Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Hundred" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "hundred", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
百
ひゃく (hyaku)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
億
おく (oku)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "hundred" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 百 and 億.
In Japanese, 百 (ひゃく (hyaku)) is typically associated with "hundred" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Basic number for one hundred. Pronunciation changes when combined with other numbers, e.g., さんびゃく.
On the other hand, 億 (おく (oku)) maps to "hundred million" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents A large number unit, one 億. A literal translation of "hundred" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "百"
これは百円です。
This is one hundred yen.
Bilingual Context for "億"
日本の人口は約一億二千万人です。
Japan's population is about 120 million people.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "これは ＿＿＿ 円です。" (Meaning: "This is one hundred yen.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "百" fits here because it means "hundred" in the context of: "This is one hundred yen.". "億" represents "hundred million".