400 in Japanese is 四百(よんひゃく, yonhyaku). The number combines 四, four, with 百, hundred. It is useful for prices, measurements, quantities, and distances: 四百円(よんひゃくえん) means “four hundred yen.” The ordinary reading is yonhyaku, rather than shihyaku.
400 = 四百 in kanji, よんひゃく in hiragana, and yonhyaku in romaji. For a price, say 四百円です(よんひゃくえんです), “It is four hundred yen.”
- How Do You Say 400 in Japanese?
- Different Ways to Write 400
- 400 and the Japanese Hundreds: Quick Comparison
- How to Pronounce Yonhyaku
- Building Numbers Around 400
- Using 400 with Yen, People, and Measurements
- The 400th in Japanese
- Common Mistakes with 400
- Example Sentences Using 400 in Japanese
- Frequently Asked Questions About 400 in Japanese
- Summary: How to Say 400 in Japanese
How Do You Say 400 in Japanese?
The usual reading is よんひゃく(yonhyaku). Japanese places the multiplier before the unit: 四百 is four hundreds. This is the same basic structure as 二百, two hundred, and 五百, five hundred, although some other hundreds have pronunciation changes.
When 400 is written in digits, you normally read it according to the same number system. A price label showing 400円 is read よんひゃくえん. A context such as a telephone number may instead call for separate digits, so learn the quantity reading without assuming it applies to every possible number label.
Meaning: 400
Different Ways to Write 400
You will see both Japanese characters and Arabic numerals. They can express the same value, but the setting often favors one written style. Reading practice should connect the kanji, the hiragana pronunciation, and the numerical value.
1. 四百 — Kanji
四百 consists of 四, “four,” and 百, “hundred.” There is no need to insert separate written zeros after 百 in the ordinary kanji number. The character 百 already gives the place value.
The order is meaningful. 四百 means four hundreds, while 四十 means four tens. Pay attention to the second character rather than recognizing 四 and assuming the value is already clear.
2. よんひゃく — Hiragana
よんひゃく gives the reading directly. The small ゃ combines with ひ to make ひゃ. Do not read it as a full separate や after ひ. The final く is part of hyaku, the word for hundred.
For a learner, 四百(よんひゃく) is a useful combined spelling. The characters show the number structure, while the reading in parentheses prevents you from choosing another reading of 四.
3. 400 — Arabic Numerals
400 is common on price tags, signs, schedules, and measurement labels. Japanese writing uses these digits routinely. A sign showing 400メートル can be read よんひゃくメートル, “four hundred meters.”
The counter or unit usually follows the number in writing. Keep the whole expression together when practicing: 400円, 400人, and 400メートル refer to money, people, and distance respectively.
400 and the Japanese Hundreds: Quick Comparison
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| Number | Kanji | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 百 | ひゃく — hyaku |
| 200 | 二百 | にひゃく — nihyaku |
| 300 | 三百 | さんびゃく — sanbyaku |
| 400 | 四百 | よんひゃく — yonhyaku |
| 500 | 五百 | ごひゃく — gohyaku |
| 600 | 六百 | ろっぴゃく — roppyaku |
| 700 | 七百 | ななひゃく — nanahyaku |
| 800 | 八百 | はっぴゃく — happyaku |
| 900 | 九百 | きゅうひゃく — kyūhyaku |
Four hundred keeps the hyaku pronunciation used in 100 in Japanese. It does not copy the byaku of sanbyaku or the ppyaku of roppyaku and happyaku. Practice the sequence aloud so that you learn which numbers change and which keep the basic form.
How to Pronounce Yonhyaku
Start with よん(yon), then add ひゃく(hyaku). A rough English guide is “yohn-hyah-koo,” but it should remain a smooth Japanese sequence rather than three heavily stressed English syllables.
In Japanese timing, the reading can be divided into よ・ん・ひゃ・く. The ん has its own rhythmic place, and ひゃ stays joined. Avoid adding a vowel between n and h, which can make the word sound as if an extra syllable has appeared.
