This week, we covered numbers.
There are two ways of writing the numbers in Japanese, in Hindu-Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) or in Kanji numerals (一, 二, 三). The Hindu-Arabic numerals are more often used in horizontal writing, and the kanji numerals are more common in vertical writing. Also, some numbers, such as 4, 7, and 9, have multiple names.
一
1.
Pronounced ‘ichi’ (rhymes with ‘peachy’).
一 is written as a single horizontal stroke, like an Arabic one, but on its side.
二
2.
Pronounced ‘ni’ (like ‘knee’).
二 is, you guessed it, 2 ‘one’s – again, on their side.
三
3.
Pronounced ‘san’ (like ‘sun’).
三 ‘one’s – on their side.
四
4.
Pronounced ‘yon’ (more like ‘yong’ actually) or 'shi'.
Getting a little trickier in terms of shape. Ignore the bits inside and just think of it as a four-sided object.
五
5.
Pronounced ‘go’ (a very short sound).
五 is conveniently made up of five lines.
六
6.
Pronounced ‘roku’ (pronouncing it as ‘loku’ is actually closer to native pronunciation).
This is a character you’ll just have to commit to memory!
七
7.
Pronounced ‘nana’ or ‘shichi’ (“shee-chee”).
A badly twisted 7 ?
八
8.
Pronounced ‘hachi'.
Another very simple character. With only two strokes, it is not to be confused with ‘ni’(2).
九
9.
Pronounced ‘kyuu’ (just like the letter Q) or 'ku'.
十
10.
Pronounced ‘juu'.
A simple cross shape: a neat ending to a sequence that began with a horizontal line.
After the students mastered how to say numbers (from 0 to 10) in Japanese, they learned how to say thier own phone numbers in Japanese.
When Japanese people read telephone numbers, they avoid similar sounds and short sound. SHI(4) and SHICHI(7) sound alike. ICHI(1) and SHICHI(7) sound alike. Therefore, they use YON for 4, NANA for 7 and KYUU for 9.
Also, single character numbers are lengthened to distinguish each number more easily (i.e., NI(2) to NII, GO(5) to GOO).
So, 927-6541 is read as KYUU(9) NII(2) NANA(7) ROKU(6) GOO(5) YON(4) ICHI(1).
Ask you child what is his/her phone number in Japanese, s/he should be able to say:
"My phone number is XXX-XXXX." in Japanese!
Speaking of numbers, in the Japanese culture, certain numbers are considered “bad luck” or “good luck,” much like the number 13 is considered bad luck in Western culture.
The “bad luck” numbers in Japanese are 4 (SHI) and 9 (KU).
The number four is considered inauspicious because it is pronounced the same as the word for death (SHI). Therefore, one should not make presents that consist of four pieces. In some hotels and hospitals the room number four is skipped.
Also, 9 is bad luck number in Japanese culture because it is pronounced the same as the word for suffering (KU).
Eight is considered good luck because of the mountain-like shape of the kanji for eight 八. Mountains are regarded with reverence in Japan. Also, the character 八 resembles a fan shape, which is considered lucky because it suggests spreading out, growing and increasing, as in mounting good fortune.
Also, in Japan there are certain things one does not do because they are thought to cause bad luck. A few examples are:
Stick chopsticks into the rice: Do not stick your chopsticks into your food generally, but especially not into rice, because only at funerals, chopsticks are stuck into the rice which is put onto the altar.
Give food from chopstick to chopstick: This is only done with the bones of the cremated body at funerals.
Sleeping towards the North: Do not sleep towards the North because bodies are laid down like that.
Whistle in the night: If you whistle in the night, a ghost will come to you.
Another productive week!
SAYOONARA
PS: Are you going to Led Zeppelin Reunion Concert at London's 02 Arena on November 26?
I wish I could go...
