数字 ( = suuji) numbers + counters introduction

「お一ついかがですか？」

= Ohitotsu ikaga desuka?

= Would you like one?

Hi, everyone, It has been over a year since I started this blog. It has been a great pleasure to get to know all the interesting people in the world, and I love reading all the comments and messages. I really appreciate your feedback and support! ありがとう( = arigatou) , Thank you!!

I have always wondered if all my lessons are the right level. There are so many people! Although I know it is impossible to satisfy everybody — you have different interests and levels — I do aim to please.

Some love manga and want to learn colloquial expressions and others really want to study the more “standard Japanese” and learn things like 敬語  ( = keigo)  , honorific expressions, grammar patterns or tough words that will help them prepare for the JLTP exams. There are tons of good resources out there. If you want to learn Japanese more systematically, I would say this site may not be the best site for you. I usually make lessons randomly — preferring to focus on things that interest me or things that interest you — like when you send me questions. For that reason, I have been avoiding making lessons for total beginners. However I cannot deny that there have been more and more requests from viewers to make lessons for Japanese newbies. So to satisfy these new Japanese “puppies”, I will try to make more basic lessons from now on. But for those whose level is no longer that of a beginner, don’t worry! I will still try to include stuff that you may be interested in and that you may not have picked up in other “human” texts. So please check out my lessons — even if it says it’s for beginners.

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Today we will learn how to count things in Japanese.

Now before I teach you anything, I better warn you! (Play ominous music.) Just in case you didn’t know, one of the most difficult (and some say annoying) things about Japanese is that different shaped things take different counters. I suppose it’s how you use different words to describe different large groups of animals. A pack of French bulldogs is fine, but you can’t say a “pack of fish”, right? You have to say a “school of fish.” Well Japanese counters are similarly limited to object types. Let’s get started.

First of all, when we serve some countable sweets, we say 「お一ついかがですか？」  ( = Ohitotsu ikaga desuka ?) 

一つ  ( = hitotsu) one piece  お一つ   ( = ohitotsu)  is more polite Would you like a sweet?

OK! Let’s learn Japanese numbers!

1 = 一 = いち = ichi

2 = 二 = に = ni  

3  = 三  = さん= san

4 = 四 = し、よん = shi, yon  

5 = 五 = ご= go

6 = 六 = ろく= roku  

7 = 七 = なな、しち= nana, shichi  

8 = 八 = はち= hachi  

9 = 九 = きゅう= kyuu, ku 

10 = 十 = じゅう = juu

•from 11~19 add 十=じゅう=juu

11  = 十一 = じゅういち = juuichi

12 = 十二 = じゅうに = juuni

13  = 十三 = じゅうさん = juusan 

14  = 十四 = じゅうし,じゅうよん = juuyon　juuyon

15  = 十五 = じゅうご  = juugo

16  = 十六 = じゅうろく =juuroku

17  = 十七 = じゅうなな,じゅうしち  = juunana, juushichi

18  = 十八 = じゅうはち = juuhachi,

19  = 十九 = じゅうきゅう,じゅうく= juukyuu, juuku

•from 20 to 90, add 十=juu

20 = 二十 = にじゅう = ni juu,

30 = 三十 = さんじゅう = san juu,

40 = 四十 = よんじゅう = yonjuu (shijuu),

50 = 五十 = ごじゅう = gojuu,

60 = 六十 = ろくじゅう = rokujuu

70 = 七十 = ななじゅう, しちじゅう = nanaju, shichijuu

80 = 八十 = はちじゅう= hachijuu

90 = 九十 = きゅうじゅう= kyuujuu

100 = 百 = ひゃく ＝hyaku,

•from 100~900, add 百=hyaku

200 = 二百 =にひゃく = nihyaku

300 = 三百=さんびゃく = sanbyaku

400 = 四百=よんひゃく = yonhyaku

500 = 五百=ごひゃく = gohyaku

600 = 六百=ろっぴゃく = roppyaku

700 = 七百=ななひゃく = nana hyaku

800 = 八百 = はっぴゃく = happyaku

900 = 九百 =きゅうひゃく = kyuuhyaku

937 = 九百三十七 = きゅうひゃうさんじゅうなな = kyuuhayku sanjuu nana

1,000 = 千 =  せん  = sen (issen)

