800 in Japanese
800 in Other Languages
About 800 in Japanese
The Japanese word for 800 is 八百 (happyaku). The ordinal form — used for rankings, dates, and sequences — is 八百 (yao). The native counting form is 八百 (yao).
800 divides evenly by two. 800 comes up regularly in Japanese conversations — in stores, when giving your phone number, reading addresses, or discussing dates and ages.
Mastering numbers like 800 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.