 = Juu
20 = Nijuu
30 = Sanjuu
40 = Yonjuu
50 = Gojuu
60 = Rokujuu
70 = Nanajuu
80 = Hachijuu
90 = Kyuujuu
100 = Hyaku
200 = Nihyaku
300 = Sambyaku
400 = Yonhyaku
500 = Gohyaku
600 = Roppyaku
700 = Nanahyaku
800 = Happyaku
900 = Kyuuhyaku
1000 = Issen
2000 = Nisen
3000 = Sanzen
4000 = Yonsen
5000 = Gosen
6000 = Rokusen
7000 = Nanasen
8000 = Hassen
9000 = Kyuusen
10000 = Ichiman
20000 = Niman
30000 = Sanman
40000 = Yonman
50000 = Goman
60000 = Rokuman
70000 = Nanaman
80000 = Hachiman
90000 = Kyuuman
Please note, that the sound changes that appear are often just an "umlaut"
being added to the consonant (hyaku -> byaku or sen -> zen etc.) These
sound changes appear very often in Japanese.
So in Japanese you don't look at thousands but at tenthousands. Thus 100,000
becomes 10,0000 so to speak, that is ten times tenthousand: "Juuman". And
1,000,000 becomes hundred times tenthousand: "Hyakuman".
These numbers are used when expressing numerical values. When you are counting
things, you normally use these numbers too, but there is also another counting
system, used when counting some sorts of things.
The "Japanese" way of counting:
1 = Hito
2 = Futa
3 = Mi(t)
4 = Yo(t)
5 = Itsu
6 = Mu(t)
7 = Nana
8 = Ya(t)
9 = Kokono
10 = Too
The system stops at ten, and is therefore only used when counting things
smaller than ten. If they are larger, the Chinese system is used.
The above words are just numbers. They must be modified if they should
be used to count things with, Several such modifiers exist. Now, let's
look at some things that can be counted. There is a general counter for
things, that you use when for instance you want to say "Two apples, please".
[General counter]
1 thing = Hitotsu
2 = Futatsu
3 = Mittsu
4 = Yottsu
5 = Itsutsu
6 = Muttsu
7 = Nanatsu
8 = Yattsu
9 = Kokonotsu
10 = Too
Thus the above sentence would be:
"Ringo o futatsu, onegaishimasu"
Onegaishimasu here means "please" and functions as a verb. Note that the way of expressing an amount
is typically by saying the name of the thing, then a particle, then the
counter! Very strange way, but you'll learn it!
Here are some other examples:
"Watashi wa kaban o mittsu kaimasu" (I am buying three briefcases)
"Mikan o yattsu tabemasu" (I will eat 8 mandarins)
[Chapter 2.2 - Counters for time and date]
Now, there are many many counters apart from the above, depending on what
you want to count. It is like in English, you can say "two sheets of paper"
or "two volumes of books". In Japanese you always use the counter, but
in English you might as well just say "two books".
They can be difficult to learn, because the number part of the counter
often changes slightly.
Here are some lists:
[Hour counter]
For hours the counter can mean either "1 o'clock" or "1 hour". If you want
the last meaning, you add "kan"
1 hour = Ichiji
2 = Niji
3 = Sanji
4 = Yoji
5 = Goji
6 = Rokuji
7 = Shichiji
8 = Hachiji
9 = Kuji
10 = Juuji
As you might see, a counter is made up of a number part (for instance "ni")
and a describing part (ji). Most counters are built like that.
After 10 the other hours are made like the numbers, by adding and multiplying.
Thus "23 o'clock" becomes "nijuusanji". Usually you use the 12-hour system, and this becomes "juuichiji".
"For one hour" is "ichijikan", "For 25 hours" is "nijuugojikan", because when you want to indicate a period of time you add "kan" (meaning interval, space or inbetween)
[Minute counter]
1 minute = Ippun
2 = Nifun
3 = Sampun
4 = Yompun
5 = Gofun
6 = Roppun
7 = Nanafun
8 = Happun
9 = Kyuufun
10 = Juppun
Since minutes cannot describe an absoult time, "kan" is not necessary when describing intervals.
The vigilant will see, that "sampun" conatins an "m" in a place not allowed.
This is not relly an "m" it is an "n" and it is written as such, but it
is pronounced as an "m".
So now you can say an entire timestamp. For example: "14:24" becomes "juuyoji
nijjuyompun" and "8:59" becomes "hachiji gojuukyuufun".
If you want to say "for 15 mintues" you say "juugofunkan".
[Day counter]
This counter can represent both an absoulte day (e.g. "The 15th") and a
period (e.g. "15 days"). The only one differing from that is the 1.
