Counters with Sino-Japanese Numbers I:
～円・冊・課・歩・枚・匹・頭・足・台・階・歳・杯・本・個・人
Having learned Sino-Japanese numbers, simply knowing these numbers is only one part of counting things. To count things in Japanese, you must combine a number with what is called a “counter.”
The Japanese word for counters, 助数詞, can literally be interpreted as “number helpers” because of how they aid numbers in counting things. Hundreds of counters exist, grouping everything that can be counted into finite categories. Of these hundreds of counters, several dozen are used in everyday speech.
Before learning the basic counters in Japanese, it is important to relate counters to corresponding words in English. The words in bold in the sentences below function the same way counters do in Japanese.
i. When you go to the supermarket, could you buy a gallon of milk?
ii. How many loaves of bread are left in the cupboard?
iii. Why did you only give me three slices of ham?
iv. How many times did you go?
v. I have four volumes of the same book.
The 15 counters introduced in this lesson are some of the most commonly used counters of Sino-Japanese origin.
Because some counter expressions have multiple pronunciations, ON readings will be in katakana to indicate that a word is a (Sino-Japanese) loan word, and KUN readings will be in hiragana to indicate native words. Furthermore, all notes on intonation and variant acceptance are largely in accordance with the 2016 edition of the NHK 日本語発音アクセント新辞典, which is the leading authority on standard pronunciation in accordance with the times1. Preferred readings in the spoken language are noted in bold for visibility.
Chart Note: “?” in the charts stands for how to say “how many #?”
The Counter ～円
The currency of Japan is the yen. The presence of /y/ in the English word reflects its original pronunciation, but its modern pronunciation is /e.N/ (HL). When counting yen, ～円2 functions as a counter.
| NO. | READING(S) | PITCH | NO. | READING(S) | PITCH |
| 1 | イチエン | LHHH | 2 | ニエン | LHH |
| 3 | サンエン | LHHH | 4 | よエン | HLL |
| 5 | ゴエン | HLL | 6 | ロクエン | LHHH |
| 7 | ななエン シチエン | LHLL | 8 | ハチエン | LHHH |
| 9 | キュウエン | HLLL | 10 | ジュウエン | HLLL |
| 14 | ジュウよエン | HL-HLL/HLLLL | 100 | ヒャクエン | LHHH |
| 1000 | センエン | LHHH | 10000 | イチマンエン | LHHHHH |
| ? | なんエン | HLLL |
Reading Note: 4 is read as よ3, as well as when it ends a larger number.
Counter phrases function as adverbial nouns. For instance, in “please give me 500 yen,” there will not necessarily be a case particle between “500 yen” and the verb for “to give” because the phrase “500 yen” may function as an adverb.
1. 五百円（を）ください。
Give me 500 yen.
Inserting the particle を is not grammatically incorrect, but its presence would cause the 500 yen to be viewed more as a material object. Other currency words like ドル (dollars) also function as counters. Not all counters can be used as standalone nouns like they can, but such counters will especially exhibit this dual adverb-noun functionality.
2. ５００ドル相当の円をください。
Please give me 500 dollars’ worth of yen.
Whenever a counter phrase is used in compound expressions or is followed by the particle の, that is a sign that it is being used as a noun. Conversely, if you do not see any case particles with a counter phrase, it is being used as an adverb.
3. 5円玉4を掻き集めました。
I scraped up five-yen coins.
4. きょう、1万円札を拾いました。
Today, I picked up a 10,000-yen bill.
5. 250円のお返しでございます。
Here is (your) 250 yen in change.
