In this lesson you will
- Use 〜つ, 〜人, 〜本, 〜枚, 〜個 and 〜台 with the right objects
- Say ひとり and ふたり, and the other numbers of people
- Use the sound changes in 〜本 and 〜個
- Ask “how many?” with いくつ and 何 + counter
- Put the counter in the right place in the sentence
In Japanese you can’t put a number directly in front of a noun. You need a counter — a word that shows what kind of thing you are counting, a bit like “two sheets of paper” or “three bottles of water” in English. Japanese has many counters, but six of them cover most everyday situations in shops and at work.
Six everyday counters
| Counter | Used for | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 〜つ | general things (up to 9; 10 is とお) | apples, ideas, questions, orders in a café |
| 〜人 (にん) | people | students, customers, family members |
| 〜本 (ほん) | long, thin things | pens, bottles, umbrellas, trains, films |
| 〜枚 (まい) | flat, thin things | paper, tickets, shirts, plates, copies |
| 〜個 (こ) | small objects | eggs, sweets, boxes, rice balls |
| 〜台 (だい) | machines and vehicles | computers, cars, bicycles, printers |
Counting people: ひとり, ふたり
One and two people are special: 一人 and 二人. From three on, use the number + 人: 三人, 四人 (special!), 五人, 七人 or 七人. In a restaurant, staff will ask 何名さまですか — a polite way of asking how many people; just answer 二人です.
Sound changes: 〜本 and 〜個
| Number | 〜本 (long things) | 〜個 (small things) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | いっぽん | いっこ |
| 2 | にほん | にこ |
| 3 | さんぼん | さんこ |
| 4 | よんほん | よんこ |
| 5 | ごほん | ごこ |
| 6 | ろっぽん | ろっこ |
| 7 | ななほん | ななこ |
| 8 | はっぽん / はちほん | はっこ / はちこ |
| 9 | きゅうほん | きゅうこ |
| 10 | じゅっぽん / じっぽん | じゅっこ / じっこ |
| ? | なんぼん | なんこ |
〜枚 and 〜台 are regular: いちまい, にまい, さんまい … and いちだい, にだい, さんだい ….
Where does the counter go?
The most natural place is after the noun and its particle, right before the verb: りんごを三つください (Three apples, please), 学生が五人います (There are five students). You can also say 三つのりんご, but in requests and in sentences with あります/います the first pattern sounds more natural.
Asking how many
Use 何 + counter: 何人, 何本, 何枚, 何個, 何台. For 〜つ, ask いくつ: りんごはいくつありますか.
At the shop and at work
- このシャツを二枚ください — Two of these shirts, please.
- コピーを十枚おねがいします — Ten copies, please.
- おにぎりを三個ください — Three rice balls, please.
- じむしょにパソコンが五台あります — There are five computers in the office.
- ボールペンを一本かしてください — Could you lend me a pen?
Not sure which counter to use? 〜つ works for most objects up to nine, and people will understand you. Learn the special counters little by little.
Common mistakes
- Putting the number directly before the noun: “三りんご” is wrong; say りんごを三つ.
- Saying “いちにん” or “ににん”: one and two people are ひとり and ふたり.
- Forgetting the sound changes: いっぽん, さんぼん, ろっぽん, はっぽん, じゅっぽん.
- Using 〜つ for 10 or more: from 10 use 〜個 or the right counter (じゅっこ).
How to practise
- Count objects around you with the right counter: pens (本), paper (枚), devices (台).
- Practise shop requests aloud: noun + を + counter + ください.
- Say the 〜本 row from 1 to 10 until the sound changes are automatic.
- Do the worksheet: write the counter kanji and fill in the right reading.
