Japanese Counters Made Easy

Introduction

Let’s delve into the world of Japanese numbers. When you first start learning Japanese, numbers are one of the first things you pick up in the language. Counting from 1-10 may seems easy but in Japanese there is more to it when counting objects. In this article we are going to cover counters in Japanese, what they are, how to use them, and we will give you plenty of examples. 

Japanese Numbers

Let’s start with the basics, shall we? Japanese numbers are your buddies here. Whether it’s “ichi” (one), “ni” (two), or “juu” (ten), get cozy with these digits – you’ll be using them a lot.

For a refresher, here are the basic Japanese numbers:

Introduction to Japanese Counters

In Japanese, counting things isn’t as simple as just using the number in a sentence. When you count things you will use a counter, which is one kanji that goes onto the end of the number to tell you what kind of thing you are counting. So, the way to say “one apple” is different than “one person” which is different than “one second.”

This might seem confusing at first but don’t worry, we are here to help explain in a simple way! Let’s start with the basics: To use counters you will have to add a word onto the number you are modifying.

For instance, the counter for  birds is 羽 (わ) so “one bird” would be 一羽 (いちわ) and “two birds” would be 二羽 (にわ) etc.

Seems simple right? Well one more thing you must be aware of is that sometimes, the pronunciation for these counters change. While with the birds counter we learned above, you just simply add 羽, other counters sound a bit different. For instance the counter for books is 冊 but one book is not pronounced いちさつ, it is actually pronounced いっさつ. So, when learning counters make sure to pay attention not only to counter itself, but how to pronounce them.

General Counters

Let’s start with the general counters that don’t have a specific meaning. These can be translated simple as “one thing,” “two things,” etc. These are used for some general objects, but can also be used if you are stuck and don’t remember which counter to use. Kind of like a cheat! So if you are confused about counters, at least make sure to memorize these, as they are the most useful.

Time

Seconds, Minutes, and Hours

Next, let’s talk about time in Japanese. Let’s starts with the quickest time period, one second. The counter for “second” in Japanese is 秒. Here is how to use them 1-9.

Here is an example of how it is used in a sentence:

その映画のシーンは、たったの三秒でした。

(そのえいがのシーンは、たったのさんびょうでした。)

That scene in the movie was only three seconds long.

Now, let’s explore the concept of time in minutes. In Japanese, the counter for “minute” is 分 (ふん). Here’s how to use it for numbers 1 to 9:

Here’s an example of how it’s used in a sentence:

そのコンサートは五分遅れて始まります。

(そのこんさーとはごふんおくれてはじまります。)

The concert will start 5 minutes late.

Moving on to larger units of time, let’s explore how to express “hours” in Japanese. The counter for “hour” is 時間 (じかん). Here’s how to use it for numbers 1 to 9:

Here’s an example of how it’s used in a sentence:

私は昨日、八時間ぐらい寝ました。

(わたしはきのう、はちじかんぐらいねました。)

I slept for about eight hours yesterday.

For those who want to learn more about Japanese expressions of time, please check this article for detailed explanations.

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Years Old

Moving on to age in Japanese, let’s discuss “years old.” The counter for “years old” is 歳 (さい). Here’s how to use it for ages 1 to 9:

Here’s an example of how it’s used in a sentence:

私の子供は三歳です。

(わたしのこどもはさんさいです。)

My child is three years old.

Number of Times

We can also talk about the “number of times” we do something in Japanese. The counter for “number of times” is 回 (かい). Here’s how to use it for counts 1 to 9:

Here’s an example of how it’s used in a sentence:

私はその映画を二回見ました。

(わたしはそのえいがをにかいみました。)

I watched that movie twice.

Series of Things

When we talk about a “series of things” in Japanese, the counter is番 (ばん). If we say 一番, the counter is used to indicate “number one” or “first.” Here’s how it’s used:

Here’s an example of how it’s used in a sentence:

その映画は一番面白かったです。

(そのえいがはいちばんおもしろかったです。)

That movie was the most interesting.

People and Animals

People

How about counting people in Japanese? The counter for people is 人 (にん). Below are the ways to count people from one to nine:

Here’s an example sentence:

今日のパーティーには四人の友達が参加しました。

(きょうのパーティーにはよにんのともだちがさんかしました。)

Four friends attended today’s party.

Small Animals

The counter for small animals is 匹 (ひき). Some aniamls have a specific counter, but this one can be used for dogs, cats, hamsters, insects, and forgs. Here’s how you count small animals from one to nine:

Here’s an example sentence to help illustrate its use:

公園で一匹の猫を見かけました。

(こうえんでいっぴきのねこをみかけました。)

I spotted one cat at the park.

Large Animals

Large herd animals are counted by using  頭 (とう). This is generally used for horses, and cattle, but can also be used for elephants and buffalo as well. Here’s how you count large animals from one to nine:

Here’s an example sentence to help you understand how to use it:

牧場に五頭の馬がいます。

(ぼくじょうにごとうのうまがいます。)

There are five horses at the ranch.

Birds

Although you might think birds come under “small animals” there is a specific counter for birds that uses the kanji that means “wings.” Strangely, this can also be used for rabbits as well. The counter for counting birds is 羽 (わ). Here’s how you count birds from one to nine:

Here’s an example sentence to help you understand how to use it:

公園で五羽の鳥が飛んでいました。

(こうえんでごわのとりがとんでいました。)

There were five birds flying in the park.

Objects

Small Things

There is also a counter for small things in Japanese. It is usually for things that are round, but there are exceptions. There doesn’t have to be a specific size for you to use this counter, but generally anything small and like fruit works.  The counter for small things is 個 (こ). Here’s how you count small things from one to nine:

Here’s an example sentence:

このボトルには五個のビーズが入っています。

(このボトルにはごこのビーズがはいっています。)

There are five beads inside this bottle.

Flat Objects

There is also a counter for flat objects. You would use this to count paper, stacks of woods, or slices of bread. The counter for flat objects is 枚 (まい). Here’s how you count flat objects from one to nine:

Here’s an example sentence:

このテーブルには三枚の紙が置かれています。

(このテーブルにはさんまいのかみがおかれています。)

There are three pieces of paper placed on this table.

Long Cylindrical Objects

Long cylindrical objects like pencils, pens, and objects like poles. The counter for these are 本 (ほん). Here’s how you count them from one to nine:

Here’s an example sentence to help you understand its usage:

その棒は、長さが五本あります。

(そのぼうは、ながさがごほんあります。)

There are five poles with that length.

Books

Although you may think that books would fall under flat objects using 枚, books actually have their own counter in Japanese. Generally anything with a binding can use this counter.The counter is 冊 (さつ), and here is how you count books from one to nine:

Here’s an example sentence to help illustrate its use:

私はこの月に三冊の本を読みました。

(わたしはこのつきにさんさつのほんをよみました。)

I read three books this month.

Conclusion

Counters in Japanese might have seemed a bit baffling at first, but now you’re well-equipped to tackle them like a pro. Whether you’re counting adorable animals with “ひき” (hiki) or browsing books with “冊” (satsu), these little linguistic tools add a touch of charm and finesse to your conversations. Remember, it’s all about embracing the quirks and intricacies that make Japanese such a delightful language to learn. So, next time you’re counting objects or sharing a meal with friends, don’t hesitate to sprinkle in those counters and watch as your language skills shine!