The Counter ～冊
The counter ～冊5 is used to count books, magazines, and other printed compilations.
| NO. | READING(S) | PITCH | NO. | READING(S) | PITCH |
| 1 | イッサツ | LHHH(L)※ | 2 | ニサツ | LHH |
| 3 | サンサツ | HLLL | 4 | よんサツ | HLLL |
| 5 | ゴサツ | HLL | 6 | ロクサツ | LHHH(L)※ |
| 7 | ななサツ | LHLL | 8 | ハッサツ | LHHH(L)※ |
| 9 | キュウサツ | HLLL | 10 | ジュッサツ ジッサツ | LHHH(L)※ |
| 14 | ジュウよんサツ | HL-HLLL/HLLLLL | 100 | ヒャクサツ | LHHH(L)※ |
| 1000 | センサツ | HLLL | 10000 | イチマンサツ | LHHHHH |
| ? | なんサツ | HLLL |
※An intonation with this mark becomes unaccented (flat = LHH…) when the expression is used adverbially.
6. 私は【本・雑誌・百科事典・ラノベ】が51冊あります。
I have 51 [books/magazines/encyclopedia/light novels].
7. （本を）６冊借りました。
I borrowed six books.
8. もう一冊読みました。
I read one more book.
9. テイラー君は（本を）何冊借りましたか？
How many books did you borrow, Taylor?
The Counter ～課
The counter 課 is used to count “lessons” as well as “divisions/departments.”
| NO. | READING(S) | PITCH | NO. | READING(S) | PITCH |
| 1 | イッカ | HLL | 2 | ニカ | HL |
| 3 | サンカ | HLLL | 4 | よんカ | HL |
| 5 | ゴカ | HL | 6 | ロッカ | HLL |
| 7 | ななカ | LHL | 8 | ハチカ | LHL |
| 9 | キュウカ | HLL | 10 | ジュッカ ジッカ | HLL |
| 14 | ジュウよんカ | LHHLL | 100 | ヒャッカ | HLL |
| 1000 | センカ | HLL | 10000 | イチマンカ | LHHHH |
| ? | なんカ | HLL |
10. 『いまび』という教材は５００課から構成されています。
The “IMABI” curriculum is composed of 500 lessons.
11. 1課分が範囲でした。
One lesson’s worth was the scope.
12. 第１課から順に進めることをお勧めします。
We recommend progressing in order from Lesson 1.
13. ほぼ2週間で1課を終えるように勧めたいと考えている。
I like to recommend that you try to complete 1 lesson in roughly 2 weeks.
14. 第８課を学習します。
We will study Lesson 8.
15. 営業（第）二課は変更（が）ありません。
There will be no changes to Sales Department No. 2.
Grammar Note: 第 is often included to mark an ordinal number, which means it is never understood as a quantity of “departments,” as it is most proper to refer to departments individually. When 課 is used to mean “lesson” and is not used with 第, it could either still refer to a particular lesson or a quantity of lessons.
課 & Its Synonyms
A written work may be broken up into chapters (章), units (単元), sections (セクション), or lessons (レッスン・課). These all function as counters, but there is no inherent difference between them in how much volume of content is indicated.
16. この教科書は第何課までありますか。
Up to what lesson is in this textbook?
17. この教科書には何セクションありますか。
How many sections are in this textbook?
18. その教科書にはいくつの単元がありますか。
How many units are in that textbook?
Grammar Note: “How many” is expressed with いくつ whenever a counter is not common enough to be used with the prefix 何～, especially in the spoken language.
The Counter ～歩
The counter ～歩 is used to count steps, physical or metaphorical ones.
| NO. | READING(S) | PITCH | NO. | READING(S) | PITCH |
| 1 | イッポ | HLL | 2 | ニホ | HL |
| 3 | サンポ サンボ | HLL | 4 | よんホ よんポ | HLL |
| 5 | ゴホ | HL | 6 | ロッポ | HLL |
| 7 | ななホ | LHL | 8 | ハッポ ハチホ | HLL LHL |
| 9 | キュウホ | HLL | 10 | ジュッポ ジッポ | HLL |
| 14 | ジュウよんホ ジュウよんポ | LHHL | 100 | ヒャッポ | HLL |
| 1000 | センポ | HLL | 10000 | イチマンポ | LHHHH |
| ? | なんポ なんボ | HLL |
19. 毎日5千歩くらい歩きます。
I walk about five thousand steps every day.