1 day = Ichinichi (1 day) / tsuitachi (The 1st)
2 = Futusuka
3 = Mikka
4 = Yokka
5 = Itsuka
6 = Muika
7 = Nanoka
8 = Yooka
9 = Kokonoka
10 = Tooka
After that, they (contrary to the other counters) change to use only the
chinese counting system. Thus it continues like this:
11 = Juuichinichi
12 = Juuninichi
13 = Juusannichi
etc.
[Weekday counter]
The weekdays have spcific names. I have written their meaning in parenthesis:
Monday = Getsuyoubi (Moon day)
Tuesday = Kayoubi (Fire day)
Wednesday = Suiyoubi (Water day)
Thursday = Mokuyoubi (Wood day)
Friday = Kinyoubi (Money day)
Saturday = Doyoubi (Earth day)
Sunday = Nichiyoubi (Sun day)
[Week counter]
This is very simple. It almost just follows the Chinese numbering system:
1 week = Isshuukan
2 = Nishuukan
3 = Sanshuukan
4 = Yonshuukan
5 = Goshuukan
6 = Rokushuukan
7 = Nanashuukan
8 = Hasshukan
9 = Kyuushuukan
10 = Juushuukan
You normally only count weeks, you don't use them as an absolute time,
like with the hour/minute/day counters.
[Month counter]
Here the two counters (for month names (January, february...) and for amount
of months) are quite different. The first counter I'll show you is for
the month names:
January = Ichigatsu
February = Nigatsu
March = Sangatsu
April = Shigatsu
May = Gogatsu
June = Rokugatsu
July = Shichigatsu
August = Hachigatsu
September = Kugatsu
October = Juugatsu
November = Juuichigatsu
December = Juunigatsu
How boring that they do not have inventive names like in English!
The counters for number of months are:
1 month = Ikkagetsu
2 = Nikagetsu
3 = Sankagetsu
4 = Yonkagetsu
5 = Gokagetsu
6 = Rokkagetsu
7 = Nanakagetsu
8 = Hakkagetsu
9 = Kyuukagetsu
10 = Jukkagetsu
[Year counter]
The years are easy. Like hours and minutes you add "kan" when you talk
about periods, and omit it if it is a specific year:
1 year = Ichinen
2 = Ninen
3 = Sannen
4 = Yonnen
5 = Gonen
6 = Rokunen
7 = Nananen
8 = Hachinen
9 = Kyuunen
10 = Juunen
So now if you want to say "The year 1998" you say "Issenkyuuhyakukyuujuuhachinen".
If you will say "For five years" you say "Gonenkan"
[Chapter 2.3 - Counters for "stuff"]
Now these were only a fraction of Japanese counters. There are also counters
for things. I will only describe 5 very common counters (apart from the
"tsu" general counter described above).
[Counter for persons]
This counter uses the Japanese counting system but then suddenly turns
to the Chinese! Watch:
1 person = Hitori
2 = Futari
3 = Sannin
4 = Yonin
5 = Gonin
6 = Rokunin
7 = Shichinin/nananin
8 = Hachinin
9 = Kyuunin/kunin
10 = Juunin
11 = Juuichinin
etc.
Thus "Sannin wa kimasu" means "3 (people) are coming". Here the counter
is used without the object mark, because it is obivous that it is 3 "people"
who is coming. If you wanted to say "I will find 3 children" you would
need the object mark, because you are now counting children (who categorize
as persons) and you would write "kodomo o sannin mitsukemasu" (kitsukeru means "to find").
If you were to say "I will meet three people" you would use "ni" in stead.. so it would be "Sannin no kodomo ni aimsu". But more about the "no" particle later.
[Counter for thin flat things]
!!! This is a strange counter, ne? Thin flat things can be: Paper (kami),
envelopes (fuutou), stamps (kitte), newspapers (shimbun), shirts (waishatsu)
etc.
1 thin flat thing = Ichimai
2 = Nimai
3 = Sanmai
4 = Yonmai
5 = Gomai
6 = Rokumai
7 = Shichimai
8 = Hachimai
9 = Kyuumai
10 = Juumai
So, "I will eat 2 pieces of paper" becomes "Watashi wa kami o nimai tabemasu".
Ok, odd sentence, admitted.
[Long thin things]
This category might be just as wacky as the above. Long thin things are:
Pencils (enpitsu), pens (pen), flowers (hana), bottles (bin), bananas (banana),
cigarettes (tabako), umbrellas (kasa), trees (ki), carrots (ninjin), fingers
and toes (yubi), etc.
Then there are some crazy: Rail lines, telephone calls, movies, computer programs.
1 long thin thing = Ippon
2 = Nihon
3 = Sambon
4 = Yonhon/shihon
5 = Gohon
6 = Roppon
7 = Shichihon/nanahon
8 = Happon/hachihon
9 = Kyuuhon
10 = Juppon
Number 2 looks just like "Japan", strange innit?
