Introduction to numbers

Contents: Introduction tonumbers, the “Na” line of Katakana (Na, Ni, Nu, Ne, No)

Aim:  How do I count in Japanese?

New Vocabulary:

Sample sentences:

アナ：たなかさんのでんわばんごうはなんですか？(What is your phone number, Tanaka san?)

Tanakasan no denwa bango wa nandesuka?

たなか：わたしのでんわばんごうは03-8912-3554です。(My cell phone number is 03-8912-3554)

Watashi no denwa bango wa zero san no hachi kyuu ichi ni no san go go yon desu.

アナ：それはけいたいですか、それともいえのばんごうですか？(Is that your cell or a home number?)

Sore wa keitai desuka, soretomo ie no bangoo desuka?

たなか：けいたいです。(It’s my cell.)

Keitai desu.

アナ：ありがとうございます。あしたでんわします。(Thank you. I will call you tomorrow.)

Arigatoo gozaimasu. Ashita denwa shimasu.

たなか：アナさんのでんわばんごうはなんですか？(What is your phone number, Ana san?)

Ana san no denwa bango wa nandesuka?

アナ：わたしのけいたいばんごうは03-4631-9577です。(My cell number is 03-4631-9577.)

Watashi no keitai bangoo wa zero san no yon roku san ichi no kyuu go nana nana desu.

Lesson Point:

·     When Japanese refer each other in a conversation, rather than saying “you”, they use names since referring someone as “you” can be rude if you know the name of the person.

·     As in 03-8912-3554, a dash “-“ between the number is pronounced “no”.

The number 4, 7, and 9 have two readings each. 4 can be read as either yon or shi, 7 is read as nana and shichi; and 9 is ku and kyu. A counter that follows the number usually determines the pronunciation. But if you are just saying the number, like the phone number, you can use either one.

Mini quiz:

Say your phone number and your work number in Japanese.

What is your street address/numbers in Japanese?

What is your apartment number in Japanese?

Writing Practice: Katakana (na, ni, nu, ne, no):