20. ｛一歩一歩・一歩ずつ｝進んでいきます。
I’m going to push forward one step at a time.
The Counter ～枚
The counter ～枚 is arguably the third most used counter in Japanese after ～つ and ～個 given the array of things that it can count. It is primarily used to count flat, thin objects. These objects may vary in shape to a degree, mostly being either circular or squarish but never bulky or cylindrical.
| NO. | READING(S) | PITCH | NO. | READING(S) | PITCH |
| 1 | イチマイ | LHLL | 2 | ニマイ | HLL |
| 3 | サンマイ | HLLL | 4 | よんマイ | HLLL |
| 5 | ゴマイ | LHH | 6 | ロクマイ | LHLL |
| 7 | ななマイ | LHLL | 8 | ハチマイ | LHLL |
| 9 | キュウマイ | HLLL | 10 | ジュウマイ | HLLL |
| 14 | ジュウよんマイ | LHHLLL | 100 | ヒャクマイ | LHLL |
| 1000 | センマイ | HLLL | 10000 | イチマンマイ | LHHHHH |
| ? | なんマイ | HLLL |
Things that are perceived as being flat that are counted with ～枚 include: pieces of paper, pictures, paintings, photographs, windows, mats, cutting boards, rugs, CDs, DVDs, cash, towels, handkerchiefs, shirts, mattresses, filets of fish, etc.
21. 海外旅行にクレジットカードを何枚持っていけばいい？
How many credit cards is best to have on you when you go traveling overseas?
22. シャツが3枚あります。
There are three shirts.
23. 公園には標識が5枚あります。
There are five signs in the park.
24. 絵を一枚描いてみました。
I tried drawing one picture.
25.１０枚セットのお皿のうち、一枚だけヒビがあります。
In a set of ten plates, only one has cracks in it.
26. 鯖（サバ）を三枚におろしました。
I fileted the mackerel into three pieces.
27. 昼ご飯にホットケーキを8枚食べたせいで、気分が悪いんです。
I don’t feel good because of the eight pancakes I ate for lunch.
28. ACMEのCDを２枚買いました。
I bought 2 CDs of ACME.
29. 今お財布には五百円玉が4枚入っています。
There are four 500-yen coins currently in my wallet.
Counter Note: ～枚 is generally interchangeable with～個 when counting coins, but when size is of importance, the former is preferred for larger coins such as the 500-yen coin and the latter is used for smaller coins.
Aside from flat objects, ～枚 may also count positions/roles in set phrases. This is so much so that in kabuki theatre, actors may even be counted with it because at one time their faces were painted on billboards. This brought about the phrases 一枚目 (the main actor), 二枚目 (handsome actor (in a love scene)), and 三枚目 (actor who serves a comedic role or as the laughing stock).
30. あの隊員は、陰謀に一枚噛んでいることが判明した。
It was confirmed that that troop member had been involved in the conspiracy.
Other minor things that may be counted with ～枚 that are tied to these main meanings include the following:
- Fish (that are flat in shape)
- Sumo ranks below komusubi
- (Rice paddy) fields
- Imperial court (singing) performers
- Palanquin bearers
- Servings of gyoza/yakisoba, etc.
- Large monetary gold/silver plates
31. 隣の漁師さんはヒラメを1枚釣ったらしいです。
It seems like the fisherman next to (me/us) has caught a flounder.
32. 十両は基本的に、勝ち越し一つにつき1枚上がる。
Principally, junior-grade sumo wrestlers go up in rank by one with each lead.
33. 田一枚植えて立ち去る柳かな。
They sowed a whole field, and only then did I leave (Saigyô’s) willow tree.
Famous Saying by 松尾芭蕉.
