Translation guide
The number five in Japanese is most commonly expressed as 五 (ご). However, the pronunciation changes depending on what is being counted, due to the use of counters. This guide covers the basic number, common counters, and natural usage.
Expressing the number five as a standalone number, in phone numbers, or in mathematical contexts.
The basic on'yomi (Sino-Japanese) reading for the number five. Used in counting, mathematics, and most compound words.
Five is a prime number.
The phone number is 090-1234-5678.
The native Japanese (kun'yomi) counting word for five items. Used for general counting of objects without a specific counter, or for age (especially for children).
Expressing a quantity of five items, people, animals, etc., using Japanese counter words.
The most common way to say 'five' of something is to use the number 五 (ご) followed by the appropriate counter. The pronunciation of the counter may change due to rendaku or other sound shifts.
There are five people.
Expressing the age of five years.
The standard way to say 'five years old'. Used for people and sometimes animals.
Expressing the order or position of something as fifth.
Means 'the fifth one' in a sequence. 番目 (ばんめ) is the ordinal suffix.
Expressing a duration or point in time involving five.
Means 'five days' or 'the fifth day of the month'. Note the irregular reading.
五つ (いつつ) is only for general counting of objects without a specific counter. For most nouns, you must use the appropriate counter with 五 (ご). Saying 五つの本 is possible but less natural than 五冊の本.
When 五 (ご) combines with counters starting with h-, k-, s-, t-, the counter often changes to a voiced or semi-voiced sound. For example, 杯 (はい) becomes ぱい, 匹 () becomes , () becomes (no change). It's best to learn these as you encounter them.
りんごを五つください。
Please give me five apples.
The child is five years old.
There are five cats.
I need five sheets of paper.
Some counters undergo sound changes when combined with 五. For example, 本 (ほん) becomes ぽん, 匹 (ひき) becomes ぴき, 杯 (はい) becomes ぱい.
Five glasses of beer, please.
I bought five pencils.
My daughter is five years old.
Can be used for children's ages, especially in casual contexts. More common for younger children.
Our child turned five.
Please get off at the fifth station.
Used in formal or numbered lists, like 'Chapter 5' or 'No. 5'. 第 (だい) is a prefix for ordinal numbers.
Please study Lesson 5.
五日間旅行します。
I will travel for five days.
May 5th is Children's Day.
Means 'five months' (duration). ヶ月 (かげつ) is the counter for months.
I studied Japanese for five months.