If you’re learning Japanese, you’ve probably come across different ways to count—ichi, ni, san for numbers, hitotsu, futatsu, mittsu for counting things, and words like futsuka or mikka for dates. But have you ever wondered why “fu” is used for “two” in futsuka (2nd day) or “mi” for “three” in mikka (3rd day)?
These aren’t random sounds—they’re traces of Japan’s linguistic past. In fact, they come from Wago (和語), the native Japanese vocabulary that existed before Chinese characters (kanji) were introduced. To understand this better, we also need to talk about Kango (漢語), the Sino-Japanese vocabulary that arrived later.
It’s make me remind how to maintenance for legacy product in software product 😂
What is Wago?
Wago (和語) refers to the original Japanese words that existed before the influence of Chinese (kanji-based) vocabulary. This system has its own way of counting, especially for small numbers (1–10), and is still used today in specific contexts.
| Number | Wago Reading | Root Word |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | hitotsu (ひとつ) | hito (ひと) |
| 2 | futatsu (ふたつ) | fu (ふ) |
| 3 | mittsu (みっつ) | mi (み) |
| 4 | yottsu (よっつ) | yo (よ) |
| 5 | itsutsu (いつつ) | itsu (いつ) |
| 6 | muttsu (むっつ) | mu (む) |
| 7 | nanatsu (ななつ) | nana (なな) |
| 8 | yattsu (やっつ) | ya (や) |
| 9 | kokonotsu (ここのつ) | kokono (ここの) |
| 10 | too (とお) | too (とお) |
What is Kango?
Kango (漢語) are words and numbers borrowed from Chinese when Japan adopted Chinese characters (kanji). This system is the Sino-Japanese number system, commonly used in modern Japanese for dates, times, money, phone numbers, and so on.
| Number | Kango Reading (On’yomi) |
|---|---|
| 1 | ichi (いち) |
| 2 | ni (に) |
| 3 | san (さん) |
| 4 | shi / yon (し / よん) |
| 5 | go (ご) |
| 6 | roku (ろく) |
| 7 | shichi / nana (しち / なな) |
| 8 | hachi (はち) |
| 9 | kyuu / ku (きゅう / く) |
| 10 | juu (じゅう) |
How Wago and Kango Coexist
Both systems exist side by side in Japanese:
- Use Wago for:
- Counting small objects (hitotsu, futatsu…)
- Special days in a month (futsuka = 2nd day, mikka = 3rd day)
- Counting people in informal speech (hitori, futari)
- Use Kango for:
- Exact dates and times (2nd February → 2月2日 ni-gatsu futsuka)
- Phone numbers, money, addresses
- Larger numbers and mathematical use
Traces of Wago in Modern Japanese
Although modern Japanese often uses the Sino-Japanese system (ichi, ni, san), Wago lives on in common words:
- ふつか (futsuka) = 2nd day of the month → from fu (ふ)
- みっか (mikka) = 3rd day of the month → from mi (み)
- ふたり (futari) = two people → fu (ふ) again!
- みっつ (mittsu) = three items → mi (み)
These are not coincidental. They’re survivors of the old counting system. Many of them are used in native-Japanese expressions, traditional events, and informal object counting.
Why Learn This?
Understanding the difference between Wago and Kango gives you:
✅ Deeper insight into Japanese culture and language history
✅ Better memory for vocabulary by recognizing roots
✅ Ability to understand when and why different counting words are used
Final Thoughts
Japanese is not just a modern language—it carries centuries of history in its vocabulary. Words like fu and mi are living remnants of the native counting system (Wago), while ni and san come from the Sino-Japanese system (Kango). The next time you say futsuka or mittsu, you’re connecting with Japan’s rich linguistic heritage.
Reference
Japanese Counters: How to Talk About Numbers Like a Native: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-counters/