34. 餃子一枚お願いします。
One serving of gyoza, please.
The Counter ～匹
The counter ～匹 is used to count small to medium-sized animals such as dogs, cats, ferrets, monkeys, insects, reptiles, amphibians, robot animals, monsters, people acting like animals, and fish that are notably still alive.
| NO. | READING(S) | PITCH | NO. | READING(S) | PITCH |
| 1 | イッピキ | LHHH(L)※ | 2 | ニヒキ | HLL |
| 3 | サンビキ | HLLL | 4 | よんヒキ | HLLL |
| 5 | ゴヒキ | HLL | 6 | ロッピキ ロクヒキ | LHLL LHLL |
| 7 | ななヒキ | LHLL | 8 | ハッピキ ハチヒキ | LHLL LHLL |
| 9 | キュウヒキ | HLLL | 10 | ジュッピキ ジッピキ | LHHH(L)※ |
| 14 | ジュウよんヒキ | LHHLLL | 100 | ヒャッピキ | LHHH(L)※ |
| 1000 | センビキ | HLLL | 10000 | イチマンビキ | LHHHHH |
| ? | なんビキ | HLLL |
※An intonation with this mark becomes unaccented (flat = LHH…) when the expression is used adverbially.
Orthography Note: In older writing, this counter may also be seen written as ～疋.
35. この家には犬が10匹、猫が5匹います。
There are ten dogs and five cats in this house.
36. 子猫6匹と暮らしています。
I am living with 6 kittens.
37. うちはチビが１匹いるから、高級レストランは難しいな。
I have a little brat at home, so fancy restaurants are pretty tough.
38. フシギダネを４匹捕まえた。
I caught four Bulbasaur.
39. ケイトさんはフェレットを二匹飼っています。
Kate owns two ferrets.
～匹 can even count viruses, both biological and virtual ones. However,～個 is the normal counter in these situations.
40. ウイルスが百匹【の・である】時期は、まず陽性には出ません。
During the time you have 100 copies of the virus, firstly, you won’t show up positive.
The Counter ～頭
Large-sized animals are generally counted with ～頭. Think “heads” of cattle as a decent metric for whether an animal should be counted with it. It must be noted that this counter has considerable overlap with ～匹.
| NO. | READING(S) | PITCH | NO. | READING(S) | PITCH |
| 1 | イットウ | HLLL | 2 | ニトウ | HLL |
| 3 | サントウ | HLLL | 4 | よんトウ | HLLL |
| 5 | ゴトウ | HLL | 6 | ロクトウ | LHLL |
| 7 | ななトウ | LHLL | 8 | ハットウ ハチトウ | HLLL LHLL |
| 9 | キュウトウ | HLLL | 10 | ジュットウ ジットウ | HLLL |
| 14 | ジュウよんトウ | LHHLLL | 100 | ヒャクトウ | LHLL |
| 1000 | セントウ | HLLL | 10000 | イチマントウ | LHHHHH |
| ? | なんトウ | HLLL |
～頭 is often preferred over ～匹 in formal, academic settings or situations in which a person does not wish to be unnecessarily derisive when counting said animal. If there is some sort of value in said animal, it will most likely be counted with ～頭 regardless of the size of the animal. Even butterflies can be counted with ～頭.
41. イルカが3頭います。
There are three dolphins.
42. ヒョウが4頭います。
There are four leopards.
43. パンダが8頭います。
There are eight pandas.
44. この動物園には北極熊が六頭います。
There are six polar bears at this zoo.
45. 港で一頭の鯨を観察しました。
I observed one whale in the harbor.
In the same sense as “head” of cattle, livestock animals are often counted with ～頭. The same can be said for tuna and similar fish that can reach large sizes but are conceptualized also as being foodstuffs.
46. マグロ１頭からわずかしかとれない「ほほ肉」や「脳天」を召し上がっていただけます。
You’re able to dine on parts that only a small amount can be taken from a single tuna such as the “cheek meat” and “head meat.”
