{"id":27427,"date":"2020-09-05T15:00:33","date_gmt":"2020-09-05T15:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/?p=27427"},"modified":"2023-05-12T13:19:51","modified_gmt":"2023-05-12T13:19:51","slug":"basic-japanese-counters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/blog\/basic-japanese-counters\/","title":{"rendered":"A beginner\u2019s guide to basic Japanese counters"},"content":{"rendered":"

Each language has its own way of counting things and in Japanese, there are literally hundreds of different counters. A counter is a word that describes a thing that you are counting, for example people, time, animals, and so on.<\/p>\n

As a beginner Japanese language student, it might seem incredibly overwhelming to learn that there are so many counters, each with their own specific application. But, you\u2019ll be glad to know that you can easily get by in day-to-day life without knowing all of them.<\/p>\n

Read on to learn more about the counting system in Japanese and basic Japanese counters.<\/p>\n

Basic numbers and counting<\/b><\/h2>\n

Basic numbers and counting in Japanese is fairly straightforward. Take a look at our chart with Japanese numbers 1 to 10, with both native Japanese, or wago<\/i> \u548c\u8a9e, and Sino-Japanese, or kango<\/i> \u6f22\u8a9e, readings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Number<\/strong><\/td>\nKanji<\/strong><\/td>\nSino-Japanese<\/strong><\/td>\nNative Japanese<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\n\u4e00<\/td>\nIchi\u00a0 \u3044\u3061<\/td>\nHitotsu \u3072\u3068\u3064<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\n\u4e8c<\/td>\nNi \u306b<\/td>\nFutatsu \u3075\u305f\u3064<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\n\u4e09<\/td>\nSan \u3055\u3093<\/td>\nMittsu \u307f\u3063\u3064<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\n\u56db<\/td>\nShi \u3057\u3001Yon \u3088\u3093<\/td>\nYottsu\u3088\u3063\u3064<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\n\u4e94<\/td>\nGo \u3054<\/td>\nItsutsu \u3044\u3064\u3064<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\n\u516d<\/td>\nRoku \u308d\u304f<\/td>\nMuttsu \u3080\u3063\u3064<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\n\u4e03<\/td>\nShichi \u3057\u3061\u3001Nana \u306a\u306a<\/td>\nNanatsu \u306a\u306a\u3064<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\n\u516b<\/td>\nHachi \u306f\u3061<\/td>\nYattsu \u3084\u3063\u3064<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\n\u4e5d<\/td>\nKu \u304f\u3001Ky\u016b \u304d\u3085\u3046<\/td>\nKokonotsu \u3053\u3053\u306e\u3064<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\n\u5341<\/td>\nJ\u016b \u3058\u3085\u3046<\/td>\nT\u014d \u3068\u3046<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

There are a couple of points to note:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. You only use the native Japanese readings for numbers up to 10 and they do not require a counter word. Therefore, this makes them universal counters<\/b> which you can use to count most things, except for people, money and time.<\/li>\n
  2. The Sino-Japanese reading of numbers always requires a counter and since it is used for reading numbers beyond 10, the Sino-Japanese reading is used more often.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Counting larger numbers<\/b><\/h2>\n

    Of course, you can count much larger numbers in Japanese as well. Here are some of our tips!<\/p>\n

    Counting up to 100 is very simple once you understand how to compound the numbers: count the 10s and then add the next number. For example:
    “11” is one 10 plus 1, so it becomes \u201cj\u016b-ichi\u201d
    “25” is two 10s plus 5, so it\u2019s \u201cnij\u016b-go\u201d
    “35” is three 10s plus 5, so it\u2019s \u201csanj\u016b-go\u201d and so on.<\/p>\n

    As you continue going up, you keep following this pattern except for numbers like 100 (\u767e, hyaku<\/i>), 1000 (\u5343, \u305b\u3093) and 10,000 (\u4e00\u4e07, ichiman<\/i>), which all have their own words.<\/p>\n

    For example, the number 5750 is made up of five 1000s plus seven 100s plus five 10s, which makes it \u201cgo-sen-nana-hyaku-go-j\u016b\u201d<\/p>\n

    Important to note is that for numbers 10 to 1000, you don\u2019t say \u201cichi\u201d if the number begins with 1. For example, 1500 is not \u201cichi-sen-go-hyaku\u201d. It\u2019s simply \u201csen-go-hyaku\u201d. Similarly, 150 is pronounced \u201chyaku-go-j\u016b\u201d and not \u201cichi-hyaku-go-j\u016b\u201d.<\/p>\n

