②数(kazu) – numbers (how to count different things)

You learned how to count in Japanese on ①数(kazu) – numbers. Actually we have another way to count a thing. However, this counting is limited to one through ten.

Let’s see.

1 ひとつ (hitotsu)

2 ふたつ (futatsu)

3 みっつ (mittsu)

4 よっつ (yottsu)

5 いつつ (itsutsu)

6 むっつ (muttsu)

7 ななつ (nanatsu)

8 やっつ (yattsu)

9 ここのつ (kokonotsu)

10 とお (tou)

You can use this way of counting when you count a small object, such as beans, rings, candy, etc…

Also when little kids tell their age, they might use this way of counting.

いくつ?  (Ikutsu?)　‐　How old are you?

みっつ。 (Mittsu)　‐　I’m 3 years old.

Commonly when you tell your age, we use this counter ： さい(sai)

何さいですか? (Nan-sai desu ka?)　‐　How old are you?

19さいです。(Juu-kyuu-sai desu.)　‐　I’m 19 years old.

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The Japanese use a variety of counters to count objects, often on the basis of their shapes. I guess they are similar expressions to English’s “sheets of” or “cups of.”

Let’s see some examples:

When you count a flat object, we use this counter : 枚(mai) follows by the number.

One sheet of paper will be ： 1枚

When combining a number with a counter, the pronunciation of the number or the counter might change.

hon	本(ほん、ぽん、ぼん)	Long, stick objects: pen, trees, tobacco, etc.
mai	枚(まい)	Flat, thin objects: paper, T-shirts, stamps, dishes, etc.
ko	個(こ)	Broad category of small and compact objects: rings, hamburgers
hai	杯(はい、ぱい、ばい)	Liquid in cups, glasses, bowls : drinks, beer, etc
satsu	冊(さつ)	Bound objects: books, magazines, notebook, etc.
dai	台(だい)	Vehicles, machines: car, oven, computer, etc.
kai	階(かい)	The floor of a building
ken	件(けん)	Houses, buildings
soku	足(そく)	Pairs of footwear: sock, shoes, boots, etc.
tsuu	通(つう)	Letters
hiki	匹 (ひき、ぴき、びき)	Insects, fish, small animals: cats, dogs, etc.
kai	回(かい)	Times, as in “ni-kai (twice)”
nin	人(にん)	“Hitori (one person)” and “futari (two people)” are exceptions.
mei	名(めい)	More formal than “nin.”
ban	番(ばん)	Ordinal numbers, as in “ichi-ban (first place, number one)”

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Let me show you more examples using counters in a sentence.

ボールが あります。　-　There is a ball.

ボールが みっつ あります。　-　There are 3 balls.

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ハンバーガーが あります。　‐　I have a hamburger.

ハンバーガーが 4こ あります。　‐　I have 4 hamburgers.

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Do you noticed where I placed the number+counter sequence?

Yes, it’s right in front of a verb in each sentences.

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Miho