47. 彼は百頭近くの羊を所有するプロの羊飼いだ。
He is a professional shepherd who owns around 100 sheep.
48. 物凄く大きいジンベエザメ１頭が海岸で漂着しているのが見つかった。
A tremendously large whale shark was discovered washed ashore on the coast.
The Counter ～足
The kanji 足 means “foot,” and although it is the ON reading ソク that is used as a counter, this counter is used to count pairs of footwear: shoes, boots, slippers, socks, geta, skates, etc.
| NO. | READING(S) | PITCH | NO. | READING(S) | PITCH |
| 1 | イッソク | LHHH(L) | 2 | ニソク | HLL |
| 3 | サンゾク サンソク | HLLL | 4 | よんソク | HLLL |
| 5 | ゴソク | HLL | 6 | ロクソク | LHHH(L) |
| 7 | ななソク | LHLL | 8 | ハッソク | LHHH(L) |
| 9 | キュウソク | HLLL | 10 | ジュッソク ジッソク | LHHH(L) |
| 14 | ジュウよんソク | LHHLLL | 100 | ヒャクソク | LHLL |
| 1000 | センゾク センソク | HLLL | 10000 | イチマンゾク イチマンソク | LHHHHH |
| ? | なんゾク なんソク | HLLL |
49. 靴を1足買いました。
I bought one pair of shoes.
50. サンダルが2足あります。
[There are/I have] two pairs of sandals.
51. 下駄は今も5足あります。
I still have five pairs of geta.
The Counter ～台
The counter ～台 is used to count mechanical objects of any size and kind. If it is a man-made appliance, it is counted with it. This includes vehicles, bicycles, pianos, TVs, computers, cellphones, tablets, lawnmowers, etc.
| NO. | READING(S) | PITCH | NO. | READING(S) | PITCH |
| 1 | イチダイ | LHLL | 2 | ニダイ | HLL |
| 3 | サンダイ | HLLL | 4 | よんダイ | HLLL |
| 5 | ゴダイ | LHH | 6 | ロクダイ | LHLL |
| 7 | ななダイ | LHLL | 8 | ハチダイ | LHLL |
| 9 | キュウダイ | HLLL | 10 | ジュウダイ | HLLL |
| 14 | ジュウよんダイ | LHHLLL | 100 | ヒャクダイ | LHLL |
| 1000 | センダイ | HLLL | 10000 | イチマンダイ | LHHHHH |
| ? | なんダイ | HLLL |
52. 日本国内には車は何台ありますか。
How many cars are there in Japan?
53. この2台のPCを繋ぎます。
I’m going to connect these two PCs.
54. 端末を10台発送しました。
I shipped ten devices.
The Counter ～階
The counter ～階 is used to count floors. In Japanese, the ground floor is equivalent to 一階 (first floor) and basement floors follow the same pattern with “B1” in American English equating to 地下一階.
| NO. | READING(S) | PITCH | NO. | READING(S) | PITCH |
| 1 | イッカイ | LHHH | 2 | ニカイ | LHH |
| 3 | サンガイ サンカイ | LHHH LHHH | 4 | よんカイ | LHHH |
| 5 | ゴカイ | LHH | 6 | ロッカイ | LHHH |
| 7 | ななカイ | LHHH | 8 | ハチカイ ハッカイ | LHHH |
| 9 | キュウカイ | LHHH | 10 | ジュッカイ ジッカイ | LHHH |
| 14 | ジュウよんカイ | LHHHHH | 100 | ヒャッカイ | LHHH |
| 1000 | センガイ センカイ | LHHH | 10000 | イチマンガイ イチマンカイ | LHHHHH |
| ? | なんガイ なんカイ | LHHH |
55. 花屋は3階にあります。
The florist is on the third floor.
56. マンションの4階に住んでいます。
I live on Floor 4 of an apartment complex.
