Today, we are going to study together the numeral classifiers which make it possible to quantify things, or more precisely different categories of things.
To be able to follow this course, it is necessary to know how to count in Japanese, which should be the case since season one when we learned to count until infinity in Japanese. If you need to refresh your memory, feel free to go back to revise the corresponding lessons. That said, you should normally be familiar with the subject. I trust you.
In this course, we will therefore learn to quantify things, that is, we will learn to specify to which category, to which class belong the things that we want to count. I had briefly touch on a word of it in season one. In Western languages the system is much simpler, we just need to name the element we want to quantify / count; but in Japanese, there are classifiers specially created for this.
For example, if I mean : « three pens », I cannot just append the number « three » to the word « pens », I will have to indicate the category to which the word « pen » belongs. This is particularly the category of small objects. And so, all the different categories that exist in Japanese will be indicated by numeral classifiers.
This is something very Japanese that do not exist in Western languages but do not worry, everything is a matter of training. Once you have understood all of this, it will be a piece of cake.
For now, I will present the list of several numeral classifiers with a quick description of their use.
I don’t give you the examples right now. For the moment, do your best to memorize the following.
人 .
ニン .
Human beings, people
Used to count humans, people. You will have recognized one of the very first kanji you learned.
通 .
ツウ .
Letters (written and sent by post), certificates, attestations, CVs
Used to count letters (which are written and sent by mail), certificates, attestations, CVs.
匹 .
ヒキ .
Small animals
Used to count small animals. For the Japanese, small animals are considered to be the ones you can carry in your arms. For example, rats, mice, field mice, hamsters…
頭 .
トウ .
Large animals
Used to count large animals. For Japanese people, big animals are the ones you can’t carry in your arms. For example, dinosaurs, dragons, elephants…
羽 .
ワ .
Winged animals
Used to count winged animals and rabbits.
枚 .
マイ .
Flat and thin objects
Used to count flat and thin objects. For example, stamps, banknotes, tickets, mattresses, plates, rice fields, sheets of paper, CDs, pizzas, sheets, handkerchiefs, towels, tea towels, envelopes… Even clothing such as t-shirts, shirts, pants or even swimsuits can be included in this category (except socks).
本 .
ホン .
Long and cylindrical objects
Used to count long and cylindrical objects. For example, trees, baguettes, chalk, pencils, pens, fingers, bread sticks, chocolate bars, cereal bars, sticks, brooms, mops, rakes…
冊 .
サツ .
Bound objects
Used to count bound objects. For example, books, notebooks, dictionaries and magazines.
台 .
ダイ .
Machines (PCs, telephones, etc.), industrial products, vehicles
Used to quantify / count technological objects and vehicles such as kitchens, refrigerators, freezers, electric mixers, ovens, microwaves, pressure cookers, water heaters, bathrooms, bathtubs, televisions, MP3 players, smartphones, tablets, computers, hard drives, cars, scooters, motorcycles, bicycles, taxis, trucks...
杯 .
ハイ .
Contents of a glass, bowl, cup, spoon
Used to count liquids in any container such as glasses, bowls, cups, spoons.
足 .
ソク .
Counter for all items worn on the foot (socks, shoes, etc.)
Used to count for all items worn on the foot (socks, shoes, etc.).
脚 .
キャク .
Numeral counter for counting chairs
Used to count chairs.
個 .
コ .
Numeral counter for very small things, of various shapes and which do not fit into any of the above categories.
Used to count sugar cubes, paper clips, gummies, dice, croissants, apples, pears, apricots, bananas, tangerines, pineapples, mangoes, kiwis, melons, oranges, cherries, tomatoes, eggs, omelets, milk cartons, candies, yogurts, flower pots, tea bags, shells...
So here is the list of number classifiers that we will see in more detail below, but before we get to it, it is important that you understand how Japanese number classifiers are used in sentences.
Okay, let’s start with a sentence we already know how to do. For example, if we mean :
Takamori buys a bath towel.
We will write the sentence like this in Japanese :
高森はバスタオルを買う。
たかもりはバスタオルをかう。
Takamori buys a bath towel.
The exact quantity of bath towel is not specified, but knowing that in Japanese the plural can be implied and that only the context of the sentence possibly allows to know if we express or not the plural, the sentence below, out of context, can be translated as :
Takamori buys a bath towel.
OR
Takamori buys bath towels.
By indicating very precisely the numeral classifier, I thus specify the exact quantity of bath towels.