[Books]
This is easy:
1 book = Issatsu
2 = Nisatsu
3 = Sansatsu
4 = Yonsatsu
5 = Gosatsu
6 = Rokusatsu
7 = Nanasatsu
8 = Hassatsu
9 = Kyuusatsu
10 = Jussatsu
So "I would like 8 books" should be said like "Hon o hassatsu, kudasai"
[Floors]
Always good to know, when you are in a mall!
1. floor = Ikkai
2 = Nikai
3 = Sankai
4 = Yonkai
5 = Gokai
6 = Rokkai
7 = Nanakai
8 = Hachikai
9 = Kyuukai
10 = Juukai
There are so many counters, so I will just list some here (without tables).
You can try and guess what they are like, at least it should be possible
to read a counter and guess the meaning.
Sai = Age (of person)
Dai = Machines and vehicles
Soku = Socks, shoes
Hiki = Small animals
Tou = Large animals
Wa = Flying and hopping animals (Birds and frogs)
Ken = Houses
Kai, do = Times
Jou = Mats
Ka = Lessons
Ko = Small nondescript objects, i.e. computer files
Bai = Cupfuls
Kire = Slices (this one is tricky, uses the Japanese counters)
Ninmae = Servings of food
Chaku = Number in a contest (itchaku = place number one, nichaku = place number two), suits of clothing
These are described in the recommendable grammar book: "Japanese Verbs
and Essentials of Grammar" by Rita L. Lampkin.
[Chapter 2.4 - More particles: Ni, de, ga]
Now I should show you some more particles. The first one is "ni". It has
an almost innumerable amount of uses. Here are some examples:
The usages of "ni":
[Indicates the place something/somebody is]
"Daidokoro ni imasu" (I am in the kitchen)
[Indicates the time something happens]
"Kinyoubi ni kimasu" (Come on friday)
"Hachiji ni okimasu" (I get up at 8 o'clock)
[Indicates direction]
"Gakkou ni ikimasu" (I go to the school)
[Indicates indirect object]
"Watashi wa anata ni tegami o kakimasu" (I am writing a letter to you)
So as you see, you don't necessarily have to use a preposition in Japanese,
although there exists equivalents (But that's for another lesson). As you
can see "ni" could be translated a little like "to", "at", "for" etc.
Another very important particle is "de".
The usages of "de":
[Indicates place where something happens]
"Resutoran de tabemasu" (I eat at the restaurant)
"Gakkou de benkyou shimasu" (I study at the school)
[Indicates means]
"Uchi wa ki de tsukurimasu" (The house is made (tsukuru/tsukurimasu) of
wood)
"Nihongo de hanashimasu" (I speak in Japanese)
"De" could be translated to "at" or "by".
As you might have guessed, "ni" is used for places, with verbs that indicate
some sort of "static being" (being, living, etc.). While "de" is used when
you actually do something at the place.
The last particle I will introduce here is "ga". It indicates the subject.
A bit like "wa" does. But while "wa" normally begins a sentence, "ga" can
be in the middle of the sentence. Right now it can be difficult to see
the difference between the two, but there are a lot of rules stating what
you can do with "wa" and what you can't, and similar with "ga".
Look at these two sentences:
"Neko wa niwa ni imasu" (The cat is in the garden)
"Niwa ni neko ga imasu" (There is a cat in the garden)
In the first the cat (neko) is the subject, and is therefore known. Interrogative
pronouns like "dare" can NEVER take "wa". They always take "ga". So there
is something definite about the thing before "wa". In the above sentences,
the difference is whether it is "the cat" or "a cat".
But there are many other subtleties, that you might discover as you start
read something.
Note that a cat is a larger animal (doubutsu) and is therefore described with imasu and not arimasu.
"ga" is also used as a sort of object marker with some verb-constructions.
For instance "suki" means "likeable". So if you want to say "I like rice",
you would actually say "To me, rice are likeable". But you won't use the
object marker, you would use "ga":
"Watashi wa gohan ga suki desu" (As for me, I like rice)
[Chapter 2.5 - Some symbols]
As said earlier, "wa" is written with hiragana "ha", and "o" is written
like "wo".
When you use double consonants like in "kitte" (stamp), you use a special
kana, to indicate the doubling. The special kana you use is a little "tsu".
So kitte is written "KI + little TSU + TE". This applies for both hiragana
and katakana. The word is pronounced differently when a little TSU is inserted.
It is like you make a short stop in the middle of the word.
There are also kommas in Japanese, but they go frow left to right in stead
of from right to left. Periods are circles not dots.
The quotation marks " ", look like the brackets [] with the little bottom
line removed. Questionmarks are not used.
Proceed to chapter 3...
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