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10 Useful Japanese Counters Posted by on Dec 2, 2016 in Grammar

For counting anything in Japanese, different affixes are attached to numbers. These affixes are called counters or 助数詞 josūshi.

Japanese counters are used to count objects of different sizes and shapes, living things, time, actions etc. For example, 柿を一個ください Kaki wo ikko kudasai (give me one persimmon). The counter for round objects is 個 ko and persimmon being a round object (fruit), 個 ko is used along with the number or numbers that quantifies it.

The most basic 助数詞 josūshi is つ tsu. It is a generic counter used for counting almost anything. However, there are specific counters for specific items and in this lesson we will learn about 10 such counters.

 

hon    counter for long and slender objects like umbrellas, poles, flowers, bananas, chopsticks etc.

How to count?

1  いっぽん ippon 

2  にほん nihon 

3  さんぼん sanbon 

4  よんほん yonhon 

5  ごほん gohon 

6  ろっぽん roppon 

7  ななほん nanahon 

8  はちほん hachihon 

9  きゅうほん kyūhon

10 じゅっぽん juppon

Example: バナナが三本残っている。Banana ga sanbon nokotteiru. There are three bananas left.

 

ko      counter for small, round or dense objects like apples, pebbles, buckets etc.

How to count?

1  いっこ ikko 

2  にこ niko 

3  さんこ sanko 

4  よんこ yonko 

5  ごこ goko 

6  ろっこ rokko 

7  ななこ nanako 

8  はっこ hakko 

9  きゅうこ kyūko

10 じゅっこ jukko

Example: 友達からリンゴを八個もらった。Tomodachi kara ringo wo hakko moratta. I received 8 apples from my friend.

 

mai     counter for flat, thin and broad objects like  papers, plates, kimonos etc.

How to count?

1  いちまい ichimai

2  にまい nimai

3  さんまい sanmai 

4  よんまい yonmai

5  ごまい gomai

6  ろくまい rokumai 

7  ななまい nanamai 

8  はちまい hachimai

9  きゅうまい kyūmai

10 じゅうまい jūmai

Example: 紙を一枚取ってください。Kami wo ichimai totte kudasai. Please take one sheet of paper.

 

冊satsu  counter for bound items like books, magazines etc.

How to count?

1  いっさつ issatsu

2  にさつ nisatsu

3  さんさつ sansatsu 

4  よんさつ yonsatsu

5  ごさつ gosatsu

6  ろくさつ rokusatsu 

7  ななさつ nanasatsu 

8  はっさつ hassatsu

9  きゅうさつ kyūsatsu

10 じゅっさつ jussatsu

Example: ここに本が二冊あります。Kokoni hon ga nisatsu arimasu. Here are two books.

 

足 soku     counter for pair, like a pair of socks, a pair of shoes etc.

How to count?

1  いっそく issoku

2  にそく nisoku

3  さんぞく sanzoku 

4  よんそく yonsoku

5  ごそく gosoku

6  ろくそく rokusoku 

7  ななそく nanasoku

8  はっそく hassoku

9  きゅうそく kyūsoku

10 じゅっそく jussoku

Example: 靴下を一足買いました。Kutsushita wo issoku kaimashita. I bought a pair of socks.

 

人 nin       counter for persons

How to count?

1   ひとり hitori

2  ふたり futari

3  さんにん sannin 

4  よにん yonin

5  ごにん gonin

6  ろくにん rokunin 

7  しちにん shichinin 

8  はちにん hachinin

9  きゅうにん kyūnin

10 じゅうにん jūnin

Example: 友達が四人います。Tomodachi ga yonin imasu. I have four friends.

 

泊 haku             counter for number of nights stayed, like one night, two nights etc.

How to count?

1  いっぱく ippaku

2  にはく nihaku

3  さんぱく sanpaku 

4  よんぱく yonpaku

5  ごはく gohaku

6  ろっぱく roppaku 

7  ななはく nanahaku 

8  はっぱく happaku

9  きゅうはく kyūhaku

10 じゅっぱく juppaku

Example: このホテルは一泊いくらですか。Kono hoteru wa ippaku ikura desuka. How much does this hotel costs for one night?

 

匹 hiki  counter for small animals like fishes, insects, worms, small mammals etc.

How to count?

1  いっぴき ippiki

2  にひき nihiki

3  さんびき sanbiki 

4  よんひき yonhiki

5  ごひき gohiki

6  ろっぴき roppiki

7  ななひき nanahiki 

8  はっぴき happiki

9  きゅうひき kyūhiki

10 じゅっぴき juppiki

Example: 魚を一匹釣りました。Sakana wo ippiki tsurimashita. I caught one fish.

 

dai   counter for vehicles or machines like cars, televisions, washing machines etc.

How to count?

1  いちだい ichidai

2  にだい nidai

3  さんだい sandai 

4  よんだい yondai

5  ごだい godai

6  ろくだい rokudai

7  ななだい nanadai

8  はちだい hachidai

9  きゅうだい kyūdai

10 じゅうだい jūdai

Example: 教室にはパソコンが一台しかありません。Kyoushitsu ni wa pasokon ga ichidai shika arimasen. There is only one computer in the classroom.

 

Kai    counter for floors

How to count?

1  いっかい ikkai

2 にかい nikai

3  さんがい sangai 

4  よんかい yonkai

5  ごかい gokai

6  ろっかい rokkai

7  ななかい nanakai

8  はちかい hachikai

9  きゅうかい kyūkai

10 じゅっかい jukkai

Example: 食堂は二階にあります。Shokudo wa nikai ni arimasu. The cafeteria is on the second floor.

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About the Author: ranita

Ranita is a Japanese language professional and culture enthusiast. In addition to Japanese, she speaks English, Hindi, Bengali. She has also learned German and Spanish. Her hobbies include traveling, taking photographs and collecting cute stuffs.