一億
ichi-oku[it͡ɕio̞kɯ̟]
The English phrase "one hundred million" is expressed in Japanese as 一億 (ichi-oku). Wiktionary also lists 億 (oku).
Meaning: number 100,000,000 (num)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 一億 | ichi-oku | [it͡ɕio̞kɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 億 | oku | [o̞kɯ̟] (narrow) |
The term refers to the number 100,000,000. The counter 億 is used for any number in the hundred-millions range, such as 2億 (two hundred million) or 5億 (five hundred million).
What does it mean word for word?
The word 一億 is composed of 一 (one) and 億 (one hundred million).
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike English, which counts in groups of three zeros (thousands, millions, billions), Japanese counts in groups of four zeros (万, 億, Trillion/兆).
How do you pronounce it?
ichi-oku
Did you know?
- While 一億 is the number 100,000,000, the kanji 億 originally had a meaning closer to 'uncountable' or 'infinite' in its earliest usages.
- In Japanese, 億 is not just a number but is often used as a shorthand for 'an enormous amount' in casual conversation, similar to how English speakers might say 'billions' to describe a huge sum.
- Because the Japanese counting system relies on 'myriads' of ten thousand, a number like 'one hundred million' is actually seen as a collection of ten thousand units of 'ten thousand' (万).
Examples in context
- 損害額は１億ドルになるだろう。I'm afraid the loss will amount to one hundred million dollars.This sentence is useful for expressing an estimated amount of loss using 億.Tatoeba #139331 by small_snow, translation #274554 by CK
- 損失額は１億ドルに及ぶだろう。The loss will amount to one hundred million dollars.Tatoeba #8938201 by small_snow, translation #8815398 by CK
- 人口がちょうど一億人になりました。jinkou ga choudo ichioku nin ni narimashita.The population has reached exactly one hundred million.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A business colleague discussing market statistics.
- 大翔 Hirotoこのアプリのユーザー数は一億人を超えましたか？kono apuri no yuuzaa suu wa ichioku nin o koemashita ka?Has the number of users for this app exceeded one hundred million?
- 美咲 Misakiはい、一億人を突破しましたよ。hai, ichioku nin o toppashimashita yo.Yes, it has broken past one hundred million.
- 大翔 Hirotoそれはすごい記録ですね。sore wa sugoi kiroku desu ne.That is an amazing record.
- 美咲 Misaki本当に素晴らしい成長です。hontou ni subarashii seichou desu.It really is wonderful growth.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “one hundred million” translations and entries 一億, 億, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
