How to use "21" in a sentence
Here are 5 practical examples in polite everyday Japanese:
Other ways of saying "21" in Japanese
Japanese has multiple counting systems, so "21" changes depending on what you're counting:
- nijuu ichi (二十一) — Standard number 21 — 20 + 1.
- nijuu issai (二十一歳) — Age 21 — third year of university in Japan.
- nijuu ichimai (二十一枚) — Counter for flat objects — 21 sheets.
- nijuu ichiban (二十一番) — Number 21 in a sequence.
- nijuu ichi-hon (二十一本) — Counter for long objects — 21 bottles.
Learn how to say 20 in Japanese. Learn how to say 22 in Japanese. Learn how to say 2 in Japanese.
Fun fact about "21" in Japanese culture
In Japan, 21 is the age when most university students enter their third year — a critical period for job hunting (shūkatsu). Japanese companies recruit graduates almost a full year before graduation, so 21-year-olds spend their third year attending company seminars, taking entry exams, and going through multiple rounds of interviews. The number 21 represents the transition from academic life to corporate life, one of the most structured rites of passage in Japanese society.
The number 21 has a special meaning in Japanese card games. Twenty-one is the target number in a popular Japanese drinking game called babanuki (ババ抜き), though the more famous association is with blackjack-style games played at New Year gatherings. During osechi (New Year's food) celebrations, families often play card games where 21 is the magic number, making it a symbol of holiday fun and family bonding in Japanese culture.
In Japanese music, the band B'z — one of Japan's best-selling music acts of all time — released their 21st studio album in 2021, cementing their status as legends. In the Japanese music industry, reaching 21 albums is a rare achievement that separates transient pop acts from enduring cultural institutions. B'z has sold over 100 million records, and their 21st album was celebrated as proof that rock music still thrives in Japan's diverse entertainment landscape.