2,000  = 二千 =に せん=ni sen

10,000 = 万 = まん = ichi man

70,000 = 七万 = ななまん = nana man

100,000 = 十万 = じゅうまん = juu man

1,000,000 = 百万 =ひゃくまん = hyakuman

10,000,000 = 一千万= いっせんまん = issenman

100,000,000  =  一億=いちおく= ichioku

1,000,000,000,000  = 沢山  = たくさん= takusan ＝ many…just kidding

一兆  =  iccchou

:kkk: Test! Can you say these numbers? (Check your answers by comparing them with the sound file. )

 

1)  46

2)  53

3)  17

4)  98

5)  123

6)  761

7)  823

Answers

1) yonjuuroku

2) gojuusan

3) juunana (or juushichi)

4) kyuujuu hachi

5) hyaku nijuu san

6) nanahyaku rokujuuichi

7) happyaku nijuu san

 

How much are these? I will tell you 5 different numbers. Listen and write them down!

1)           2)              3)               4)               5)

:u:

:u:

:u:

Answers

1) 35

2) 501

3) 1,627

4) 783

5) 2,378

When we count things we say,

1 = 一つ = ひとつ = hitotsu

2 = 二つ = ふたつ = futatsu

3 = 三つ = みっつ = mittsu

4 = 四つ = よっつ = yottsu

5 = 五つ = いつつ = itsutsu

6 = 六つ = むっつ = muttsu

7 = 七つ = ななつ = nanatsu

8 = 八つ = やっつ = yattsu

9 = 九つ = ここのつ = kokonotsu

10 = 十  = とう = tou

To count general 個体 =こたい ( =  kotai ) a piece of material we use 個 = こ ( = ko) 

 1個 = いっこ= ikko

２個 = にこ = niko

3個 = さんこ = sanko

4個 = よんこ = yonko

5個 = ごこ = goko

６個 = ろっこ = rokko

7個  = ななこ、しちこ = nanako  (shichiko)  

８個 = はちこ、はっこ = hachiko (hakko),

9個 = きゅうこ = kyuuko,

10個 = じゅっこ = jukko

Ex.「すみません、このケーキ３個下さい。」(You can say ３つ = mittsu)

= Sumimasen. Kono keeiki sanko kudasai.

= Excuse me. May I have three of these cakes?

「ごめんなさい。もう２個しか残っていません。」(You can say ２つ = futatsu)

=Gomennasai. Mou niko shika nokotte imasen.

=Sorry. We only have two left.

We count long items like this lolly pop candy, sticks, pencils, yakitori (chicken on skewers) , with 本 = hon/bon/pon

It changes the pronunciation depending on the number. (You can both use kanji or Arabic numbers.)

1本  = いっぽん = ippon,

2本 = にほん = nihon,

3本 =さんぼん = sanbon

4本  = よんほん = yonhon,

5本  = ごほん = gohon 

6本 = ろくほん,ろっぽん = rokuhon, roppon,

7本  = ななほん/しちほん = nanahon or shichihon

8本  = はっぽん、はちほん = happon, hachihon

9本  = きゅうほん = kyuuho

10本 = じゅっぽん = juppon

We also count a roll of pictures or film, movies with 本  ( = hon/bon/pon)

Ex. 今月は映画を４本も観た。

= Kongetsu wa eiga wo yonhon mo mita.

= I saw four movies this month.

If you want a cigarette you say:

Ex. タバコを一本くれる？

=Tabako wo ippon kureru?

= Can you give me a cigarette?

But if you want to buy a box of cigarette, you have to say:

Ex. タバコを一箱下さい。

=tabako wo hitohako kudasai.

= A box of cigarette, please.

So 箱 = はこ・ぱこ（ = hako/pako)  is a unit to count things that come in box shapes.

