Last week, I played That’s the Way I Like It by the aforementioned K.C., and from the needle drop I was transported to the skating rink in junior high school. As I shuffled my way around the floor each weekend, in my head I would count into the hundreds in French. As I got better, I would translate ZIP codes and phone numbers. BTW, the phone number of the rink below is deux-cent quinze, huit-cent vingt-deux, quatre-vingt-deux, quarante-deux. Merci, K.C.
Là-haut le patinoire où je pratiquais compter en français/Above, the rink where I practiced counting in French. Photo Credit: International Roller Skating Rink History Foundation.
When I arrived in France for my junior year abroad, my skating practice saved me as I made purchases, asked for phone numbers, and navigated the streets.
Hearing that song again reminded me that I really need to learn how to count in Japanese.
Welcome to my brain.
So, I started learning to count. The structure and logic of bigger numbers isn’t entirely dissimilar to French. I made progress pretty quickly. Daily dog walks have replaced trips to the roller rink for flow state silent practice.
But then I learned the numbers only get you so far. Counting people and objects is rather different in Japanese.
In French, deux is two. And you can say, “Deux euros,” or “deux ficelles,” or “deux personnes.” Not so in Japanese.
二 (ni) is the number two. But if you want to tell the restaurant host there are two people in your party, you say, 二人 (futari). But if referring to two 3-dimensional objects you say, ふたつ (futatsu). And I’m finding there are other counting nuances to be mindful of.
So, if you need me I’ll be back at the roller rink.
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