The exact sound of the final vowel can be less prominent in natural speech than in a slow learner pronunciation. Listen to the complete phrase and imitate it at a comfortable speed rather than forcing every romaji letter into an English sound.
Building Numbers Around 400
To make a number just above 400, add the remaining tens and units after 四百. 四百一(よんひゃくいち) is 401. You do not insert a spoken zero for the missing tens place.
四百十(よんひゃくじゅう) is 410, and 四百五十(よんひゃくごじゅう) is 450. For 456, say 四百五十六(よんひゃくごじゅうろく): four hundred, fifty, six.
Compare the three place values 四十(よんじゅう), forty; 四百(よんひゃく), four hundred; and 四千(よんせん), four thousand. The first part yon stays recognizable, while the unit changes the value.
Using 400 with Yen, People, and Measurements
For money, use 四百円(よんひゃくえん). これは四百円です means “This is four hundred yen.” The number comes directly before 円, and a shop conversation may use the digits 400円 on the label.
For people, say 四百人(よんひゃくにん). For flat items, use 四百枚(よんひゃくまい). The counter identifies the kind of thing being counted; it is not simply an optional English-style plural ending.
- 四百円(よんひゃくえん) — four hundred yen
- 四百人(よんひゃくにん) — four hundred people
- 四百枚(よんひゃくまい) — four hundred flat items
- 四百メートル(よんひゃくメートル) — four hundred meters
- 四百グラム(よんひゃくグラム) — four hundred grams
- 四百年(よんひゃくねん) — four hundred years
Some counters trigger sound changes, so learn unfamiliar combinations as whole phrases. The fact that the standalone number is yonhyaku does not guarantee that every possible counter can be attached without any pronunciation adjustment.
The 400th in Japanese
To express a position in a sequence, 四百番目(よんひゃくばんめ) can mean “the four hundredth.” The ending 番目 identifies the position, rather than the number of things in total.
For pages, a phrase such as 四百ページ目(よんひゃくページめ) identifies the four-hundredth page. Compare a quantity of 四百ページ, “four hundred pages,” with the position marked by 目. The full expression matters more than the bare number.
Common Mistakes with 400
The ordinary reading is yonhyaku, not shihyaku or yonbyaku. Although 四 can be read shi in other contexts, that is not the standard reading of the standalone number 四百.
Do not confuse 400 with 40 or 4,000, and do not pronounce written zeros separately when you mean an ordinary quantity. Finally, include the unit or counter when it is needed: a price, a distance, and a group of people are different expressions even though the number is the same.
Example Sentences Using 400 in Japanese
This bread costs four hundred yen.
Use: Reading a price and using 円 for yen.
It is four hundred meters to the station.
Use: Giving a distance with メートル.
There are four hundred people at the venue.
Use: Counting people with 人.
Frequently Asked Questions About 400 in Japanese
Tap a question below to see the answer.
How do you say 400 in Japanese?
Say よんひゃく(yonhyaku). The kanji is 四百.
Is 400 shihyaku or yonhyaku?
The ordinary reading is yonhyaku. Learn 四百 as a complete number rather than choosing a reading of 四 independently.
How do you write 400 in hiragana?
Write よんひゃく. The small ゃ combines with ひ in ひゃく.
How do you say 400 yen?
Say 四百円(よんひゃくえん). 四百円です means “It is four hundred yen.”
Does 四百 use byaku like 三百?
No. 三百 is sanbyaku, but 四百 is yonhyaku. The pronunciation change in 300 does not apply to 400.
What is the difference between 40, 400, and 4,000?
40 is 四十(よんじゅう), 400 is 四百(よんひゃく), and 4,000 is 四千(よんせん).
Summary: How to Say 400 in Japanese
400 in Japanese is 四百(よんひゃく, yonhyaku). Keep the hyaku sound, and distinguish it from sanbyaku, roppyaku, and happyaku in the hundreds sequence.
Practice the complete expressions 四百円, 四百人, and 四百メートル. Recognize both the kanji and digit forms, and use the appropriate counter or unit for the meaning you need.
