Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 六 | roku | [mɯ̟] (narrow) [ɾo̞kɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 六つ | muttsu | [mɯ̟t̚t͡sɨ] (narrow) [mɯ̟t͡sɨ] (narrow) |
| シックス | shikkusu | [ɕik̚kɯ̟̊sɨ] (narrow) |
The term for six can appear in several forms depending on the context. You can use the number itself for abstract values, but when you want to say 'six o'clock', you must append the specific counter for hours, 時 (ji), to the number 六 (roku) to form 六時 (roku-ji). Additionally, the forms 六 and シックス can both refer to the digit six as a noun.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on what you are counting. Use 六つ (muttsu) when counting general objects. In contrast, use 六 (roku) for abstract numbers or when the number is followed by specific counters. The katakana form シックス (shikkusu) is a loanword used primarily in modern contexts such as music, sports or brand names, rather than for basic daily counting.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
roku
Did you know?
- In traditional Japanese culture, the number six is sometimes avoided in certain contexts because its pronunciation roku is similar to the word for 'suffering' or 'hardship'.
- The native word for six, mu, is an ablaut form of the word for three, mi. This means the language essentially modified the sound of 'three' to create the word for 'six'.
- The word roku is a homophone for the word roku meaning 'record' or 'document'. In certain contexts, this can lead to puns or confusion between the number six and the act of recording.
Examples in context
- もう６時だ。It's six o'clock already.This example shows how to use the digit ６ to indicate time.Tatoeba #194513 by bunbuku, translation #31687 by CK
- 六時までに戻る。I'll be back by six o'clock.This example demonstrates the use of 六 when referring to a specific time.Tatoeba #152249 by KK_kaku_, translation #262300 by CK
- ６時ごろ起きた。I got up at about six.This example shows the use of the digit ６ to indicate a time of day.Tatoeba #235061 by bunbuku, translation #72441 by CK
- あの商品は6つあります。There are six of those items.
- 六時に会議があります。There is a meeting at six o'clock.
- ケーキを6つください。Please give me six pieces of cake.
- この部屋には窓が六つあります。There are six windows in this room.
- 260 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Yui are counting the number of apples in a basket.
- 蓮 Renリンゴはいくつある？ringo wa ikutsu aru?How many apples are there?
- 結衣 Yui六つあるよ。mutatsu aru yo.There are six.
- 蓮 Ren六つだけ？mutatsu dake?Only six?
- 結衣 Yuiうん、六つだよ。un, mutatsu da yo.Yeah, there are six.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “six” translations and entries 六, 六つ, シックス, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries シックス, 六, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
