Basic Meaning
The kanji 十 simply means "ten," the number 10. It is one of the first numbers learned in Japanese and appears frequently in daily life.
Usage in Counting
十 is used to count objects, often combined with counters like 個 (こ) for small items or ページ for pages. Note that the reading can be じゅう or じゅっ depending on the counter.
Time Expressions
When telling time, 十 is read as じゅう and used to indicate 10 o'clock or 10 minutes.
Common Collocations
- 十時 (じゅうじ): ten o'clock
- 十分 (じゅっぷん / じっぷん): ten minutes
- 十個 (じゅっこ): ten pieces (small objects)
Tips
Be careful with pronunciation changes when 十 combines with counters. For example, 十個 is pronounced じゅっこ, not じゅうこ. This is a common point of confusion for learners.