The Meaning of kazu [数] In Japanese

数
かず
Romaji: kazu N5

What does 数 mean?

Translation and Meaning

number, count, quantity

Definition

It means number or quantity. It denotes a numerical value or amount and appears in everyday counting as well as in formal mathematical and statistical vocabulary to indicate how many of something there are.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • primary sense as a numerical value or quantity
  • an indefinite count meaning several or a few in context
  • found in compound terms related to numbers and counting in mathematics and data

Etymology

From Chinese characters 數/数 meaning to count; entered Japanese through Sino-Japanese reading; the modern form 数 reflects historical simplification while retaining the core meaning of counting and quantity.

Usage

Used as a noun to express quantity or number; formal in academic or numeric contexts, casual in everyday counting; it appears with particles and in compounds, serving as the semantic core for counting-related terms and expressions.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine counting objects with your fingers; the idea of grouping and tallying helps recall that this kanji is all about numbers and quantity.

Variations

  • digits or numeric forms — suuji
  • quantity or amount — ryō
  • many or a large number — tasū

Example Phrases

  • 今日は数が多いので、レジ待ちが長い。
    Kyou wa kazu ga ooi node, reji-machi ga nagai.
    Today there are many people, so the checkout line is long.
    Lista:
    • 今日は (Kyou wa) – today
    • 数が (kazu ga) – the number
    • 多いので (ooi node) – because there are many
    • レジ待ちが (reji-machi ga) – the checkout line
    • 長い (nagai) – long
    The word 「数」 means ‘number’ or ‘quantity’; here it’s used to denote quantity with が in the phrase 数が多い.
  • 今日は 数量限定 の セール で 財布 を 買った。
    Kyou wa sūryō gentei no seeru de saifu o katta.
    Today I bought a wallet at a limited-quantity sale.
    Lista:
    • 今日は (Kyou wa) – today
    • 数量限定 (sūryō gentei) – limited quantity
    • の (no) – of
    • セール (seeru) – sale
    • で (de) – at
    • 財布 (saifu) – wallet
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 買った (katta) – bought
    『数量限定』 significa ‘limited quantity’ e funciona como modificador de 「セール」 aqui; a partícula 「で」 indica lugar.
  • 駅前の店で回数券を買っておいた。
    Ekimae no mise de kaisuken o katte oita.
    I bought a book of tickets at a shop near the station.
    Lista:
    • 駅前の (ekimae no) – in front of the station
    • 店で (mise de) – at the shop
    • 回数券を (kaisuken o) – the book of tickets
    • 買って (katte) – buying
    • おいた (oita) – left in advance
    「回数券」は固定名詞で『book of tickets』。ここでは を の目的語として機能し、買っておいた形で前もって購入した意味になる。
数