二十(にじゅう)

にじゅう
number
twenty
number
See also: 二重(にじゅう) (double, twofold)
1. twenty
The number twenty. Formed by combining 二(に) (two) and 十(じゅう) (ten), literally meaning 'two tens.'
二十(にじゅう)円(えん)です。
It's twenty yen.
二十(にじゅっ)分(ぷん)ぐらいかかります。
It takes about twenty minutes.
この本(ほん)は二十(にじゅう)ページあります。
This book has twenty pages.
日本(にほん)では二十歳(はたち)からお酒(さけ)が飲(の)めます。
In Japan, you can drink alcohol from twenty years old.
今年(ことし)二十(はたち)になりました。もう大人(おとな)だから、自分(じぶん)のことは自分(じぶん)で決(き)めたいです。
I turned twenty this year. Since I'm an adult now, I want to make my own decisions.
Special reading はたち for age 20

二十(にじゅう) is the number twenty. Like all Japanese tens, it is formed regularly by combining the digit with 十(じゅう): 二(に) + 十(じゅう) = 二十(にじゅう).

Pronunciation

二十歳(はたち) is a special reading used exclusively for age 20. It reflects the traditional significance of turning 20, long the age of adulthood (成人(せいじん)) in Japan; the legal age was lowered to 18 in 2022, but coming-of-age ceremonies are still often held at 20. In all other contexts, use 二十(にじゅう).

Common expressions

Usage

The day 二十日(はつか) (はつか, the 20th or twenty days) also has a special reading, following the pattern of native Japanese number readings for dates.

Related Words

Related: 十九(じゅうきゅう) (nineteen)
basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:19 · Revised 2026.10.6 21:38
00500/00975_nijuu