:u:

1箱 = ひとはこ= hitohako

2箱 = ふたはこ = futahako,

3箱 = さんはこ = sanhako

4箱 = よんはこ = yonhako,

5箱 = ごはこ = gohako

6箱 = ろくはこ、ろっぱこ = rokuhako,roppako,

7箱 = ななはこ = nanahako

8箱 = はちはこ、はっぱこ = hachihako, happako,

9箱 =きゅうはこ = kyuuhako

10箱 =じゅっぱこ= juppako

I know the kanji 本 also means “a book”. Do you know how to count books?

Books are counted with the 冊 = satsu counter.

1冊 =いっさつ = issatsu,

2冊 = にさつ = nisatsu,

3冊 = さんさつ = sansatsu,

4冊 =よんさつ = yonsatsu,

5冊 =ごさつ = gosatsu

6冊 =ろくさつ= rokusatsu,

7冊 =ななさつ,しちさつ = nanasatsu, shichisatsu 

8冊 =はちさつ、はっさつ = hachisatsu, hassatsu,

9冊 = きゅうさつ= kyuusatsu,

10冊 =じゅっさつ = jussatsu

Ex.　図書館で本を３冊借りた。

= Toshokan de hon wo sansatsu karita.

= I borrowed three books from the library.

If you count something flat, a piece of paper, plates, pizza, pancakes, slices of bread, etc, you count them with 枚=mai.

1枚 = いちまい = ichimai   

2枚 = にまい = nimai

3枚 = さんまい = sanmai

4枚 = よんまい = yonmai

5枚 =ごまい = gomai

6枚 = ろくまい = rokumai

7枚 = ななまい/しちまい = nanamai,shichimai

8枚 = はちまい = hachimai

9枚 =きゅうまい  = kyuumai

10枚 =じゅうまい=juumai

Ex. 一万円札が一枚もない。

= ichimanensatsu ga ichimai mo nai.

= I don’t have any 10,000 yen bill.

Ex. コピー１０枚とってくれる？

= Kopii juumai totte kueru?

= Can you make 10 copies?

Counting people, 人 = hito, nin, jin

1 person: 一人  = ひとり= hitori, 2 people: 二人 = ふたり=futari,

3 people: 三人 =さんにん= san nin , 4 people: 四人 =よにん=yonin,

5 people: 五人 = ごにん = gonin 6 people: 六人 = ろくにん=rokunin

7 people: 七人 = ななにん、しちにん = nananin, shichinin （Do you know the Kurosawa movie, 七人の侍 = Shichinin no Samurai)

8 people : 八人  = はちにん = hachinin 9 people: 九人 = きゅうにん、くにん=kyuu nin,kunin

10 people: 十人  = じゅうにん = juunin

Note: お一人様  =  ohitori sama means for one person as an honorific expression. People often ask if you are alone when they seat you at a restaurant or a bar asking

「お一人様ですか？」

= Ohitori sama desuka?

= Are you alone?

So there is a tour just targeting “お一人様”(=Ohitori sama) so it has become a trendy word. We also use 名 ( = mei)  to count people. (polite)

 

Ex. 何名様でいらっしゃいますか？(At the entrance of a restaurant)

= Nanmei sama de irasshaimasuka?

= How many in your party?

Counting age :才 or 歳=sai=year

1才 = いっさい = issai  

(or 1歳 = issai)…..20才  (or 20歳)   can be read “にじゅっさい・にじっさい ( = nijussai/nijissai) ” or はたち ( = hatachi) 

For counting days, go check my time related lesson!

:d: Test time!!!

1) 美味しそう！一 (         ) 頂戴！

= Oishisou! hito (      ) choudai!

= Umm looks delicious! Can I have a bite?

2) すみません、お茶/ご飯　もう一 (     ) 下さい！

= Sumimasen, ocha / gohan mou i (        ) kudasai.

= Excuse me! May I have another cup of tea/a bowl of rice please?

3) 一日にバナナを１(    ) 食べると体にいいらしいよ。

= Ichinichi ni banana wo 1 (      ) taberu to karada ni iirashiiyo.

= They say it is good for your health to eat a banana a day.

4) 財布の中に1000円札２(         )と１円玉１（　　　）しかない。

=Saifu no naka ni Sen en satsu ni (       ) to ichiendama  i (     ) no okaeshi desu.