    For the even larger numbers like 100,000 and 1,000,000, you need to think of it in terms of how many \u4e07, or \u201cman\u201d, there are. For example, if 10,000 is one \u4e07, then 100,000 is ten \u4e07. This means you say 100,000 as \u201cj\u016b-man\u201d.<\/p>\n

    One million is 100 \u4e07, so in Japanese \u201cone million\u201d becomes \u201chyaku-man\u201d.<\/p>\n

    \"6<\/p>\n

    Basic Japanese counters<\/b><\/h2>\n

    While you can get by just fine using the universal counters, knowing how to use other counters is an important part of learning Japanese. If you have been studying the language, you probably will have learnt some of these already without even realising it.<\/p>\n

    Ko<\/i><\/b> (\u500b, \u3053)<\/b><\/h3>\n

    After the universal counters, \u500b is probably the next most useful basic Japanese counter word. It is generally used to count small objects, such as pieces of fruit e.g.<\/p>\n

    I ate one Mikan orange
    <\/b>\u307f\u304b\u3093\u3092\u4e00\u500b\u98df\u3079\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002
    Mikan o i-ko tabemashita<\/i>.<\/p>\n

    Note: <\/b>most times you shorten \u201cichi\u201d to \u201ci\u201d when it comes before a counter, so it\u2019s \u201ci-ko\u201d not \u201cichi ko\u201d here.<\/p>\n

    Things like clouds, empty containers, typhoons, planets and bacteria are also counted using \u500b.<\/p>\n

    Nin<\/i><\/b> (\u4eba, \u306b\u3093)<\/b><\/h3>\n

    This is the counter for people, except if there is just one person, or if there are two people. For one person, you say hitori<\/i> (\u4e00\u4eba, \u3072\u3068\u308a) and for two, you say futari<\/i> (\u4e8c\u4eba, \u3075\u305f\u308a).<\/p>\n

    For other numbers, you just say the number plus the counter e.g.<\/p>\n

    Three people
    <\/b>\u4e09\u4eba (\u3055\u3093\u306b\u3093)
    Sannin<\/i><\/p>\n

    Four people
    <\/b>\u56db\u4eba (\u3088\u306b\u3093)
    Yonin<\/i><\/p>\n

    Note that usually \u56db is pronounced \u201cyon\u201d, but here you don\u2019t pronounced the \u201cn\u201d sound. You also never say \u201cshinin\u201d.<\/p>\n

    Hiki<\/i><\/b> (\u5339, \u3072\u304d)<\/b><\/h3>\n

    This is the counter you use for small to medium size animals such as cats, dogs, fish, insects, but also monsters and made-up creatures. For larger animals, you use the counter t\u014d<\/i> (\u982d, \u3068\u3046).<\/p>\n

    I have one cat, two dogs and three rabbits
    <\/b>\u732b\u3092\uff11\u5339, \u72ac\u3092\uff12\u5339\u3068\u3046\u3055\u304e\u3092\uff13\u5339\u98fc\u3063\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002
    Neko o ippiki, inu o ni-hiki to usagi san-biki katte imasu.<\/i><\/p>\n

    Note the pronunciation changes that occur here, where \u201chiki” becomes \u201cpiki\u201d or \u201cbiki\u201d depending on the number in front of it. Other numbers where the pronunciation changes are:<\/p>\n

    6<\/b> = roppiki<\/i>, \u308d\u3063\u3074\u304d
    8<\/b> = happiki<\/i>, \u306f\u3063\u3074\u304d
    10<\/b> = juppiki<\/i>, \u3058\u3085\u3063\u3074\u304d
    100<\/b> = hyappiki<\/i>, \u3072\u3083\u3063\u3074\u304d
    1000<\/b> = senbiki<\/i>, \u305b\u3093\u3073\u304d
    10,000<\/b> = ichimanbiki<\/i>, \u3044\u3061\u307e\u3093\u3073\u304d<\/p>\n

    This can be extremely confusing for beginners, especially because there are other words that do this as well. But trust us, it does get easier the more you practise and it will become more natural the longer you learn Japanese, especially if you spend time living in Japan.<\/p>\n

    En<\/i><\/b> (\u5186, \u3048\u3093)<\/b><\/h3>\n

    This is the counter for money e.g.<\/p>\n

    100 yen
    <\/b>100\u5186 (\u767e\u5186) , \u3072\u3083\u304f \u3048\u3093
    Hyaku-en<\/i><\/p>\n

