五百(ごひゃく)

五百(ごひゃく) is 五(ご) (five) + 百(ひゃく) (hundred). No sound change occurs — ひゃく stays as ひゃく after ご.

Sound changes in hundreds

The hundreds have irregular pronunciation for certain numbers:

• 三百(さんびゃく): rendaku (ひゃく → びゃく)
• 六百(ろっぴゃく): sokuon + h→p (ひゃく → ぴゃく)
• 八百(はっぴゃく): sokuon + h→p
• 五百(ごひゃく): no change

Common expressions

• 五百(ごひゃく)円(えん)玉(だま): 500-yen coin (the highest-value coin in Japan)
• 五百(ごひゃく)人(にん): 500 people
• 五百(ごひゃく)メートル: 500 meters

Cultural note

The 五百(ごひゃく)円(えん)玉(だま) is notable as the largest-denomination coin in regular circulation in Japan. It is commonly saved in 貯金箱(ちょきんばこ) (piggy banks) as a form of casual savings known as 五百(ごひゃく)円(えん)玉(だま)貯金(ちょきん).