～つ

The ～つ counter is a general-purpose counter used to count various small or unclassified objects. It is used for counting things that don’t fit neatly into specific counters, especially in casual speech.

It counts objects up to ten. Beyond ten, specific counters like 個 (for small items) or general numerals without ～つ (e.g., 11 = じゅういち) are used.

It is associated with the interrogative いくつ meaning "How many?".

What it counts:

• Small or unclassified objects and virtually anything three-dimensional (e.g., apples, balls, toys)

• Things without a definite shape (e.g. shadows, waves)

• Abstract items or concepts (e.g., questions, problems, ideas)

• Orders of products or meals (e.g. in a restaurant)

• Events or actions

• Ages from 1 to 9

• Some idioms use 一つ

| Numeral | Japanese | Reading |

|-------------|---------------|-------------|

| 1 | 一つ | ひとつ |

| 2 | 二つ | ふたつ |

| 3 | 三つ | みっつ |

| 4 | 四つ | よっつ |

| 5 | 五つ | いつつ |

| 6 | 六つ | むっつ |

| 7 | 七つ | ななつ |

| 8 | 八つ | やっつ |

| 9 | 九つ | ここのつ |

| 10 | 十 | とお |

| 11 | 十一／十一個 | じゅういち／じゅういっこ |

| 12 | 十二／十二個 | じゅうに／じゅうにこ |

| 100 | 百／百個 | ひゃく／ひゃっこ |

| 1,000 | 千／千個 | せん／せんこ |

| 10,000 | 一万／一万個 | いちまん／いちまんこ |