12.3. What is the counter for ...?

Here is a short list of some of the various Japanese counting words, josuushi (助数詞). These words and the method of counting originate from Chinese.

Japanese counting words
Kanji	Counter word	One	Two	Three	Used to count
Animals, birds and people
匹	hiki	ippiki	nihiki	sanbiki	Small animals, fish
人	nin	hitori	futari	sannin	People
名	mei	ichimei	nimei	sanmei	People
羽	wa	ichiwa	niwa	sanwa	Birds and rabbits (because the ears of the rabbit resemble wings)
頭	tou	ittou	nitou	santou	Large animals and farmyard animals such as cows
尾	bi	ichibi	nibi	sanbi	Fish
Shapes
本	hon	ippon	nihon	sanbon	Long thin objects such as pencils. Also station platforms.
枚	mai	ichimai	nimai	sanmai	Flat objects such as pieces of paper.

Web links

Japanese Numeral Counters. An impressive list of over five hundred Japanese counter words.
Mono no kazoekata [josuushi] (ものの数え方[助数詞]) (In Japanese.) A list of words which goes from the noun to its counter.

If you have questions, corrections, or comments, please contact Ben Bullock or use the discussion forum / Privacy


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