10 Useful Japanese Counters Posted by ranita 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.
本 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.
個 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.
枚 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.
台 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.
階 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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