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.
Expressing the number 17 in isolation, as a quantity, or in mathematical contexts.
The standard Sino-Japanese reading for 17. Used in most counting situations, phone numbers, and when stating the number itself.
十七です。
It's seventeen.
An alternative Sino-Japanese reading. Slightly more formal or traditional, but less common in everyday speech. Often used in legal or official contexts.
十七歳です。
I am seventeen years old.
Stating that someone is seventeen years old.
The most common way to say 'seventeen years old'. Uses the counter 歳 (さい) for age.
彼は十七歳です。
He is seventeen years old.
Alternative reading, slightly more formal. Often used in official documents.
十七歳未満は入場できません。
Those under seventeen years of age cannot enter.
Counting 17 of something using appropriate counters.
Generic counter for small objects. 個 (こ) is the most versatile counter.
りんごを十七個買いました。
I bought seventeen apples.
Counter for people. Note the reading にん for 人.
クラスに十七人います。
There are seventeen people in the class.
Counter for flat objects like paper, tickets, plates.
切手を十七枚ください。
Please give me seventeen stamps.
Expressing the 17th item in a sequence, such as days of the month or order.
General ordinal: 'the 17th (item)'. 番目 (ばんめ) attaches to the number.
十七番目の問題です。
It's the seventeenth question.
The 17th day of the month. Note the reading しちにち, not ななにち.
会議は十七日です。
The meeting is on the 17th.
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).
十七歳
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.