    1000 yen
    <\/b>1000\u5186 (\u5343\u5186), \u305b\u3093\u3048\u3093
    Sen-en<\/i><\/p>\n

    10,000 yen
    <\/b>10,000\u5186 (\u4e00\u4e07\u5186), \u3044\u3061\u307e\u3093\u3048\u3093
    Ichiman-en<\/i><\/p>\n

    Ji <\/i><\/b>(\u6642), <\/b>Fun\/Pun (<\/i><\/b>\u5206), <\/b>Nen<\/i><\/b> (\u5e74), etc<\/b><\/h3>\n

    These are counters for units of time. These include:<\/p>\n

    Second <\/b>= by\u014d<\/i> \u79d2, \u3073\u3087\u3046
    Minute<\/b> = fun\/pun<\/i> \u5206, \u3075\u3093\/\u3077\u3093
    Hour<\/b> = ji<\/i> \u6642, \u3058
    Day<\/b> = nichi\/ka<\/i> \u65e5, \u306b\u3061\/\u304b
    Week<\/b> = sh\u016bkan<\/i> \u9031\u9593, \u3057\u3085\u3046\u304b\u3093
    Month<\/b> = getsu<\/i> \u6708, \u3052\u3064
    Year<\/b> = nen<\/i> \u5e74, \u306d\u3093<\/p>\n

    A note about \u65e5: <\/b>you can use this to count the actual number of days and you can also use this to talk about the calendar days. But, you say \u201cnichi\u201d for when you\u2019re counting days and \u201cka\u201d for the calendar days. For example:<\/p>\n

    Two days, the second day of the month<\/b>
    <\/b>\u4e8c\u65e5 (\u3075\u3064\u304b)
    Futsuka<\/i><\/p>\n

    Note that when you get to days beyond ten, you use \u201cnichi\u201d e.g.<\/p>\n

    The 15th day of the month
    <\/b>\u5341\u4e94\u65e5 (\u3058\u3085\u3046\u3054\u306b\u3061)
    J\u016bgo-nichi<\/i><\/p>\n

    You also need to remember that the first and 20th days of the month have their own unique pronunciations:<\/p>\n

    First day of the month
    <\/b>\u4e00\u65e5 (\u3064\u3044\u305f\u3061)
    Tsuitachi<\/i><\/p>\n

    The 20th day of the month
    <\/b>\u4e8c\u5341\u65e5 (\u306f\u3064\u304b)
    Hatsuka<\/i><\/p>\n

    Be careful also of the reading for the 8th day of the month, which is y\u014d<\/i>ka<\/i>, \u3088\u3046\u304b, even though the native Japanese reading of 8 is \u201cyattsu\u201d.<\/p>\n

    Again, don\u2019t worry if this is all a bit confusing. It will become easier the more you learn Japanese. Just take the time to practise it!<\/p>\n

    Hon<\/i><\/b> (\u672c, \u307b\u3093)<\/b><\/h3>\n

    This is the counter for long objects, such as pens, bottles and chopsticks. It\u2019s also the counter for train tracks, rivers and umbrellas.<\/p>\n

    Note that even though the word \u672c means \u201cbook\u201d in Japanese, this is not the counter you use to count books (more on that later).<\/p>\n

    You simply say the number of the object plus \u201chon\u201d, except<\/strong> if the number ends in 3, 1, 6, 8 or 10<\/b>. The number 3 is followed by \u201cbon\u201d, while 1, 6, 8 and 10 are followed by \u201cpon\u201d.<\/p>\n

    Satsu<\/i><\/b> (\u518a, \u3055\u3064)<\/b><\/h3>\n

    This is the counter for all things book-related: books, notepads, magazines, booklets, dictionaries and so on.<\/p>\n

    I bought two Murakami novels yesterday.
    <\/b>\u6628\u65e5\u6751\u4e0a\u306e\u5c0f\u8aac\u3092\u4e8c\u518a\u8cb7\u3044\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002
    Kino,<\/em> Murakami no shousetsu wo ni satsu kaimashita.<\/i><\/p>\n

    Mai<\/i><\/b> (\u679a, \u307e\u3044)<\/b><\/h3>\n

    Use this counter for flat, thin objects like pieces of paper and tickets. It can also be used to count clothing like pants and shirts, as well as walls and single servings of soba.<\/p>\n

    For example:<\/p>\n

    (Buying tickets at a booth) Two tickets, please
    <\/b>\u4e8c\u679a\u304a\u9858\u3044\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002
    Ni mai onegaishimasu<\/i><\/p>\n

