The Core Idea: Use The Currency Unit First

Japanese currency is usually counted with 円 (en) for yen. For larger amounts, you will often hear 千円 (sen-en) for one thousand yen, 万円 (man-en) for ten thousand yen, and sometimes 億円 (oku-en) for one hundred million yen. Yes, the numbers get big quickly. Japanese loves neat grouping.

The easiest way to stay calm is to think in chunks:

• 1円 — ichi-en — 1 yen
• 10円 — juu-en — 10 yen
• 100円 — hyaku-en — 100 yen
• 1,000円 — sen-en — 1,000 yen
• 10,000円 — man-en — 10,000 yen

That is the big mental switch: Japanese does not always “say the comma” the way English speakers expect. It says the unit. Once you catch that, the confusion starts to shrink.

Money Words You Need First

You can learn more about the currency itself on Wikipedia’s Japanese yen page. Boring? Yes. Useful? Also yes. Sometimes the most reliable money talk is the least glamorous.

Common Money Expressions In Real Life

• いくらですか — ikura desu ka — How much is it?
  この財布はいくらですか。 — Kono saifu wa ikura desu ka. — How much is this wallet?
• 五百円です — gohyaku-en desu — It is 500 yen
  入場料は五百円です。 — Nyūjōryō wa gohyaku-en desu. — The entrance fee is 500 yen.
• 千円札 — sen-en-satsu — 1,000-yen bill
  千円札があります。 — Sen-en satsu ga arimasu. — I have a 1,000-yen bill.
• 小銭がありますか — kozeni ga arimasu ka — Do you have coins?
  小銭がありますか。 — Kozeni ga arimasu ka. — Do you have coins?
• お釣りはいくらですか — otsuri wa ikura desu ka — How much change is there?
  お釣りはいくらですか。 — Otsuri wa ikura desu ka. — How much is the change?
• 一万円札 — ichiman-en-satsu — 10,000-yen bill
  一万円札で払います。 — Ichiman-en satsu de haraimasu. — I will pay with a 10,000-yen bill.
• 合計 — gōkei — total
  合計はいくらですか。 — Gōkei wa ikura desu ka. — What is the total?
• 税込 — zeikomi — tax included
  税込です。 — Zeikomi desu. — Tax is included.
• 税抜 — zeinuki — tax excluded
  税抜です。 — Zeinuki desu. — Tax is excluded.
• 現金 — genkin — cash
  現金で払います。 — Genkin de haraimasu. — I will pay in cash.
• カード — kādo — card
  カードで払えますか。 — Kādo de haraemasu ka. — Can I pay by card?

Examples You Can Copy

これは三百円です。
Kore wa sanbyaku-en desu.
This is 300 yen.

この本は千二百円です。
Kono hon wa sen nihyaku-en desu.
This book is 1,200 yen.

全部で五千円です。
Zenbu de gosen-en desu.
The total is 5,000 yen.

一万円札で払います。
Ichiman-en satsu de haraimasu.
I will pay with a 10,000-yen bill.

お釣りは二百円です。
Otsuri wa nihyaku-en desu.
The change is 200 yen.

現金でお願いします。
Genkin de onegaishimasu.
Cash, please.

Quick Practice

Try saying these aloud. Yes, aloud. Language is annoying like that.

• 100 yen — 百円 — hyaku-en
• 300 yen — 三百円 — sanbyaku-en
• 500 yen — 五百円 — gohyaku-en
• 800 yen — 八百円 — happyaku-en
• 1,000 yen — 千円 — sen-en
• 2,000 yen — 二千円 — nisen-en
• 5,000 yen — 五千円 — gosen-en
• 10,000 yen — 一万円 — ichiman-en

Now transform these into Japanese:

• “It is 600 yen.” → 六百円です — roppyaku-en desu
• “How much is it?” → いくらですか — ikura desu ka
• “The total is 2,000 yen.” → 合計は二千円です — Gōkei wa nisen-en desu
• “Please pay in cash.” → 現金でお願いします — Genkin de onegaishimasu