Translation and Meaning of: 十 - jyuu

The Japanese word 十[じゅう] is one of the most fundamental terms for anyone learning the language. Representing the number "ten", it appears in everyday contexts, counting, expressions, and even in cultural elements. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, practical use, and some curiosities that help to understand how the Japanese use this kanji in their daily lives.

In addition to being essential for counting from 1 to 10, 十 has a notable presence in compound words and even in cultural symbols. If you've ever wondered how to easily memorize it or why it is written this way, keep reading to discover interesting facts about this simple word that is rich in meaning.

Meaning and Origin of the Kanji 十

The kanji 十 is one of the oldest and simplest in the Japanese language, representing the number ten. Its shape resembles a cross, making it easy to write and recognize. Originally, this character emerged in China as a symbol to indicate completeness, as ten was considered a round and significant number in many ancient cultures.

In Japanese writing, 十 maintains its basic structure, composed of just two intersecting strokes. This simplicity makes it one of the first kanji taught to beginners. Interestingly, it also appears as a radical in other more complex characters, such as 協 (cooperation) and 博 (broad), always bringing with it the notion of totality or extent.

Everyday Expressions and Common Phrases

In everyday life, 十[じゅう] appears in various situations, from ages to quantities. For example, "ten years" is said as 十歳[じゅっさい], and "ten o'clock" is 十時[じゅうじ]. A peculiarity is that, when combined with certain words, the pronunciation can change slightly, as in 十回[じゅっかい] (ten times), where "じゅう" becomes "じゅっ".

In addition to numbers, this kanji is also present in expressions like 十人十色[じゅうにんといろ], a proverb that means "ten people, ten colors" — in other words, everyone has their own style and opinion. This type of usage demonstrates how the Japanese language utilizes numerical terms to convey abstract ideas in a creative way.

Tips for Memorizing and Writing Correctly

An effective way to remember the kanji 十 is to associate it with a cross or a plus sign (+), as its shape is practically identical. This visual trick helps not only to recognize it but also to reproduce it correctly in writing. Another tip is to practice it in combination with other numbers, such as 十一[じゅういち] (eleven) or 二十[にじゅう] (twenty), to cement its sound and use in real contexts.

It is worth noting that, although it seems simple, the order of the strokes still matters. The kanji 十 must be written with the horizontal stroke first, followed by the vertical, starting from top to bottom. Following this sequence ensures a more natural writing style and aligns with Japanese calligraphic standards.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 十 (juu) - Ten

十

Romaji: jyuu
Kana: じゅう
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3, jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: (num) 10; ten

Meaning in English: (num) 10;ten

Definition: The integer that follows 9 in a number.

Example Sentences - (十) jyuu

See below some example sentences:

この部屋の広さは十分です。

Kono heya no hiro sa wa juubun desu

The size of this room is sufficient.

• この - demonstrative "this"
• 部屋 - noun "room"
• の - possessive particle "of"
• 広さ - noun "size"
• は - topic particle "は"
• 十分 - adjective "enough"
• です - verb to be"

私の年齢は二十五歳です。

Watashi no nenrei wa nijuugosai desu

My age is 25 years old.

My age is 25 years old.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 年齢 - noun that means "age"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 二十五 - numeral meaning "25"
• 歳 - suffix that indicates "years old"
• です - verb "to be" in the present affirmative

この商品の取り扱いには十分注意してください。

Kono shouhin no toriatsukai ni wa juubun chuui shite kudasai

Please be careful enough when handling this product.

Be careful when handling this product.

• この商品 - This product
• の - Possessive particle
• 取り扱い - Handling
• には - Particle that indicates focus or attention
• 十分 - Sufficient
• 注意 - Attention
• してください - Please, do it.

この容積は十分ではありません。

Kono yōseki wa jūbun de wa arimasen

This volume is not enough.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 容積 - noun meaning "volume" or "capacity"
• は - topic particle indicating that the preceding noun is the topic of the sentence
• 十分 - Adjective that means "sufficient" or "adequate"
• ではありません - negative expression meaning "is not"

一見は十年の修行という言葉がある。

Hitomi wa jūnen no shugyō to iu kotoba ga aru

There is a saying that a single look is equivalent to ten years of training.

At first glance, there is a ten -year training.

• 一見 - means "at first sight" or "at first glance".
• 十年 - means "ten years".
• の - Title that indicates possession or expiration.
• 修行 - means "training" or "discipline".
• という - an expression that indicates that the previous word is quoted or mentioned.
• 言葉 - means "word" or "expression".
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
• ある - Verb that means "to exist" or "to have".

二十日は私の誕生日です。

Nijuunichi wa watashi no tanjoubi desu

The 20th is my birthday.

Twenty days is my birthday.

• 二十日 - means "20th" in Japanese
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun meaning "I"
• の - Possession particle in Japanese
• 誕生日 - means "birthday" in Japanese
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese, which indicates a statement or declaration

五十音は日本語の基本的な音の組み合わせを表します。

Gojūon wa nihongo no kihonteki na oto no kumiawase o hyō shimasu

The 1950s indicate the basic combination of the Japanese sound.

• 五十音 - means "fifty sounds" and refers to the set of Japanese characters used to represent sounds and syllables.
• 日本語 - means "Japanese language".
• 基本的な - means "basic" or "fundamental".
• 音 - means "sound" or "musical note".
• 組み合わせ - means "combination" or "arrangement".
• 表します - means "represents" or "shows".

十分に満足しています。

Juubun ni manzoku shiteimasu

I'm completely satisfied.

I'm satisfied enough.

• 十分に - adverb that means "enough"
• 満足 - noun that means "satisfaction"
• しています - verb する (to do) in the progressive form (ている) indicating action in progress

十日間休みを取ります。

Jūnichi kan yasumi o torimasu

I'm taking ten days off.

Take a day off for ten days.

• 十日間 (juunichikan) - ten days
• 休み (yasumi) - Time off, rest
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 取ります (torimasu) - take, remove, obtain

支給された給料は十分だった。

Shikyū sareta kyūryō wa jūbun datta

The salary paid was sufficient.

• 支給された - verb 支給 (to provide) in the past and passive tense
• 給料 - noun 給料 (salary)
• は - particle は (marks the topic of the sentence)
• 十分 - adjective 十分 (sufficient, enough)
• だった - verb だ (to be) in the past tense and affirmative