1. Let’s Speak Japanese! 日本語を話しましょう！ By: Somer Bainbridge サマー・ベインブリッジ

2. A Quick Introduction of Japanese Characters Kanji 漢字 – Characters from Chinese Origin. Most have the same meaning in Chinese, some do not! Kana Hiragana ひらがな – Used for word endings, and for words that have no kanji. Katakana カタカナ – Used for foreign or borrowed words/names, emphasis, sound effects.

3. Numbers 1-10 一二三 Ichi NiSan

4. Numbers 1-10 四 Shi / Yon Cultural Fact: Shi can also mean death 死 (the kanji looks a bit similar also). In traditional areas in Japan such as Kyoto, they use Yon more often when counting. Due to relevant superstitions, buildings can sometimes be found without a fourth floor, room numbers with no fours, etc. For grammar reasons, Shi is used more when combined with things such as a date or time, it sounds more fluid.

5. Numbers 1-10 五六 GoRoku

6. Numbers 1-10 七 Shichi / Nana Loosely Translated, Shichi can also mean “claws of death”. Nana is similarly used in the same traditional region context as 四． Shichi is used more when combined with other things such as a date or time.

7. Numbers 1-10 八 Hachi 九 十 Kyuu Juu When Kyuu is combined with something else such as a date or time, it changes to Ku. Some say it is because Kyuu also means suffering 苦

8. Counting Counting is easy when you follow the pattern: 十一 Juuichi (literally “ten, one”) 十二 Juuni 十三 Juusan 十四 Juuyon 十五 Juugo 十六 Juuroku 十七 Juunana 十八 Juuhachi 十九 Juukyuu 二十 Nijuu (literally “two tens”) 二十一 Nijuuichi 二十二 Nijuuni Etc..up to 99