五(ご)

ご

number

five

1. five

The number five. A central number in Japanese culture, found in many traditional concepts. Straightforward to use with most counters.

五(ご)時(じ)に起(お)きます。

I wake up at five o'clock.

五(ご)人(にん)家族(かぞく)です。

It's a family of five.

五(ご)月(がつ)は気持(きも)ちいい季節(きせつ)です。

May is a pleasant season.

友達(ともだち)と約束(やくそく)があるから、五(ご)時(じ)までに家(いえ)に帰(かえ)らなければなりません。

I have plans with a friend, so I have to be home by five o'clock.

In Japanese companies, it's normal to work five days a week, with Saturday and Sunday off.

五(ご) is the Sino-Japanese reading for five, used with most counters and in compounds.

Pronunciation

ご: Sino-Japanese (used with counters like 個(こ), 人(にん), 時(じ))
いつ: appears in いつつ (native counter for objects)

Common collocations

五(ご)時(じ): 5 o'clock
五(ご)月(がつ): May
五(ご)日(にち): the 5th (of the month)
五(ご)人(にん): five people
五(いつ)つ: five (objects)

Cultural note

五(ご)感(かん): the five senses
五(ご)輪(りん): the Olympic rings; also Buddhist five elements
五(ご)十(じゅっ)音(おん): the Japanese syllabary order

Usage

Five is considered a balanced number in East Asian cultures, associated with the five elements.

basic

Added 2026.1.7 21:58 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29

00500/00697_go