What does 十 mean in Japanese?
十 means “ten” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 十 (ten), 十日 (the tenth day; ten days), and 十人 (ten people).
For learners, the key is to study 十 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: ジュウ (juu), ジッ (jitsu)
Kun’yomi: とお (too), と- (to-)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 十 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | ten |
| Stroke Count | 2 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
How to Understand This Kanji
十 is not limited to one English translation. In 十 (じゅう), it means ten; in 十日 (とおか), it points to the tenth day; ten days; and in 十人 (じゅうにん), it is used for ten people. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 十（じゅう / jū） — ten
- 十日（とおか / tōka） — the tenth day; ten days
- 十人（じゅうにん / jūnin） — ten people
- 十月（じゅうがつ / jūgatsu） — October
- 十分（じゅうぶん / jūbun） — enough
- 十字（じゅうじ / jūji） — cross shape
Example Sentences
-
十人の学生がいます。
じゅうにんのがくせいがいます。 / Jūnin no gakusei ga imasu.
There are ten students.
-
十日は休みです。
とおかはやすみです。 / Tōka wa yasumi desu.
The tenth day is a holiday.
-
十分な時間があります。
じゅうぶんなじかんがあります。 / Jūbun na jikan ga arimasu.
There is enough time.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 十 (じゅう / jū) because it keeps the core meaning of 十 clear. Then add 十日 and 十人 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 十 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
十 means “ten” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 十, 十日, and 十人.