400 in Japanese
400 in Other Languages
About 400 in Japanese
400 translates to 四百 (yonhyaku). The ordinal form — used for rankings, dates, and sequences — is 四百 (yō). The native counting form is 四百 (yō).
In mathematics, 400 is even. Knowing how to say 400 in Japanese is useful in everyday situations such as prices, addresses, ages, dates, phone numbers, and telling the time.
Mastering numbers like 400 is one of the most practical skills when learning Japanese. Unlike vocabulary that only applies in specific contexts, numbers come up constantly — in shops, on public transport, in conversations about time and money, and when meeting new people.
Learning Numbers in Japanese
What makes Japanese numbers challenging
Two parallel number systems (Sino-Japanese and native Japanese) that must be used in the right contexts. Counter words (classifiers) are mandatory — different objects require different counters based on shape, size, and category. The digits 4 and 7 each have two readings (shi/yon, shichi/nana) with strong cultural preferences: shi (4) sounds like death and is avoided. Large numbers are grouped by 10,000 (man) not 1,000, requiring mental re-grouping for English speakers. Sound changes (rendaku) alter some numbers when combined with counters.
Tips for learning Japanese numbers
Learn Sino-Japanese numbers first — they cover most situations including phone numbers, prices, dates, and math. Always use yon (not shi) for 4 and nana (not shichi) for 7 in everyday counting. Master the man (10,000) unit early for large numbers. Start with the general-purpose counter -tsu for objects before learning specific counters. Practice with Japanese prices (yen amounts are always large numbers since there are no decimal coins) for excellent real-world number comprehension.