How to read numbers 1-10 in Japanese

In Japanese, there are two ways to read numbers from 1 to 10. The most commonly used in daily life is "kun'yomi" (native Japanese reading). I'll list them for you, along with Chinese phonetic approximations to help you remember:

1　いち (ichi) - Phonetic approximation: "ee-chee" 2　に (ni) - Phonetic approximation: "nee" 3　さん (san) - Phonetic approximation: "sahn" 4　し (shi) or よん (yon) - "yon" is usually preferred. "shi" can be associated with the word for "death," so people often avoid it. "yon" is more common. Phonetic approximation: "yohn" 5　ご (go) - Phonetic approximation: "goh" 6　ろく (roku) - Phonetic approximation: "roh-koo" 7　しち (shichi) or なな (nana) - "shichi" is also used, but "nana" is smoother and more common. Phonetic approximation: "nah-nah" 8　はち (hachi) - Phonetic approximation: "hah-chee" 9　く (ku) or きゅう (kyuu) - "ku" is short, "kyuu" sounds like "kyoo." "kyuu" is used more often. 10　じゅう (juu) - Phonetic approximation: "joo"

So, strung together, it's: ichi, ni, san, yon, go, roku, nana, hachi, kyuu, juu

Just say it a couple of times, and you'll get the hang of it. It's quite smooth, like a counting song.