How to Read Prices in Japanese

How prices are written

The Japanese word for yen is 円, read えん. In Japanese text it goes after the number: 500円, 1,980円, 12,800円. The ¥ sign is the same currency written the other way round, before the number: ¥500 and 500円 mean exactly the same thing. You will see both on menus, price tags and websites, sometimes on the same page.

Almost all prices use Arabic numerals with commas every three digits, just as in English. Kanji numerals such as 千二百円 (1,200 yen) mostly appear on vertical menus at traditional restaurants, on handwritten signs, and in some formal writing. If you can read both forms, you can read nearly every price in Japan. The coins you will handle are 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 yen, and the common notes are 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 yen. A 2,000 yen note exists, but it is rarely seen.

Saying a price out loud

To say a price, read the number in Japanese and add えん. The number system is covered step by step in Japanese numbers, so here are the patterns you hear most at a register:

The last row is the one learners trip over. With 円, four is よ: 4円 is よえん. In larger amounts the number keeps its usual reading, so 400円 is よんひゃくえん and 4,000円 is よんせんえん. Nine is きゅう in prices, so 9円 is きゅうえん and 900円 is きゅうひゃくえん.

Long prices are easier if you break them into chunks before you speak. Read the 万 part, then the 千 part, then the rest: 12,800円 is いちまん / にせん / はっぴゃく / えん.

Big amounts: 万 instead of thousands

English groups large numbers by thousands, but Japanese groups them by ten-thousands, using 万 (まん). So 30,000円 is not "thirty thousand" but 3万円 (さんまんえん), three ten-thousands. A quick trick is to count four digits from the right and put 万 there.

• 15,000円: いちまんごせんえん
• 50,000円: ごまんえん
• 100,000円: じゅうまんえん
• 1,000,000円: ひゃくまんえん

Because 万 is so natural to Japanese speakers, it often appears in written prices too, especially for rent, electronics, travel and salaries. You may see 2万5千円 (25,000 yen), 1.5万円 (15,000 yen) or simply 8万 (80,000) on a property listing. To check a long number, type it into the Japanese number converter, which shows it in kanji with its reading.

Tax labels: 税込 and 税抜

Japan has a consumption tax. The standard rate has been 10% since October 1, 2019, and a reduced rate of 8% applies to food and drinks, excluding alcohol and eating out. That is why a price tag may carry one of these labels:

• 税込 (ぜいこみ): tax included. This is the amount you pay.
• 税抜 (ぜいぬき): before tax. Tax is added at the register.
• 税別 (ぜいべつ): tax separate. Same meaning as 税抜.
• 本体価格 (ほんたいかかく): the base price before tax.

Since April 1, 2021, shops selling to consumers must show the total tax-inclusive price. Many still show the pre-tax price as well, so you often see something like 1,100円(税込) or 1,000円(税込1,100円). When two numbers appear, the one next to 税込 is what you will pay.

At cafes and fast food counters you may be asked 店内でお召し上がりですか (てんないでおめしあがりですか, will you eat in?). Food you take away, 持ち帰り (もちかえり), is taxed at the reduced 8% rate, while eating in is taxed at 10%, so the same item can cost slightly more if you sit down.

Sale signs and discounts

Discount signs use a few words that are worth learning by sight, because they are often printed large and in red:

• [半](/kanji/半)額 (はんがく): half price. 半 means half and 額 means amount.
• 割引 (わりびき): discount. Here 割 means a tenth, so 3割引 (さんわりびき) is 30% off, and 2割引 is 20% off.
• オフ: off, from English, as in 20%オフ. Many katakana words like this come straight from English, as explained in katakana loanwords.
• 値下げ (ねさげ): price cut, often on a sticker over the old price.
• 無料 (むりょう): free. 送料無料 (そうりょうむりょう) means free shipping.

The 割 system confuses learners because it counts what is taken off, not what is left. 3割引 on a 1,000円 item means you pay 700円. Supermarkets often put 半額 and 割引 stickers on bento and fresh food in the evening, which is one of the most practical reasons to learn these words early.

Menu words and asking the price

A few more words appear on menus and shop signs again and again:

• 値段 (ねだん) and 価格 (かかく): price.
• 時価 (じか): market price, which means the price changes and you should ask. You see it at some sushi and seafood restaurants.
• 食べ放題 (たべほうだい) and 飲み放題 (のみほうだい): all you can eat and all you can drink, usually for a set price and time.
• 〜円から or 〜円〜: from, as in 980円〜 for a price that starts at 980 yen.
• 安い (やすい) and 高い (たかい): cheap and expensive.

To ask a price, point and say これはいくらですか (how much is this?). When you want the bill at a restaurant, say お会計お願いします (おかいけいおねがいします). Prices with portions or items can also bring in counters, such as 一人前 (いちにんまえ, one serving); the common ones are in Japanese counters.

Practice on real prices. When you see a price online or in a shop, read it out loud in Japanese, including the えん, and check tricky ones with the number converter. The kanji 円, 万, 千 and 百 are all early JLPT N5 characters, and Moji covers them with spaced repetition reviews and stroke-order writing.