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I just recently started to learn Japanese and I am a bit confused with some
numbers. For example, what is the difference between 七 (なな) and 七つ (ななつ). Is
there no difference? Is it just another way of saying it?
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2016-07-23T09:10:47.530
36919
2016-07-23T12:50:12.040
2016-07-23T09:21:10.177
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question
counters numbers
つ at the end of a number
つ is a [counter word](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_counter_word)
(for generic inanimate objects), so that

> 七 (なな) "[the number] seven"  
>  七つ (ななつ) "seven [objects]"

Similarly you have

> 七日 (なのか) "the seventh [day of the month]"  
>  七本 (ななほん) "seven [longish objects]"

and many many more.

Depending on the counter, the numbers may not be based on the native Japanese
numbers ( _hito_ , _futa_ , _mi_ , ..., **_nana_** , ...), but on the Sino-
Japanese numbers ( _ichi_ , _ni_ , _san_ , ..., **_shichi_** , ...), as in

> 七時間 (しちじかん) "seven hours"

When the numbers (like 七) _count_ something, you use a counter word. When you
talk about the number as a number (e.g. in telephone numbers), you use the
number without the counter word.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-23T12:50:12.040
36924
2016-07-23T12:50:12.040
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answer