Japanese counters
In Japanese you cannot just put a number in front of a noun: you add a counter word that depends on what you are counting. Three pencils are 鉛筆三本 (えんぴつさんぼん), but three sheets of paper are 紙三枚 (かみさんまい). Many counters change their sound with certain numbers, so each page lists every form from one to ten with the tricky ones highlighted.
New to Japanese numbers? Start with the numbers →
Things
- つ tsu · general things three: みっつ (mittsu)
- 本 hon · long, thin objects three: さんぼん (sanbon)
- 枚 mai · flat, thin objects three: さんまい (sanmai)
- 個 ko · small, compact objects three: さんこ (sanko)
- 冊 satsu · books and magazines three: さんさつ (sansatsu)
- 台 dai · machines and vehicles three: さんだい (sandai)
- 杯 hai · cups, glasses and bowls three: さんばい (sanbai)
- 足 soku · pairs of footwear three: さんぞく (sanzoku)
- 着 chaku · suits and outfits three: さんちゃく (sanchaku)
People and animals
Time
Money
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