Counting things: counters
Number + counter
Number + counter (つ, 人, まい, ほん…), usually placed right before the verb. To ask: なん + counter, or いくつ.
In short
In Japanese, you don't say “3 books” but something like “books, 3 volumes”. The counter depends on the object's shape: ～つ (objects in general, up to 10), ～人（にん） (people), ～本（ほん） (long objects), ～まい (flat objects: paper, shirts), ～ひき (small animals), ～さつ (books), ～だい (machines, cars). Position: noun を + number + verb.
- りんごを 三つ ください。ringo o mittsu kudasaiThree apples, please.
- きってを 二まい かいます。kitte o nimai kaimasuI buy two stamps.
- ねこが 一ぴき います。neko ga ippiki imasuThere's one cat.
The basics
In Japanese, you don't count things with a bare number: you add a counter that depends on the shape or kind of the thing. It's a bit like “three sheets of paper” or “two cups of coffee” in English, but systematic.
The number + counter usually goes right before the verb, with no particle: りんごを 三つ 買いました (I bought three apples).
- りんごを 三つ ください。ringo o mittsu kudasaiThree apples, please.
- がくせいが 五人 います。gakusei ga go-nin imasuThere are five students.
Counters to know for N5
About ten counters cover everyday life. When you don't know which one to use, つ (up to 10) works for almost any object.
| Counter | For | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜つ | objects in general (1 to 10) | ひとつ、ふたつ、みっつ |
| 〜人（にん） | people | ひとり、ふたり、さんにん |
| 〜まい | flat objects: paper, banknotes, T-shirts | にまい |
| 〜ほん | long objects: pens, bottles | いっぽん、にほん、さんぼん |
| 〜ひき | small animals | いっぴき、にひき、さんびき |
| 〜さつ | books, notebooks | いっさつ |
| 〜だい | machines, vehicles | にだい |
| 〜こ | small round or compact objects | いっこ |
| 〜かい | times / floors | いっかい |
Irregular readings
Some numbers change sound next to the counter. The most frequent: 1 person is ひとり, 2 people ふたり (then the regular さんにん). 1, 3, 6, 8 and 10 often change ほん, ひき, こ, さつ: いっぽん, さんぼん, ろっぽん, はっぽん, じゅっぽん.
Don't panic: these variants are learned by ear, and in the N5 exam you mostly meet them with つ, 人 and ほん.
| 〜つ | 〜人 | 〜ほん | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ひとつ | ひとり | いっぽん |
| 2 | ふたつ | ふたり | にほん |
| 3 | みっつ | さんにん | さんぼん |
| 4 | よっつ | よにん | よんほん |
| 5 | いつつ | ごにん | ごほん |
Asking how many
You form the question with なん + counter (なんにん, なんぼん, なんまい), or いくつ for objects counted with つ.
- かぞくは なんにんですか。kazoku wa nan-nin desu kaHow many people are in your family?
- りんごは いくつ ありますか。ringo wa ikutsu arimasu kaHow many apples are there?
Common mistakes
- Saying いちにん or ににん: it's ひとり, ふたり.
- Putting the counter before the noun as in English (“three apples”): you say りんごを 三つ, the number after the object.
- Using つ above 10: from 11 on, you simply say the number (じゅういち).
5 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N5 point is on the Yurakucho Line (Counting) of the Tokyo subway.