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