Numbers as adjectives....

[amit]

Alright...yonin is four people right? But how do you say there is four of something else? I've taken Mandarin in school before and we have to use all kinds of 'measure words'. Is there anything like that in Japanese?

Four is just an example. I would appreciate a more general answer if ya have one!

[Spaztick]

To say stuff like "four months" you would add a small katakana ka between the number and object. IE yon ka getsu would be four months. I think this applies to most things when you count, but it may only apply when dealing with time or length.

[amit]

Thanks!!

[clay]

You just opened a BIG can of worms. Japanese uses many "counters" which are used with numbers to count specific things - animals, large animals, long slender objects, books, etc...

I have listed some here:
http://www.thejapanesepage.com/grammar/6.htm#6

Ganbarimashou!
Clay

[Spaztick]

Oh yea, forgot about the counters. Dang, and here I thought that part was simple! Better add that to my list.

[clay]

Definitely fun stuff

But even if you mix up counters, you usually can be understood.

[Vengeance]

Gah...why can't we just say 1,2,3 etc etc like in english...so much simpler :'(.

[Mugen]

Since we are on the topic of numbers, I have a somewhat related question.

Say there is a room number "room 1202"
In english you can say room 'one thousand two hundred and two'
or 'twelve O two' or 'one two O two' etc....

In japanese can you do the same thing? or is there only one standard way to identify something like that?

[Vengeance]

Well, I know you can say the room number like "one thousand two hundred and two". Not too sure about 12 02 though.

[amit]

Ah, okay. 'Tis little like Mandarin then. Arigato!!