=I only have two ¥1,000 bills and one ¥1 coin in my wallet.

5) コンピュータが１（　　）欲しい。

= Konpyuutaa ga ichi (     ) hoshii

= I want a computer.

6) この靴 (or ソックス）を１（　　　）とスーツを２（　　　　）下さい。

= Kono kutsu (or sokkusu) wo 1 (　　　 ) to suutsu wo ni (　　　 ) kudasai.

= May I have this pair of shoes (or socks) and two suits please?

７）疲れてもう１(             ) も歩けない。

= Tsukarete mou i(          ) mo arukenai.

= I am so tired that I can’t even take “one step“.

8) インドには１（　　　）も行ったことがありません

= Indo niwa i (           ) mo itta koto gaarimasen. (two answers are possible.)

= I have never been to India.

9) お寿司２（　　　）お願いします。

= Osushi ni (             ) onegai shimasu.

= Two portions of sushi, please.

10) 犬が３（　　　　）鳥が２（　　　）象が５（　　　）います。

= Inu ga san (           ) tori ga ni (       ) zou ga go (        ) imasu.

= There are three dogs, two birds and five elephants.(Where are you!? )

Answers:

1) 口 =くち=  kuchi

→ 一口 = ひとくち= hitokuchi ：….口 = means “a mouth” 一口食べる = ひとくちたべる = hitokuchi taberu means to eat a bite.

2) 杯 = hai

→ 一杯 = いっぱい = ippai ： 杯 （ =  hai)  can be read “sakazuki”, a small cup for sake. 　We use this unit to count a glass of something (Also it might be confusing but 一杯   ( = ippai)  has a meaning as “a lot”.)

3) 本 = ほん・ぽん・ぼん ( = hon/pon/bon) 

→１本 = いっぽん= ippon ：See banana is something long so we use 本=hon/pon/bon to count

4) 枚 =まい=  mai ：a bill is a piece of paper so we use 枚 ( = mai) . And we count coins with 個  = こ ( = ko)

5) 台  = だい (= dai) 

→1台 = いちだい=  ichidai ：When we count a machine or car, we use  台 ( = dai) 

 

Ex. 車が２台ぶつかった。

= Kuruma ga nidai butsukatta.

=Two cars crashed.

6) 足 = そく/ぞく  ( = soku/zoku) 

→1足  = いっそく ( =  issoku ) ：足  means  “あし ( = ashi)” , foot. We count shoes or socks with 足   ( = soku/zoku) 

7)歩 = ぽ・ほ・ぼ （ = po, ho, bo）

→１歩 = いっぽ ( = ippo ) ：I歩も歩けない = Ippo mo arukenai is a set phrase

8) 回  ( = kai)  or 度 = do

→１回 = いっかい ( = ikkai)  or １度 = いちど ( = ichido) means once.

9) 人前 = ninmae → 2人前 = ninnmae ：When we count a serving, we use 人前  = にんまえ( = ninmae) 

(Note: 一人前   ( = ichinin mae)  also means to be independent, full fledged)

10) counting animal or fish →  匹 = ひき・び・きぴき ( = hiki, piki, biki) , birds or rabbits →羽  = わ・ば・ぱ ( = wa, ba, pa)  large size animal  頭  ( = tou) 

There are more…

Ex.chairs →脚  = きゃく  ( = kyaku) ,

piece of candy or a grain of rice, tear, rain drop →粒 = つぶ ( = tsubu),

Additional information from the comment section.

How to count food:

Basically you can count  fruits  or vegetables with 個  = こ ( = ko)  or 　一つ  ( = hitotsu) ,  二つ ( = futatsu)  . . .

To be more specific,

if it is something “round” like a ball, you can use “玉” （=  tama)  (grapefruit, orange, cabbage, onion, etc.),you use  房 = ふさ ( = fusa)  for a bunch of grapes or bananas, but if it is one piece of small fruit or a vegetable such as a strawberry, grape, pea, or cherry, you use 粒 =つぶ ( =  tsubu( .　You use 束  = たば  ( = taba)  for cauliflower or broccoli. Or bunch of spinach etc.

