Counting ten thousands and higher

In this lesson we introduce the counter まん for counting ten thousand. A peculiar feature of the Japanese number system is that beyond 10,000, numbers are counted in units of 10,000. There is no specific counter for million. Therefore, to say one million you would say ひゃくまん, a hundred ten thousands. Using まん like this, you can count up to tens of millions. From hundred million onward another counter is used, which you will learn later.

Unlike with せん, there are no changes in pronunciation when counting with まん, just as with all other counters starting with an m sound.

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