LingakuLesson 59 of 126
The lesson
5.3 Counters
Overview
Japanese counting is built from numbers + counters. Unlike English, you cannot count objects with just a number — a counter is required. This counter is similar to a unit of measurement such as a “cup“ (3 cups of water). Just that Japanese requires these “units” for counting virtually anything.
～つ — General-purpose counter
～つ is used to count things in general, especially when:
- The exact category is unknown
- There is no obvious specific counter
- The number is small (up to 10)
| Number | Form |
|---|---|
| 1 | ひとつ |
| 2 | ふたつ |
| 3 | みっつ |
| 4 | よっつ |
| 5 | いつつ |
| 6 | むっつ |
| 7 | ななつ |
| 8 | やっつ |
| 9 | ここのつ |
| 10 | とお |
Asking “how many”
To ask “how many” of something that uses the ～つ counter, use いくつ.
Specific counters
When the category is known, Japanese prefers specific counters.
人 — People
ひとり and ふたり must be memorized. From three upward, the pattern is regular (～にん).
| Number | Form | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 一人 | ひとり |
| 2 | 二人 | ふたり |
| 3 | 三人 | さんにん |
| 4 | 四人 | よにん |
| 5 | 五人 | ごにん |
| 6 | 六人 | ろくにん |
| 7 | 七人 | ななにん |
| 8 | 八人 | はちにん |
| 9 | 九人 | きゅうにん |
| 10 | 十人 | じゅうにん |
本 — Long cylindrical objects (sound changes)
本 is used for bottles, pens, umbrellas, bananas, and similar objects. It has multiple sound changes.
| Number | Form | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 一本 | いっぽん |
| 2 | 二本 | にほん |
| 3 | 三本 | さんぼん |
| 4 | 四本 | よんほん |
| 5 | 五本 | ごほん |
| 6 | 六本 | ろっぽん |
| 7 | 七本 | ななほん |
| 8 | 八本 | はっぽん |
| 9 | 九本 | きゅうほん |
| 10 | 十本 | じゅっぽん |
枚 — Flat objects
枚 is used for flat items like paper, shirts, tickets, and plates. Its readings are regular.
| Number | Form | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 一枚 | いちまい |
| 2 | 二枚 | にまい |
| 3 | 三枚 | さんまい |
| 4 | 四枚 | よんまい |
| 5 | 五枚 | ごまい |
| 6 | 六枚 | ろくまい |
| 7 | 七枚 | ななまい |
| 8 | 八枚 | はちまい |
| 9 | 九枚 | きゅうまい |
| 10 | 十枚 | じゅうまい |
個 — Small objects
個 is used for small, solid objects.
| Number | Form | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 一個 | いっこ |
| 2 | 二個 | にこ |
| 3 | 三個 | さんこ |
| 4 | 四個 | よんこ |
| 5 | 五個 | ごこ |
| 6 | 六個 | ろっこ |
| 7 | 七個 | ななこ |
| 8 | 八個 | はっこ |
| 9 | 九個 | きゅうこ |
| 10 | 十個 | じゅっこ |
冊 — Books, bound volumes
冊 is used for counting books and other bound volumes. Note the sound changes for 1, 8, and 10.
| Number | Form | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 一冊 | いっさつ |
| 2 | 二冊 | にさつ |
| 3 | 三冊 | さんさつ |
| 4 | 四冊 | よんさつ |
| 5 | 五冊 | ごさつ |
| 6 | 六冊 | ろくさつ |
| 7 | 七冊 | ななさつ |
| 8 | 八冊 | はっさつ |
| 9 | 九冊 | きゅうさつ |
| 10 | 十冊 | じゅっさつ |
台 — Machines, vehicles, large equipment
台 is used for machines, vehicles, and large appliances. Its readings are regular with no sound changes.
Regular readings: いちだい、にだい、さんだい、よんだい、ごだい、ろくだい、ななだい、はちだい、きゅうだい、じゅうだい
匹 — Small and medium animals
匹 is used for small and medium animals such as cats, dogs, and fish. It has several sound changes.
| Number | Form | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 一匹 | いっぴき |
| 2 | 二匹 | にひき |
| 3 | 三匹 | さんびき |
| 4 | 四匹 | よんひき |
| 5 | 五匹 | ごひき |
| 6 | 六匹 | ろっぴき |
| 7 | 七匹 | ななひき |
| 8 | 八匹 | はっぴき |
| 9 | 九匹 | きゅうひき |
| 10 | 十匹 | じゅっぴき |
杯 — Cups, glasses, servings
杯 is used for counting cups, glasses, and servings of food or drink. It has several sound changes.
| Number | Form | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 一杯 | いっぱい |
| 2 | 二杯 | にはい |
| 3 | 三杯 | さんばい |
| 4 | 四杯 | よんはい |
| 5 | 五杯 | ごはい |
| 6 | 六杯 | ろっぱい |
| 7 | 七杯 | ななはい |
| 8 | 八杯 | はっぱい |
| 9 | 九杯 | きゅうはい |
| 10 | 十杯 | じゅっぱい |
Note: 一杯 (いっぱい) also means “a lot” or “full” as an adverb — a common source of humor.
回 — Times, occurrences
回 is used to count the number of times something happens. Note the sound changes for 1, 6, 8, and 10.
Regular readings: いっかい、にかい、さんかい、よんかい、ごかい、ろっかい、ななかい、はっかい、きゅうかい、じゅっかい
Note: 回 can also mean “floor/level” in buildings (一階 = first floor), but in that reading it is かい and counts differently.
何＋counter — Asking “how many”
To ask “how many” with a specific counter, use 何.
Common patterns:
- 何人 → なんにん
- 何本 → なんぼん
- 何枚 → なんまい
- 何個 → なんこ
- 何冊 → なんさつ
- 何台 → なんだい
- 何匹 → なんびき
- 何杯 → なんばい
- 何回 → なんかい
Points to keep in mind
- Japanese counting almost always requires counters
- ～つ is useful when unsure
- 人 has special forms: ひとり, ふたり
- Sound changes are common with counters like 本 and 個
- 冊 (さつ) is used for books
- 台 (だい) is used for machines and vehicles
- 匹 (ひき/ぴき/びき) is used for small and medium animals
- 杯 (はい/ぱい/ばい) is used for cups and servings
- 回 (かい) counts the number of times something happens
- Use specific counters when possible
Dialogue
らいしゅう来週、がっこう学校でおまつりお祭りがあります。 くらすクラスのじゅんび準備をてつだう手伝うともだち友だちがひとり一人います。 つくえ机のうえ上にぺんペンがさんぼん三本とかみ紙がにまい二枚あります。 りんごをごこ五個と、みかんをいくつかかいました買いました。 きごう「りんごはいくつありますかきごう」とともだち友だちがききました聞きました。 きごう「ごこ五個ありますきごう」とわたくし私はこたえました答えました。 のみもの飲み物のぺっとぼとるペットボトルがなん何ぼん本ひつよう必要ですか。 たぶんじゅっぽん十本くらいひつよう必要だとおもいます思います。 てえぶるテーブルはみっつ、いすはにじゅっこ二十個ようい用意しました。 おまつりお祭りがとてもたのしみ楽しみです。
Next week there is a festival at school. I have one friend helping with the class preparations. On the desk there are three pens and two sheets of paper. I bought five apples and some tangerines. "How many apples are there?" my friend asked. "There are five," I answered. How many bottles of drinks do we need? I think we will probably need about ten. We prepared three tables and twenty chairs. I am very much looking forward to the festival.
Grammar
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