Translation guide
The number 17. In Japanese, numbers are expressed with native Japanese or Sino-Japanese readings depending on context. For counting most things, the Sino-Japanese reading is standard.
An alternative Sino-Japanese reading. Slightly more formal or traditional, but less common in everyday speech. Often used in legal or official contexts.
I am seventeen years old.
Stating that someone is seventeen years old.
Counting 17 of something using appropriate counters.
Generic counter for small objects. 個 (こ) is the most versatile counter.
I bought seventeen apples.
Counter for people. Note the reading にん for 人.
There are seventeen people in the class.
Counter for flat objects like paper, tickets, plates.
Please give me seventeen stamps.
Expressing the 17th item in a sequence, such as days of the month or order.
Both are correct readings of 十七. じゅうなな is more common in everyday speech and avoids confusion with しち (which sounds like 死, death). じゅうしち is used in formal counting, legal ages, and some fixed expressions like days of the month (十七日 じゅうしちにち).
seventeen years old
The native Japanese counting system (ひとつ、ふたつ...) only goes up to 10. For 17, always use the Sino-Japanese system. There is no native Japanese word for 17.
The 17th day of the month. Note the reading しちにち, not ななにち.
The meeting is on the 17th.