Japanese numerals

There are two ways of writing the numbers in Japanese, in Hindu-Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) or in Chinese numerals (一, 二, 三). The Hindu-Arabic numerals are more often used in horizontal writing, and the Chinese numerals are more common in vertical writing. Most numbers have two readings, one derived from Chinese used for cardinal numbers (On reading) and a native Japanese reading used for ordinal numbers (Kun reading), though there are some exceptions (listed below) in which the Japanese version is preferred for both. On the contrary, numbers 7 and sometimes 8 are considered lucky in Japanese.

Japanese numerals

There are two ways of writing the numbers in Japanese, in Hindu-Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) or in Chinese numerals (一, 二, 三). The Hindu-Arabic numerals are more often used in horizontal writing, and the Chinese numerals are more common in vertical writing. Most numbers have two readings, one derived from Chinese used for cardinal numbers (On reading) and a native Japanese reading used for ordinal numbers (Kun reading), though there are some exceptions (listed below) in which the Japanese version is preferred for both. On the contrary, numbers 7 and sometimes 8 are considered lucky in Japanese.