When should you always use the kanji for a number instead

[kentaku_sama]

When should you always use the word ( as in kanji ) instead of a number. Usually in articles or papers in english, the word is used instead of a number but Japanese is different ね。

Example: "一" instead of "1"

[Mike Cash]

You will most often find then used in vertical writing.

[furrykef]

An exception: when the number is part of a compound word, it's usually in kanji. I think one example is 一番 (when used in the general sense of "best").

[keatonatron]

An exception: when the number is part of a compound word, it's usually in kanji. I think one example is 一番 (when used in the general sense of "best").

That's a good thing to point out. Some other common ones:

一所懸命
一緒
一昨日(uncommon reading)
二日酔い
三角
四角


All of these can only be written with the kanji version.
Well, I guess you CAN write numerals, but it would make you look silly Kind of like writing "I had a 1derful time last night"

You'll notice there are a lot of words that use 一, a few words that use ニ and 三, and hardly any that use the other numbers.

[Yudan Taiteki]

Although I think if the number is actually representing a number you're more likely to see it in kanji; ２日酔い is less common than 二日酔い but the former is actually used. (I don't think this is quite the same thing as "1derful" because ２日 is a legitimate way to write ふつか even in formal writing, whereas "1derful" is never anything but extremely casual.)

[spin13]

You'll notice there are a lot of words that use 一, a few words that use ニ and 三, and hardly any that use the other numbers.

There are a few for 八, 十, 百, 千, and 万, at least more than the rest, though I'm having a hard time thinking of anything other than names for 千.　We've got, for example, 八百屋、八方（八方美人）、十分、十字、百姓、千葉、and 万年筆.

Although I think if the number is actually representing a number you're more likely to see it in kanji; ２日酔い is less common than 二日酔い but the former is actually used.

It is used occasionally, but because conversion software such as IME and that on cellphones do not offer 2日酔い, most people would have to go out of their way to produce it. Also, while you can find a few hits with a Google search, I'd be pretty surprised to see something like 瓜２つ, despite that being a fine reading for ふたつ.

-Eric

[Mike Cash]

All of these can only be written with the kanji version.
Well, I guess you CAN write numerals, but it would make you look silly :lol: Kind of like writing "I had a 1derful time last night"

Lots of the people reading this belong to the text message generation. They're all scratching their heads and trying to figure out what would be silly about writing "1derful".

[wccrawford]

All of these can only be written with the kanji version.
Well, I guess you CAN write numerals, but it would make you look silly Kind of like writing "I had a 1derful time last night"

Lots of the people reading this belong to the text message generation. They're all scratching their heads and trying to figure out what would be silly about writing "1derful".

No, I seriously doubt they are unless they are very, very bad at writing English in the first place. It's pathetically obvious why it's 'silly'. Most txt'rs would use it anyone, but would be fully aware of how silly it is. Just like all the other abbreviations.