• 算数さんすう — arithmetic
• 計算けいさん — calculation
• 暗算あんざん — mental calculation
• 予算よさん — budget
• 清算せいさん — settlement
• 算盤そろばん — abacus

算 combines the radical for bamboo (⺮) — referencing early counting tools like tally sticks or abacuses — and a phonetic suggesting "to gather or compute." It has long been associated with math and counting.

算数さんすうの宿題しゅくだいを忘わすれました。
I forgot my arithmetic homework.

来年らいねんの予算よさんを決きめます。
We'll decide next year's budget.

🎧 Practice the native pronunciation of 算.