Numbers in Japanese often have the same sounds
as other words. The number 4 can stand for “shi,"
which refers to death. And the number9 can sound
G
like “ku," which means suffering. These numbers
sound uncomfortable for people in Japan.
Japanese people sometimes throw five-yen coins
into offering boxes at shrines. Five yen in Japanese
sounds like “go-en.” They wish that their five-yen
coins will bring good fortune.
As the examples
above show, native Japanese speakers are careful M
10
about how numbers are pronounced in the language.
Japanese numbers have another side.
5963, or
“go-ku-ro-san," can mean: “Thank you for your
hard
work.” 530, or “go-mi-zero,” can refer to zero waste.