Where the number and counter go
The usual order is: thing, particle, number + counter, verb. The number and counter work like an adverb (a word describing the verb), so they come right before the verb, not before the noun.
The ten counters to learn first
These cover most of what you will count in a day. Each card shows the counter and one real example.
ひとつ, ふたつ: the all-purpose counter
Japanese has its own native numbers that are used with the counter つ. They work for objects with no special counter, for abstract things (questions, ideas) and for ordering in shops: ひとつください, “one, please”. They stop at ten, とお, which has no つ.
Counting people
One and two people are irregular native words; from three on, use the number + 人 nin. Four is よにん, not よんにん.
Sound changes: いっぽん, さんぼん, ろっぽん
Counters that begin with h (本, 匹, 杯) change sound after some numbers. 1, 6, 8 and 10 double the consonant and turn h into p; 3 turns h into b. The pattern is the same for all three, so learn one column and you know them all. Changed forms are in red.
| 本 long things | 匹 small animals | 杯 cups, glasses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | いっぽん ippon | いっぴき ippiki | いっぱい ippai |
| 2 | にほん nihon | にひき nihiki | にはい nihai |
| 3 | さんぼん sanbon | さんびき sanbiki | さんばい sanbai |
| 4 | よんほん yonhon | よんひき yonhiki | よんはい yonhai |
| 5 | ごほん gohon | ごひき gohiki | ごはい gohai |
| 6 | ろっぽん roppon | ろっぴき roppiki | ろっぱい roppai |
| 7 | ななほん nanahon | ななひき nanahiki | ななはい nanahai |
| 8 | はっぽん happon | はっぴき happiki | はっぱい happai |
| 9 | きゅうほん kyūhon | きゅうひき kyūhiki | きゅうはい kyūhai |
| 10 | じゅっぽん juppon | じゅっぴき juppiki | じゅっぱい juppai |
| ? | なんぼん nanbon | なんびき nanbiki | なんばい nanbai |
Ten more counters
After the first ten, these cover most remaining needs.
| Example | Meaning | Counter for |
|---|---|---|
| nisoku | two pairs | shoes, socks |
| sanchaku | three suits | clothes |
| ikken | one house | buildings |
| nikai | second floor | floors |
| gotō | five (cows) | large animals |
| sanwa | three (birds) | birds, rabbits |
| ittsū | one letter | letters, emails |
| nihai | two cups | drinks, bowls |
| yonhon | four (bottles) | long things |
| ichimai | one sheet | flat things |
Counting time: 時間, 日, 週間, か月, 年
Lengths of time have their own counters. Note か月 for months, and the native readings for days.
Counters in a shop
A short exchange that uses three different counters.
Check yourself
Count each one, then open the answer.
- three pens
Show answer
pen sanbon本 for long things; さんぼん. - two tickets
Show answer
kippu nimai枚 for flat things. - one cat
Show answer
neko ippiki匹 for small animals. - four people
Show answer
yoninNot よんにん. - six eggs
Show answer
tamago rokko個 for small objects.
Asking how many
Put 何 nan (what) before the counter: 何本, 何人, 何枚. For things counted with つ, ask いくつ ikutsu.