To refer to a building (structure in the greater sense, e.g. buses, ships, etc.) of “#-stories,” the suffix ～建て6 is added to ～階.
57. この建物は何階建てですか。
How many stories is this building?
58. 二階建てのバスからの景色は最高でした。
The scenery from the double-decker bus was the best.
The Counter ～歳・才
The kanji 歳 means “year,” or more specifically the time it takes the Earth to revolve around the Sun, emphasizing the flowing of time. This is why the kanji is associated with annual events in the words it creates. When used as a counter, ～歳 counts “years old” for living things.
| NO. | READING(S) | PITCH | NO. | READING(S) | PITCH |
| 1 | イッサイ | HLLL | 2 | ニサイ | HLL |
| 3 | サンサイ | HLLL | 4 | よんサイ | HLLL |
| 5 | ゴサイ | HLL | 6 | ロクサイ | LHLL |
| 7 | ななサイ | LHLL | 8 | ハッサイ | HLLL |
| 9 | キュウサイ | HLLL | 10 | ジュッサイ ジッサイ | HLLL |
| 14 | ジュウよんサイ | LHHLLL | 100 | ヒャクサイ | LHLL |
| ? | なんサイ | HLLL |
The word はたち stands out as being particularly exceptional, being the native phrase for “twenty-years-old” which has survived into the present. The reason for its preservation is due to 20 traditionally being viewed as the age in which one enters adulthood, although in modern times, this age is gradually being changed to 18 to match with other Western countries.
Orthography Note: This counter may also be written as 才, which may be confusing given that this kanji has no meaning associated with “year” or “age.” However, the original abbreviation for 歳—戈 without the final stroke—greatly resembles 才.
59. 18歳の未成年が3人います。
There are three minors aged 18.
60. 80歳のおばさんも参加しました。
An eighty-year old lady also participated.
61a. 何歳ですか。
61b. おいくつですか。
How old are you?
Grammar Note: 61b is the way to say “how old are you?” with native vocabulary, and it is considered politer than 61a.
Unless personification is involved, the age of inanimate objects is not expressed with this counter but with “X年物.” As for the age of structures, this is usually expressed with 築X年.
62. 友達の家に八年物のウイスキーがある。
There is eight-year-old whiskey at my friend’s house.
63. 築百年の古民家を買って修復しました。
I bought and reformed a 100-year-old, old-style Japanese house.
The Counter ～杯
The kanji 杯 has the literal meaning of “cup,” and when it is used as a counter, it counts liquid in cups/bowls/glasses. For instance, it counts glasses of water, milk, beer, cocktails, tea, coffee, etc. It also counts bowls of rice, noodles, curry, etc.
Additionally, it may even count squid, crabs, octopuses, and cuttlefish. Although rare, it may also be extended to (small) ships.
| NO. | READING(S) | PITCH | NO. | READING(S) | PITCH |
| 1 | イッパイ | HLLL | 2 | ニハイ | HLL |
| 3 | サンバイ | HLLL | 4 | よんハイ | HLLL |
| 5 | ゴハイ | HLL | 6 | ロッパイ ロクハイ | HLLL LHLL |
| 7 | ななハイ シチハイ | LHLL | 8 | ハッパイ ハチハイ | HLLL LHLL |
| 9 | キュウハイ | HLLL | 10 | ジュッパイ ジッパイ | HLLL |
| 14 | ジュウよんハイ | LHHLLL | 100 | ヒャッパイ | HLLL |
| 1000 | センバイ | HLLL | 10000 | イチマンバイ | LHHHHH |
| ? | なんバイ | HLLL |
64. コーヒーを一杯飲みました。
I drank a cup of coffee.
65. イカ１杯の重さを量りました。
I measured the weight of one squid.
66. 地元のカニを２杯使いました。
I used two local crabs.
67. 大型のタコを３杯も釣りました！
I caught three large octopuses!
