数字
sūji[sɨːʑi]
The English word 'number' can be translated into Japanese using 数字 (sūji). Wiktionary also lists 数 (kazu).
Meaning: abstract entity used to describe quantity (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 数字 | sūji | [sɨːʑi] (narrow) |
| 数 | kazu | [ka̠zɨ] (narrow) [sɨː] (narrow) |
In Japanese, the word for 'number' depends heavily on whether you are referring to a quantity, a symbol or an identifier.
Which one should you use?
The term 数字 refers specifically to the written symbols or digits used to represent numbers. In contrast, 数 refers to the abstract quantity or the amount of something rather than the written symbol.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 数 can also function as a verb stem in the verb 数える, which means to count.
How do you pronounce it?
sūji
Did you know?
- In traditional Japanese contexts, the number four is often avoided because 四 is pronounced shi, which is the same sound as the word for 'death'.
- The word 数 is used in the term 数え年, a traditional system of counting age where a person is considered one year old at birth and gains a year every New Year's Day.
- While 数 describes quantity, Japanese uses entirely different sets of counters depending on the shape of the object, such as 枚 for flat things and 本 for long cylindrical objects.
Examples in context
- １は素数ですか？Is 1 a prime number?This sentence is useful for asking if a value is a prime number using 数.Tatoeba #8040027 by Ninja, translation #8037707 by CK
- 3桁の数字です。It's a three-digit number.This sentence uses 数 to describe a multi-digit number.Tatoeba #11283909 by small_snow, translation #9074748 by CK
- 人数を数えてます。I'm counting the number of people.This sentence shows how to use 数 when referring to the count of people.Tatoeba #144053 by bunbuku, translation #270513 by CM
- 電話番号Phone number
- 統計数字Statistics
- 車のナンバーLicense plate number
- 75 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki is helping Yota check a receipt.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太くん、この数字は合ってる？Youta-kun, kono suuji wa atteru?Yota, is this number correct?
- 陽太 Yotaいや、数字が一つ間違っているよ。Iya, suuji ga hitotsu machigatte iru yo.No, one number is wrong.
- 美咲 Misaki本当だ、全然違う数字だね。Hontou da, zenzen chigau suuji dane.You're right, it's a completely different number.
- 陽太 Yota美咲さん、もう一度確認して。Misaki-san, mou ichido kakunin shite.Misaki, please check it once more.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “number” translations and entries 数字, 数, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