    Kai<\/i><\/b> (\u56de, \u304b\u3044)<\/b><\/h3>\n

    This is used to count the frequency that something happens. In English, this would translate to \u201ctimes\u201d e.g.<\/p>\n

    I have been to Japan three times
    <\/b>\u65e5\u672c\u306b\u4e09\u56de\u884c\u3063\u305f\u3053\u3068\u304c\u3042\u308a\u307e\u3059\u3002
    Nihon ni san kai itta koto ga arimasu<\/i>.<\/p>\n

    You can also use it to count rotations\/revolutions.<\/p>\n

    Note that \u968e, which is a counter for floors of a building, is also read as kai<\/i>. Pay attention to the kanji and context to understand which word is being used.<\/p>\n

    Soku<\/i><\/b> (\u8db3, \u305d\u304f)<\/b><\/h3>\n

    The kanji for this counter means \u201cfoot\u201d or \u201cleg\u201d, so we use this as a counter for pairs of shoes, slippers, socks, ice skates etc.<\/p>\n

    I have six pairs of socks
    <\/b>\u9774\u4e0b\u304c\u516d\u8db3\u3042\u308a\u307e\u3059\u3002
    Kutsushita ga roku soku arimasu.<\/i><\/p>\n

    When using it with 3, you pronounce it as \u201czoku\u201d not \u201csoku\u201d e.g.<\/p>\n

    I have three pairs of shoes
    <\/b>\u9774\u304c\u4e09\u8db3\u3042\u308a\u307e\u3059\u3002
    Kutsu ga san zoku arimasu.<\/i><\/p>\n

    When you use it with 8 or 10, it becomes \u201cha-ssoku\u201d and \u201cju-ssoku\u201d and not \u201chachi soku\u201d or \u201cj\u016b soku\u201d.<\/p>\n

    Unique counters<\/b><\/h2>\n

    Of the hundreds of counters in Japanese, there are plenty that are less common in daily use, but are still very interesting to learn about.<\/p>\n

    Hira<\/i><\/b> (\u7247, \u3072\u3089)<\/b> – used to count small flat things that flutter such as petals and snowflakes.<\/p>\n

    Ho<\/i><\/b> (\u8217, \u307b) <\/b>– mostly used for counting maps.<\/p>\n

    Rin<\/i><\/b> (\u9c57, \u308a\u3093)<\/b> – used to count fish scales. Also used to count fish if you\u2019re feeling fancy.<\/p>\n

    Ki<\/i><\/b> (\u9a0e, \u304d)<\/b> – counter for warriors on horseback.<\/p>\n

    T\u014d (\u76d7, \u3068\u3046)<\/b> – used for counting steals of bases in baseball. The counter for bases in baseball is rui<\/i> (\u5841, \u308b\u3044).<\/p>\n

    Bi<\/i><\/b> (\u5c3e, \u3073)<\/b> – counter for fish and crustaceans with fins or tails. Usually used by fishermen and staff at pet stores to talk about how many fish they have for sale. Not usually used by customers buying fish.<\/p>\n

    Mori <\/i><\/b>(\u76db\/\u76db\u308a, \u3082\u308a) <\/b>– used to count piles, usually of food such as a bowl of oranges, baskets of fruit, etc.<\/p>\n

    R\u014d<\/i><\/b> (\u6d6a, \u308d\u3046)<\/b> – counter for the number of years someone has been studying to pass university entrance exams after they have already failed once.<\/p>\n

    Shizuku<\/i><\/b> (\u96eb, \u3057\u305a\u304f)<\/b> – counter for drips or drops, such as tear drops. Often used in song lyrics.<\/p>\n

    And that\u2019s some basic insight into the world of Japanese counters! If you would like to learn more about the Japanese language, why not sign up to one of our online language courses<\/a>?<\/p>\n

    Or if you\u2019re interested in studying in Japan in person, we are currently taking applications for 2021 study terms. Contact us<\/a> today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Each language has its own way of counting things and in Japanese, there are literally hundreds of different counters. A counter is a word that describes a thing that you are counting, for example people, time, animals, and so on. As a beginner Japanese language student, it might seem incredibly overwhelming to learn that there […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":27431,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[404],"tags":[698,680],"class_list":["post-27427","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learn-japanese","tag-japanese-lessons","tag-study-in-japan"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27427","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/107"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27427"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27427\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27431"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27427"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27427"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27427"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}