How to say 10 in Japanese

How to use "10" in a sentence

Here are 5 practical examples in polite everyday Japanese:

Other ways of saying "10" in Japanese

The number 10 serves as the base for all numbers from 11 to 99. Here's how it combines with other numbers:

• juu (十) — Standard number 10.
• juuichi (十一) — 10 + 1 = 11.
• juuni (十二) — 10 + 2 = 12.
• juusan (十三) — 10 + 3 = 13.
• juuyon (十四) — 10 + 4 = 14.
• juugo (十五) — 10 + 5 = 15.
• juuroku (十六) — 10 + 6 = 16.
• juushichi / juunana (十七) — 10 + 7 = 17 (both readings exist).
• juuhachi (十八) — 10 + 8 = 18.
• juukyuu / juuku (十九) — 10 + 9 = 19 (both readings exist).

Once you master 10, you unlock the entire tens system. Learn how to say 100 in Japanese next to complete your number foundation.

Fun fact about "10" in Japanese culture

In Japan, turning 10 years old is a major milestone called "juu-sai no iwai" (十歳の祝い) — the tenth birthday celebration. It's considered the transition from childhood to early adolescence, and families often mark it with special gifts and ceremonies. This tradition reflects the Japanese belief that each decade of life carries unique spiritual significance.

The number 10 also dominates Japanese martial arts rankings. In judo, the highest achievable rank is 10th dan (十段), a title so rare that only a handful of practitioners in history have ever received it. Even Kano Jigoro, the founder of judo, was posthumously awarded 12th dan — but 10th dan remains the living pinnacle of mastery.

In anime and manga culture, "top 10" lists are everywhere — from Shonen Jump character popularity polls to Oricon music charts. The concept of ranking and competing for that top 10 spot drives entire story arcs in series like My Hero Academia and Haikyuu!! The number 10 isn't just a count — it's a symbol of elite status in Japanese pop culture.