68. 普通の茶碗一杯のご飯の量は約150グラムです。
The amount of rice in an average bowlful is approximately 150 grams.
As an adverb, 一杯 can be used to mean “to the max,” “a lot,” etc., indicating that something is being done to a full extent.
69. 精一杯頑張りましょう！
Let’s put out our best effort!
The Counter ～本
The counter ～本 is most known for counting long, thin items such as pencils, strings, roads, rivers, flutes, film, etc., but it can count so much more. Other things it counts include: movies, plays, phone calls, home runs, projects, software products, sports plays, etc.
| NO. | READING(S) | PITCH | NO. | READING(S) | PITCH |
| 1 | イッポン | HLLL | 2 | ニホン | HLL |
| 3 | サンボン | HLLL | 4 | よんホン | HLLL |
| 5 | ゴホン | HLL | 6 | ロッポン ロクホン | HLLL LHLL |
| 7 | ななホン | LHLL | 8 | ハッポン ハチホン | HLLL LHLL |
| 9 | キュウホン | HLLL | 10 | ジュッポン ジッポン | HLLL |
| 14 | ジュウよんホン | LHHLLL | 100 | ヒャッポン | HLLL |
| 1000 | センボン | HLLL | 10000 | イチマンボン | LHHHHH |
| ? | なんボン | HLLL |
70. 鉛筆を3本取ってください。
Please take three pencils.
71. 道一本隔てた寺に参拝しました。
I visited a temple a road away.
72. アニメを10本見ました。
I watched ten anime.
73. 彼は指を5本折った。
He broke five fingers.
The Counter ～個
The counter ～個 can be viewed as the Sino-Japanese generic counter, equivalent in scope to the native version ～つ but including items that it exclusively counts as well such as small, round objects. Of course, since it is a generic counter, it can count things of all sorts of sizes.
| NO. | READING(S) | PITCH | NO. | READING(S) | PITCH |
| 1 | イッコ | HLL | 2 | ニコ | HL |
| 3 | サンコ | HLL | 4 | よんコ | HLL |
| 5 | ゴコ | HL | 6 | ロッコ | LHL |
| 7 | ななコ | LHL | 8 | ハチコ ハッコ | LHL HLL |
| 9 | キュウコ | HLL | 10 | ジュッコ ジッコ | HLL |
| 14 | ジュウよんコ | LHHLL | 100 | ヒャッコ | HLL |
| 1000 | センコ | HLL | 10000 | イチマンコ | LHHHH |
| ? | なんコ | HLL |
Because ～個 is used so generically, you may get the false impression that other counters do not exist for various things. To alleviate this, other possible counters will be shown in tandem with it in the examples below. Note that any counter shown that has not been formally introduced may be left for future study.
74. 積み木は何個ありますか。
How many building blocks are there?
75. 時計は何個ありますか。
How many watches are there/do you have?
Counter Note: For arm watches (腕時計), the counters ～個 and ～本 can be used. For alarm clocks (目覚まし時計), the counter ～個 is used. For wall clocks (柱時計) or those that hang on the wall (掛け時計), ～個 and ～台 can be used.
76. 四角が10個あります。
There are ten squares.
77. ピアスの穴は何個ありますか。
How many pierces do you have?
78. 夢は100個あります。
I have a hundred dreams.
79. 整数は全部で何個ありますか。
How many integers are there in total?
80. 今朝、卵を｛3個・3つ｝食べました。
I ate three eggs this morning.
81. リンゴを｛1個・ひと玉｝買いました。
I bought one apple.
82. 白い玉が2個あります。
There are two white balls/beads.
83. 荷物は何個ですか。
How many parcels/bags do you have?
84. 新しい製品が｛1万個・1万品｝あります。
There are ten thousand new products.
85. 牛には胃が｛4個・4つ｝もあります。
A cow has four stomachs.
86. 人間には細胞が｛何個・いくつ｝ありますか。
How many cells does a human have?
