Counting in English can be difficult because large number units are counted quite differently between English and Japanese.

I’m going to let you in on a secret!

Counting numbers in English is easy. You. just have to remember what the commas mean.

Let’s examine a number:

120,580,635

Step 1

Before trying to read the number, count the zeros from the right. In the above case we have two. 

Comma 1 (from the right) is called “thousand”

Comma 2 (from the right) is called “million”

Step 2

Read from the left.

Important: Only read in groups of hundred until you get to a comma. Then read the name of the comma. Then repeat with the next group of hundred.

We read the above number like this:

One hundred, twenty (first group of hundred)

“million” (first comma from the left)

Five hundred, eighty (second group of hundred)

“thousand” (second comma from the left)

Six hundred, thirty-five.

Conclusion

120,580,635 = One hundred, twenty million, five hundred, eighty thousand, six hundred, thirty-five.