In Japanese, you can't just put a number before a noun like in English.
You need a counter word, called a 助数詞 (josūshi), that matches the type of thing being counted.
Contents
Basic Structure
[Number] + [Counter] + の + [Noun]
Or
[Noun] + [Number + Counter]
Example:
- 三本のペン (san-bon no pen) = Three pens
- りんごが二個あります (ringo ga ni-ko arimasu) = There are two apples
🧱 Common Categories of Japanese Counters
Here are some of the most common counter types, with examples:
| Counter | Use for | Example | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| 人（にん） | People | 3 people | さんにん |
| 枚（まい） | Flat objects (paper, plates) | 2 sheets | にまい |
| 本（ほん） | Long, cylindrical items (bottles, pens, trees) | 4 pens | よんほん |
| 匹（ひき） | Small animals (cats, dogs, fish) | 5 cats | ごひき |
| 頭（とう） | Large animals (cows, horses) | 2 horses | にとう |
| 冊（さつ） | Books, notebooks | 3 books | さんさつ |
| 台（だい） | Machines, vehicles (cars, TVs) | 2 cars | にだい |
| 個（こ） | Small general objects | 1 apple | いっこ |
| 杯（はい） | Cups/glasses of drinks | 2 cups | にはい |
| 回（かい） | Occurrences/times | 1 time | いっかい |
| 分（ふん / ぷん） | Minutes | 10 minutes | じゅっぷん |
| 年（ねん） | Years | 3 years | さんねん |
| 日（にち / か） | Days | 2 days | ふつか |
| 月（がつ） | Months | January = 1月 | いちがつ |
🧠 Irregular Readings (Be careful!)
Some numbers + counters change pronunciation:
| Counter | 1 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 本 | いっぽん | さんぼん | ろっぽん | はっぽん | じゅっぽん |
| 分 | いっぷん | さんぷん | ろっぷん | はっぷん | じゅっぷん |
| 回 | いっかい | さんかい | ろっかい | はっかい | じゅっかい |
This is due to euphonic sound changes (音便) in Japanese pronunciation.
📘 Examples
- Four books → 本が四冊あります (hon ga yon-satsu arimasu)
- Two glasses of juice → ジュースを二杯飲みました (jūsu o ni-hai nomimashita)
- Seven people → 七人います (shichi-nin or nana-nin)
- Ten apples → りんごを十個買いました (ringo o jukkō kaimashita)
📚 Tips for Learners
- Start with 個 (こ) if you're unsure — it’s a general counter.
- Try learning by category (e.g. people, animals, objects).
- Practice with everyday things: books, drinks, animals, time, etc.
Would you like a printable chart or flashcards for practice? Or counters for time, age, or money? Let me know!