•articles, dishes  → 品  = ひん・ぴん・しな  ( = hin, pin, shina)

•a dish of food → 皿  = さら  ( = sara) 

•a slice of pie, cake,pizza →  切れ = きれ ( = kire)

•chopsticks→ If you use them to eat  膳  = ぜん ( =  zen) , cooking chopsticks→ 組 = くみ ( = kumi) ,

•Tofu→ 丁 = ちょう ( = chou)

•にぎり寿司  ( =  nigiri zushi) =hand made sushi → two pieces of sushi (or sometimes one piece)→ 貫  ( = kan),

•swimming pool → 面  = めん  ( =  men)

•accidents, inquiries, phone calls  → 件  = けん ( = ken) .

•For live fish we use 匹  = ひき・びき・ぴき ( =  hiki, biki, piki ) as I mentioned above but if it is for food,  匹 or 尾  (  = o) 

 

Vehicles: Depends on where they are used….

•on the road   (cars, motorcycles, trucks ) → 台  (= dai),

•on the railroad   (trains, subways) → 両  ( = ryou),

•fixed on the ground   (slides or elevator )→ 基  ( = ki)、

•in the ocean or river   (ships)→ 隻  (= seki)

:jjj: Cultural Note : “Do we like 198?”

First of all, do you know how to pronounce 198?

“hyaku kyuujuu hachi”? No!

“ichi kyuu hachi”? No!

It has a special pronunciation, いちきゅっぱ！= Ichikyuppa!

You can combine with other figure like 298, 398, …598, etc. But the pronunciation is 298=にっきゅっぱ  ( =  nikkyuppa ) 398=さんきゅっぱ=sankyuppa! 598  = ごっきゅっぱ   ( =  gokyuppa) !  Many stores use this  ~98 ending often to attract consumers. If they see the price 2,000 and 1,980 or 20,000 and 19,800 Even if there is a small difference, we think  198 is much cheaper and buy that product.

This is a TV commercial of 缶コーヒーBoss  ( =  kankoohii Bosu) =caned coffee, BOSS. with 宇宙人ジョーンズ = Uchuujin Jones=Alien Jones.

Try to listen to 198  ( =  ichikyuppa) !

(If you are not familiar with this TV commercial go check my 温泉=onsen lesson. I explained why Tom Lee Jones is working everywhere in Japan.

「今日から働くジョーンズさんで〜す！」

= Kyou kara hataraku Jones san deesu!

= This is Mr.Jones. Today is his first day of work.

この惑星の住民は物欲に支配されている。

= Kono wakusei no juumin wa butsuyoku ni shihai sareteiru.

= The residents of this planet are controlled by materialism.

生きるために必要なものなどそんなにあるはずがないのに。

= Ikiru tame ni hitsuyouna mono nado sonnnani aru hazu ga nai noni.

= We don’t really need so much in order to survive.

「すみません、これどうやって使うんですか？」

= Sumimasen, kore douyatte tsukaun desuka?

= Excuse me. Could you show me how to use this?

(You will hear other staff shouting 1-9-8! 1-9-8!)

「お見逃しない様に、はい、１９８でご奉仕しております。」

= Ominogasi nai you ni, hai, 1-9-8 de gohoushi shiteorimasu.

= Please don’t miss this opportunity. Yes, we are selling these for 1,980 yen!)

「宇宙人だ！」 = Uchuujin da! =Alien!

「１-９-８！１-９-８！１-９-８！」

= Ichikyuppa! Ichikyuppa! Ichikyupp!

この惑星の住民は１９８が大好きだ..

= Kono wakusei no juumin wa ichikyuppa ga daisuki da!

= The residents of this planets love 1-9-8!

 

From Maggie Sensei

このレッスンが、初級者の人にも上級者の人にも役に立てばいいけど。

= Kono ressun ga shokyuusha no hito nimo joukyuusha no hito nimo yaku ni tateba iikedo.

Now hope this lesson serves for both beginners and advanced students!

私もいつも１-9-8でおもちゃ買っちゃいます。

= Watashi mo itsumo 1-9-8 de omocha wo kacchaimasu.

= I tend to buy toys at 1-9-8!

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