Study options
Vocabulary
| Japanese | Reading | Romaji | Meaning | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 〜つ | 〜つ | -tsu | counter for general things (1–9) | Other |
コーヒーを二つください。 Kōhī o futatsu kudasai. Two coffees, please. | ||||
| 〜人 | 〜にん | -nin | counter for people (3 and up) | Other |
クラスに学生が十二人います。 Kurasu ni gakusei ga jūninin imasu. There are twelve students in the class. | ||||
| 一人 | ひとり | hitori | one person; alone | Noun |
わたしは一人でくらしています。 Watashi wa hitori de kurashite imasu. I live alone. | ||||
| 二人 | ふたり | futari | two people | Noun |
二人です。 Futari desu. Two people, please. (at a restaurant) | ||||
| 〜本 | 〜ほん・〜ぼん・〜ぽん | -hon / -bon / -pon | counter for long, thin things | Other |
ペットボトルの水を三本かいました。 Pettobotoru no mizu o sanbon kaimashita. I bought three bottles of water. | ||||
| 〜枚 | 〜まい | -mai | counter for flat, thin things | Other |
コピーを十枚おねがいします。 Kopī o jūmai onegai shimasu. Ten copies, please. | ||||
| 〜個 | 〜こ | -ko | counter for small objects | Other |
たまごを六個かいました。 Tamago o rokko kaimashita. I bought six eggs. | ||||
| 〜台 | 〜だい | -dai | counter for machines and vehicles | Other |
じむしょにパソコンが五台あります。 Jimusho ni pasokon ga godai arimasu. There are five computers in the office. | ||||
| いくつ | いくつ | ikutsu | how many (things); how old | Other |
りんごはいくつありますか。 Ringo wa ikutsu arimasu ka. How many apples are there? | ||||
| 何人 | なんにん | nannin | how many people | Other |
かぞくは何人ですか。 Kazoku wa nannin desu ka. How many people are in your family? | ||||
| 何本 | なんぼん | nanbon | how many (long things) | Other |
かさは何本ありますか。 Kasa wa nanbon arimasu ka. How many umbrellas are there? | ||||
| 何枚 | なんまい | nanmai | how many (flat things) | Other |
きっぷは何枚ですか。 Kippu wa nanmai desu ka. How many tickets? | ||||
| かみ | かみ | kami | paper | Noun |
かみを一枚ください。 Kami o ichimai kudasai. A sheet of paper, please. | ||||
| きって | きって | kitte | postage stamp | Noun |
きってを五枚ください。 Kitte o gomai kudasai. Five stamps, please. | ||||
| ペットボトル | ペットボトル | pettobotoru | plastic bottle (PET bottle) | Noun |
ペットボトルはこのごみばこにすてます。 Pettobotoru wa kono gomibako ni sutemasu. Plastic bottles go in this bin. | ||||
Grammar
Noun を／が + number + counter + verb
counting things in a sentence
The usual order is noun + particle + number-counter + verb. The counter does not take a particle of its own.
Examples
りんごを三つください。
りんごをみっつください。
Ringo o mittsu kudasai.
Three apples, please.
じむしょに人が四人います。
じむしょにひとがよにんいます。
Jimusho ni hito ga yonin imasu.
There are four people in the office.
ひとり・ふたり・〜人
counting people
一人 and 二人 are special; from three, use number + 人, with 四人 as the one exception. 一人で means “alone, by oneself”.
Examples
二人でレストランへ行きました。
ふたりでレストランへいきました。
Futari de resutoran e ikimashita.
The two of us went to a restaurant.
かぞくは四人です。
かぞくはよにんです。
Kazoku wa yonin desu.
There are four people in my family.
〜本・〜個: sound changes
いっぽん, さんぼん, ろっぽん … / いっこ, ろっこ …
With 本, 1, 6, 8 and 10 change to ぽん with a small っ (いっぽん, ろっぽん, はっぽん, じゅっぽん), and 3 and “how many” use ぼん (さんぼん, なんぼん). With 個, 1, 6, 8 and 10 get a small っ (いっこ, ろっこ, はっこ, じゅっこ).
Examples
ボールペンを一本かしてください。
ボールペンをいっぽんかしてください。
Bōrupen o ippon kashite kudasai.
Please lend me a pen.
ビールを六本かいました。
ビールをろっぽんかいました。
Bīru o roppon kaimashita.
I bought six bottles of beer.
あめを一個どうぞ。
あめをいっこどうぞ。
Ame o ikko dōzo.
Have a sweet.
いくつ・何 + counter
how many …?
Ask with いくつ for things counted with 〜つ, and with 何 + counter for the others: 何人, 何本, 何枚, 何個, 何台.
Examples
いすはいくつありますか。
いすはいくつありますか。
Isu wa ikutsu arimasu ka.
How many chairs are there?
くるまは何台ありますか。
くるまはなんだいありますか。
Kuruma wa nandai arimasu ka.
How many cars are there?
Kanji
Select a kanji to see its readings, stroke count and example words.
枚counter for flat things
- On’yomi
- マイ
- Kun’yomi
- —
- Strokes
- 8
Example words
- 一枚 いちまい one sheet
- 何枚 なんまい how many (flat things)
個individual; counter for small things
- On’yomi
- コ
- Kun’yomi
- —
- Strokes
- 10
Example words
- 一個 いっこ one (small thing)
- 何個 なんこ how many (small things)
- 個人 こじん individual; private
台stand; counter for machines
- On’yomi
- ダイ、タイ
- Kun’yomi
- —
- Strokes
- 5
Example words
- 一台 いちだい one (machine)
- 台所 だいどころ kitchen
- 台風 たいふう typhoon
Practice quiz
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need to learn all these counters?
Not all at once. 〜つ works for most objects up to nine, and 〜人 for people is essential. Then add 〜本, 〜枚, 〜個 and 〜台 — they cover most shopping and workplace situations. More specific counters (for animals, books, floors …) come in later lessons.
Why are there two ways to say 8 and 10 with 本 and 個?
はっぽん / はちほん and じゅっぽん / じっぽん are all correct. はっぽん and じゅっぽん are the most common in everyday speech today; じっぽん is the traditional form you may see in older materials.
Can I say りんご三つ without を?
In casual speech, yes — particles are often dropped. In polite requests, keep the particle: りんごを三つください.
How do I count things that are 10 or more with 〜つ?
〜つ only goes up to 9 (and とお for 10). From 10, use the number alone or a specific counter: りんごを十個ください (じゅっこ).