いち、に、さん、し
ichi, ni, san, shi
The English phrase "one, two, three, four" is translated into Japanese as いち、に、さん、し (ichi, ni, san, shi).
The number four can be read as yon instead of shi to avoid its homophone association with death.
How do you pronounce it?
ichi, ni, san, shi
Did you know?
- The number four is so avoided that many Japanese hotels and hospitals skip the fourth floor entirely, moving straight from three to five.
- The word さん for 'three' is also the most common honorific suffix added to names, though it has no etymological connection to the number three.
- In many Japanese contexts, such as counting objects or people, the numbers 'one, two, three, four' change completely to a different system known as 'hitotsu, futatsu, mittsu, yottsu'.
Examples in context
- いち、に、さん、し、と数えてみてください。ichi, ni, san, shi, to kazoete mite kudasai.Please try counting one, two, three, four.
Example conversation
Hiyori and Yota are about to jump into a pool together.
- 陽葵 Himariせーので跳ぶよ。いち、に、さん、し！see no de tobu yo. ichi, ni, san, shi!Let's jump on the count. One, two, three, four!
- 陽太 Yotaわあ！びっくりした！waa! bikkuri shita!Whoa! That surprised me!
- 陽葵 Himari陽太、うまく跳べたね。Yota, umaku tobeta ne.Yota, you jumped well.
- 陽太 Yota陽葵こそ、すごいよ！Hiyori koso, sugoi yo!You're the one who's amazing, Hiyori!
