Translation guide
The number 10 in Japanese is じゅう (十). It is used in counting, telling time, dates, and other numerical expressions. There are also some idiomatic uses.
十
What is the Japanese word for ten?
Expressing the number ten in counting, math, or as a standalone number.
The standard word for the number 10. Used in counting and most numerical contexts.
Count to ten.
十は偶数です。
Ten is an even number.
The native Japanese counting word for ten items. Used with the counter つ for general objects, or in traditional counting.
りんごをとおください。
Please give me ten apples.
Counting people, objects, animals, etc. using the appropriate counter.
Expressing the hour of ten.
Expressing ten minutes past the hour or as a duration.
Ten minutes. Note the reading じゅっぷん, not じゅうふん.
十時十分です。
It's 10:10.
十分待ってください。
Please wait ten minutes.
Stating age of ten.
Referring to the 10th day.
Expressing a period of ten days.
Using 'ten' to mean perfect or complete, as in 'ten out of ten'.
Literally 'eight or nine out of ten', meaning 'in all likelihood' or 'most likely'.
十中八九、彼は来ないだろう。
Ten to one he won't come.
Literally 'ten parts out of ten', meaning 100% or completely. Often used in contexts like '100% buckwheat soba' (十割そば).
十割そばが好きです。
I like 100% buckwheat soba.
When 十 (10) combines with certain counters, the reading changes from じゅう to じゅっ or じっ. For example, 十分 (10 minutes) is じゅっぷん, not じゅうふん. 十回 (10 times) is じゅっかい. These sound changes are common and must be memorized.
十日 (とおか) means the 10th day of the month, while 十時 (じゅうじ) means 10 o'clock. The readings are completely different.