高森はバスタオルを一枚買う。
たかもりはバスタオルをいちまいかう。
Takamori buys one bath towel.
We take the numeral classifier for bath towels, which is the numeral classifier of flat and thin objects, placed after the number that allows to count, and we put the whole thing just before the verb. Because Japanese numeral classifiers are used as adverbs of quantity.
I give you another example below :
ジュリアンはパン屋でフランスパンを3本買う。
ジュリアンはパンやでフランスパンをさんぼんかう。
Julian buys three baguettes of bread from the bakery.
We take the numeral classifier corresponding to baguettes of bread, which is the numeral classifier of long and cylindrical objects. Once again, we place it after the number that allows us to count and we put the whole thing just before the verb.
We must always specify the category to which the element we want to count belongs.
Remember that in a previous lesson we saw the different types of adverbs including the adverbs of quantity. Now, as I explained to you here, numeral classifiers are used as adverbs of quantity. In the previous course in question, I had explained to you that adverbs of quantity can determine a noun with the particle の to bring a slight nuance. We can do the same with numeral classifiers.
To show you clearly, let’s take our two examples again, but this time with the particle の.
高森は一枚のバスタオルを買う。
たかもりはいちまいのバスタオルをかう。
Takamori buys the bath towel.
By using the particle の, we imply that we already know about the existence of the bath towel.
ジュリアンはパン屋で3本のフランスパンを買う。
ジュリアンはパンやでさんぼんのフランスパンをかう。
Julian buys the three baguettes of bread from the bakery.
By using the particle の, we imply that we already know of the existence of the three baguettes of bread.
I give you below the list of all the numeral classifiers that we have quickly seen above with, for each, explanations and examples as to their specific use. Pay close attention to the pronunciation peculiarities. These exist for phonetic reasons. The Japanese created them so that these numbers are easier to pronounce.
人 .
ニン .
Human beings, people
Used to count humans, people. You will have recognized one of the very first kanji you learned. Now if we mean « two human beings / two people » or « three human beings / three people »...
Take a look at the examples :
一人 .
ひとり . One human being / One people
二人 .
ふたり . Two human beings / Two peoples
三人 .
サンニン . Three human beings / Three people
四人 .
よニン / しり . Four human beings / Four people
五人 .
ゴニン . Five human beings / Five people
六人 .
ロクニン . Six human beings / Six people
七人 .
ななニン, しちニン . Seven human beings / Seven people
八人 .
ハチニン . Eight human beings / Eight people
九人 .
キュウニン . Nine human beings / Nine people
十人 .
ジュウニン . Ten human beings / Ten people
…etcetera
Note : if you place the particle で in front of :
一人 → 一人で, this translates to « all alone ».
二人 → 二人で, this translates to « the two of us ».
三人 → 三人で, this translates to « the three of us ».
…etcetera. So, you can specify the number of people with whom you perform an action.
For example, if we mean :
There are three classmates in Ishimura’s room.
We’ll write the sentence like this in Japanese :
石村の寝室には同級生が３人いる。
いしむらのしんしつにはどうきゅうせいが３にんいる。
There are three classmates in Ishimura’s room.
Thus, we effectively understand that we effectively count classmates and nothing else.
通 .
ツウ .
Letters (written and sent by post), certificates, attestations, resumes
Used to count letters (which are written and sent by mail), certificates, attestations, resumes. If we mean « two letters », « three cv » or « four certificates ».
Take a look at the examples :
一通 .
イツウ . One (letter, certificate, attestation, resume)
二通 .
ニツウ . Two (letters, certificates, attestations, resumes)
三通 .
サンツウ . Three (letters, certificates, attestations, resumes)
四通 .
よんツウ / しり . Four (letters, certificates, attestations, resumes)
五通 .
ゴツウ . Five (letters, certificates, attestations, resumes)
六通 .
ロクツウ . Six (letters, certificates, attestations, resumes)
七通 .
ななツウ, しちニン . Seven (letters, certificates, attestations, resumes)
八通 .
ハチツウ . Eight (letters, certificates, attestations, resumes)
九通 .
キュウツウ . Nine (letters, certificates, attestations, resumes)
十通 .
ジュウツウ . Ten (letters, certificates, attestations, resumes)
…etcetera
Here, we have the same numeral classifier for at least four different things. As with the previous numeral classifier, I write the number in kanji followed by the kanji representing the category of the numeral classifier. But how can I make it clear that I am talking, for example, of letters and not of an attestation, certificate or a resume ? It is enough for me to specify it in my sentence.
