18491
I'm learning the counter for minutes, which is 分. I know, there are several
exceptions in when it comes to pronunciation.

  * 1 min = **いっぷん**
  * 2 min = にふん
  * 3 min = **さんぷん**
  * 4 min = **よんぷん**
  * 5 min = ごふん
  * 6 min = **ろっぷん**
  * 7 min = ななふん
  * 8 min = **はっぷん**
  * 9 min = きゅうふん
  * 10 min = **じゅうっぷん**

But on some sites they stated that 3分 is **さんぶん** , or that 4分 is **よんふん**...

So I'd like to know which are correct. Thanks
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2014-08-30T08:28:09.953
18487
2020-03-30T19:40:45.737
2020-03-30T14:31:21.333
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question
readings counters time
Exceptions in pronouncing the counter for minutes (分)
## 分 meaning "minute(s)"

When 分 is used as a counter with the meaning "minute(s)", it is read as
follows:

> １分 = いっぷん  
>  ２分 = にふん  
>  ３分 = さんぷん  
>  ４分 = よんぷん  
>  ５分 = ごふん  
>  ６分 = ろっぷん  
>  ７分 = ななふん  
>  ８分 = はちふん・はっぷん  
>  ９分 = きゅうふん  
>  １０分 = じゅっぷん・じっぷん

These "irregularities" are due to sound changes. The above sound changes are
particular to 分【ふん】, but
[gemination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_phonology#Gemination_2) is
often triggered by ち・く (as in い **ち** or ろ **く** ) and they somewhat explain
the readings here. (Note that っ＋ふ becomes っぷ, and similarly for はひへほ, and
compare also [１個]【いっこ】 from い **ち** ＋こ or [６個]【ろっこ】 from ろ **く** ＋こ.)

## 分 meaning "part(s)"

But 分 can also be used be used as a counter meaning "parts", in which case it
is always read ぶん. For example when reading fractions:

> ⅓  
>  さんぶん の いち  
>  _lit._ one of three parts

So, when 3分 means "three parts", it is always read さんぶん, not さんぷん.

When 3分 means "three minutes", it is always read さんぷん, not さんぶん.

Similarly, よんぷん = "four minutes" and よんぶん = "four parts".

さんふん and よんふん are non-standard readings.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2014-08-30T11:19:58.450
18491
2020-03-30T19:40:45.737
2020-03-30T19:40:45.737
1628
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18487
answer