「One vs First」Understanding Numbers and Order in Japanese

First, please look at the image. Several men and women are standing in a line.

Now, here are two questions.

Q1. How many men are there?

Q2. From the left, which number is the woman wearing a kimono?

How would you answer these questions?

A1. 男の人は、3人います。(Otoko no hito wa, san-nin imasu)

There are three men.

A2. 着物を着ている女の人は、左から5人目です。(Kimono o kite iru onna no hito wa, hidari kara go-nin me desu)

The woman wearing a kimono is the fifth from the left.

Now, let’s stop and think for a moment. Both answers use numbers.

But the way we answer is slightly different.

In the first answer, we say “3人/ san-nin/ three people.”

In the second answer, we say “5人目/ go-nin ME/ the fifth person”

Why is that?

This difference is the key to understanding cardinal numbers and ordinal numbers.

What are cardinal numbers?

Cardinal numbers show the number itself.

They tell us how many people or things there are.

In Japanese, we use them when talking about quantity.

男の人は、3人います。(Otoko no hito wa, san-nin imasu)

There are three men.

Here, “3人 (three people)” shows the total number.

This is a cardinal number. In English, we also say “three men,” so the idea is the same.

What are ordinal numbers?

Ordinal numbers show order or position.

They tell us which one or which position something is in.

In Japanese, we often use 「目（me）」 to show this idea.

着物を着ている女の人は、左から5人目です。(Kimono o kite iru onna no hito wa, hidari kara go-nin me desu)

The woman wearing a kimono is the fifth from the left.

Here, “5人目 (fifth person)” shows position, not quantity. This is an ordinal number.

Ordinal numbers in Japanese are simple

In English, the form changes:

one → first / two → second

Japanese is much simpler.

You usually make an ordinal number by adding 「目（me）」 to a cardinal number.

3人 → 3人目 (San-nin → san-nin me)

third person

5つ → 5つ目 (Itsutsu → itsutsu me)

fifth one

A simple tip

The most important question is this: Are you talking about how many, or which position?

Compare these sentences:

ケーキは3つあります。(Kēki wa mittsu arimasu)

There are three cakes.

私は2つ目を食べました。(Watashi wa futatsu me o tabemashita)

I ate the second one.

Once you understand this difference,

your explanations and conversations in Japanese will sound much more natural.

And don’t worry ― even if you make a mistake,

your teacher will gently help you 😊

Taichi