Japanese Ordinal Numbers
Japanese ordinal numbers are used to describe the position of something in a sequence.
They answer the question:
“Which one?”
Examples include:
| Number | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 第一 | dai-ichi |
| 2nd | 第二 | dai-ni |
| 3rd | 第三 | dai-san |
Ordinal numbers are commonly used when talking about:
- rankings
- floors in a building
- chapters or steps in a process
- events in a sequence
Forming Ordinal Numbers in Japanese
Many Japanese ordinal numbers are formed by adding the prefix:
第 (dai)
before the number.
Examples:
| Number | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 第一 | dai-ichi |
| 2nd | 第二 | dai-ni |
| 3rd | 第三 | dai-san |
| 4th | 第四 | dai-yon |
| 5th | 第五 | dai-go |
This pattern works for most ordinal numbers.
Example:
第十
dai-jū
Meaning:
tenth
Japanese Ordinal Numbers 1–20
Here are common Japanese ordinal numbers.
| Number | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 第一 | dai-ichi |
| 2nd | 第二 | dai-ni |
| 3rd | 第三 | dai-san |
| 4th | 第四 | dai-yon |
| 5th | 第五 | dai-go |
| 6th | 第六 | dai-roku |
| 7th | 第七 | dai-nana |
| 8th | 第八 | dai-hachi |
| 9th | 第九 | dai-kyū |
| 10th | 第十 | dai-jū |
| 11th | 第十一 | dai-jū-ichi |
| 12th | 第十二 | dai-jū-ni |
| 13th | 第十三 | dai-jū-san |
| 14th | 第十四 | dai-jū-yon |
| 15th | 第十五 | dai-jū-go |
| 16th | 第十六 | dai-jū-roku |
| 17th | 第十七 | dai-jū-nana |
| 18th | 第十八 | dai-jū-hachi |
| 19th | 第十九 | dai-jū-kyū |
| 20th | 第二十 | dai-ni-jū |
Using Ordinal Numbers in Japanese
Ordinal numbers are commonly used in everyday expressions.
Examples:
第二章
dai-ni shō
Meaning:
Chapter two
Another example:
第一位
dai-ichi-i
Meaning:
first place
Another example:
第三回
dai-san-kai
Meaning:
third time / third event
Counters and Order in Japanese
Japanese sometimes expresses order using counters instead of the 第 (dai) prefix.
Examples:
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 一番 (ichiban) | number one / best |
| 二番 (ni-ban) | second |
| 三番 (san-ban) | third |
Example sentence:
彼は一番です。
Meaning:
He is number one.
Ordinal Numbers in Japanese Dates
Japanese dates are usually written using numbers rather than ordinal words.
Example:
2026年3月4日
However, ordinal expressions may appear in formal writing or titles.
For more information about Japanese dates, check out our Japanese Dates page.
Practice Japanese Ordinal Numbers
You can practice Japanese numbers using the tools below.
Try Our Japanese Numbers Interactive Translate Tool
Test Your Knowledge. Take the Japanese Numbers Quiz
Related Japanese Pages
Further reference: Coto Academy guide to Japanese numbers.