This is a simplified replacement for 萬, which was used for ten thousand and derives from an image of a scorpion. In compounds, 万 often means many or everything.

一万 (いちまん) means ten thousand. Notice that, unlike smaller numbers, you cannot simply use 万, but must include a number before it to specify how many 万.

Vocabulary

Vocabulary Reading Meaning
⭐ 一万 いちまん ten thousand

この時計は一万円だった。

This watch cost me ten thousand yen.🔗
⭐ 百万 ひゃくまん one million; many
⭐ 万一 まんいち emergency, unlikely event; by some chance

万一の場合はここへ電話をください。

In case of an emergency, phone me at this number.🔗

万一失敗したら両親はどう言うだろう。

In the unlikely event that I failed, what would my parents say?🔗
千差万別 せんさばんべつ an infinite variety of
万年筆 まんねんひつ fountain pen
巨万 きょまん huge fortune
万国 ばんこく all countries, the whole world
万端 ばんたん everything
万全 ばんぜん perfection