87. ｛1個下 ・1歳下・ひとつ下 ｝の彼氏がいます。
I have a boyfriend who is one year younger.
88. ジョウロが｛5個・5本｝あります。
There are five watering cans.
89. 風船が｛1個・1枚・1本｝あります。
There is one balloon.
Counter Note: When not inflated, balloons are counted with ～枚. When balloons are shaped in long, cylindrical shapes, they may be counted with ～本, but typically for inflated balloons, use ～個.
90. クモの巣が｛5個・5つ｝あります。
There are five spider webs.
91. ジャガイモが｛4個・4つ｝あります。
There are four potatoes.
The Counter ～人
The counter ～人 is used to count people. For the numbers 1-2, the native expressions are still used. You will also note that シチ for 7 and ク for 9 are preferred with it. Also, よ for 4 is used.
| NO. | READING(S) | PITCH | NO. | READING(S) | PITCH |
| 1 | ひとり | LHL | 2 | ふたり | LHH※ |
| 3 | サンニン | LHHL※ | 4 | よニン | LHL※ |
| 5 | ゴニン | LHL※ | 6 | ロクニン | LHLL |
| 7 | シチニン ななニン | LHLL LHLL | 8 | ハチニン | LHLL |
| 9 | クニン キュウニン | LHL HLLL | 10 | ジュウニン | HLLL |
| 14 | ジュウよニン | LHHLL※ | 100 | ヒャクニン | LHLL |
| 1000 | センニン | HLLL | 10000 | イチマンニン | LHHHHH |
| ? | なんニン | HLLL |
※An intonation with this mark becomes unaccented (flat = LHH…) when the expression is used adverbially.
92. 佐藤さんと田中さんの二人に会いました。
I met two people, Sato-san and Tanaka-san.
93. ママ（は）近くにいるから一人でも大丈夫でしょ？
Mommy will be nearby, so you should be OK by yourself, right?
94. １０人が怪我をしています。
Ten people are injured.
95. 兄弟は何人いますか。
How many siblings do you have?
Rules of Thumb For Contractions
The sound changes seen throughout this lesson can be summarized as follows:
| Number | Sound Change |
| 1 | For counters starting with /k/, /s/, /t/, or /h/, イチ → イッ. |
| 3 | Counters starting with /s/, /sh/, or /k/ may become voiced to [z], [j], and [g] respectively. Counters starting with /h/ may similarly become [b]/[p] with [p] being far more common. |
| 4 | Counters starting with /h/ may become [b]/[p]. |
| 8 | For counters starting with /k/, /s/, /t/, or /h/, ハチ → ハッ |
| 10 | For counters starting with /k/, /s/, /t/, or /h/, ジュウ → ジュッ・ジッ. ジッ is deemed most proper. |
| 100 | For counters starting with /k/ or /h/, ヒャク → ヒャッ. |
| 1000 | Counters starting with /k/ and /h/ occasionally become voiced to [g] and [b] respectively, though this is falling out of use. |
| 10000 | Counters starting with /k/ and /h/ occasionally become voiced to [g] and [b] respectively, though this is falling out of use. |
※Counters starting with /h/ are starting to see the loss of their sound changes.
- Obsolete readings are not listed. ↩︎
- On older money, you will find 円 spelled as 圓, which is its older kanji form. ↩︎
- よ is actually the original pronunciation of the native number for 4, but it is no longer heard when the number is used as a standalone noun. ↩︎
- Five-yen coins, 五円玉, are seen as good luck when donating change (お賽銭) to shrines, which stems from how 五円 is homophonous with ご縁 (fate), albeit with different intonations – 五円（HLL）ご縁（LHL）. ↩︎
- The kanji 冊, originally written as 册, is a pictograph of bamboo tablets bound by string. ↩︎
- This suffix derives from the 連用形 of the verb 建てる (to build (a structure)), lending the meaning of “built.” ↩︎