For example, if we mean :
There are three resumes.
We’ll write the sentence like this in Japanese :
履歴書が三通いる。
りれきしょがさんつういる。
There are three resumes.
Thus, we effectively understand that we do count resumes and nothing else.
Another example :
テーブルには手紙が三通いる。
テーブルにはてがみがさんつういる。
There are three letters on the table.
We do understand that we are counting many letters and not anything else.
匹 .
ヒキ .
Small animals
Used to count small animals. For the Japanese, small animals are considered to be the ones you can carry in your arms. Otherwise, they will be considered large animals. So, cats, for example, are considered small animals. Hamsters, rats and mice too. And many others.
Going back to how the Japanese distinguish between small and large animals, you might get a little confused from time to time. Take dogs for example. There are dog breeds that are small in size like Poodles and Chihuahuas. For those, it is obvious that you will use 匹 . ヒキ. But for other breeds of dogs such as Dalmatians, German Shepherds, St. Bernard (let’s assume that they are of adult size!), it will probably be more judicious to use the numeral classifier for the large animals (I challenge you to comfortably carry a Saint Bernard in your arms, it’s not easy!). Finally, if these are puppies, you would instead use 匹 . ヒキ.
There are also some animals that are neither particularly small nor particularly large like sheep. For these, I recommend using 匹 . ヒキ. Finally, you have some generic words like « monkey » which can refer to all primates in general ways. However, not all primates are necessarily small. The vast majority are rather large. Only the marmoset can be considered small in size.
And of course, all insects are considered small. It’s obvious.
Take a look at the examples :
一匹 .
イッピキ . One [small animal]
二匹 .
ニヒキ . Two [small animals]
三匹 .
サンビキ . Three [small animals]
四匹 .
よんヒキ / しり . Four [small animals]
五匹 .
ゴヒキ . Five [small animals]
六匹 .
ロッピキ, ロクヒキ . Six [small animals]
七匹 .
ななヒキ . Seven [small animals]
八匹 .
ハッピキ, ハチヒキ . Eight [small animals]
九匹 .
キュウヒキ . Nine [small animals]
十匹 .
ジュッピキ, ジッピキ . Ten [small animals]
…etcetera
Now if we mean :
There are four kittens in the box.
We’ll write the sentence like this in Japanese :
ボックスには小猫が四匹いる。
ボックスにはこねこがよんひきいる。
There are four kittens in the box.
Another example :
ソファーベッドの下には鼠が一匹いる。
ソファーベッドのしたにはねずみがいっぴきいる。
There is one mouse under the sofa bed.
Another example :
クラリスはペットショップで二匹のハムスターを買う。
クラリスはペットショップでにひきのハムスターをかう。
Clarice buys the two hamsters from a pet store.
頭 .
トウ .
Large animals
Used to count large animals. For the Japanese, big animals are those that you cannot carry in your arms. Thus, dinosaurs, dragons, elephants, whales, horses, bears, lions, tigers, pumas, hippos, deer, giraffes, baboons, chimpanzees, gibbons, gorillas, macaques, orangutans, zebras... and some breeds of adult dogs can be considered large animals.
Take a look at the examples :
一頭 .
イットウ . One [large / big animal]
二頭 .
ニトウ . Two [large / big animals]
三頭 .
サントウ . Three [large / big animals]
四頭 .
よんトウ / しり . Four [large / big animals]
五頭 .
ゴトウ . Five [large / big animals]
六頭 .
ロクトウ . Six [large / big animals]
七頭 .
ななトウ . Seven [large / big animals]
八頭 .
ハットウ, ハチヒキ . Eight [large / big animals]
九頭 .
キュウトウ . Nine [large / big animals]
十頭 .
ジュウトウ . Ten [large / big animals]
…etcetera
Now if we mean :
In the doghouse, there are two St. Bernard.
We’ll write the sentence like this in Japanese :
犬小屋にはセント・バーナードが二頭いる。
いぬごやにはセント・バーナードがにとういる。
In the doghouse, there are two St. Bernard.
Another example :
動物園には虎が七頭いる。
どうぶつえんにはとらがななとういる。
There are seven tigers at the animal park.
羽 .
ワ .
Winged animals
Used to count winged animals and rabbits. I’m not sure why this numeral classifier is used for counting rabbits.
According to my research, there was a time when the Japanese were only allowed to eat birds, and as they also wanted to eat rabbits, they voluntarily started counting them as birds, just to circumvent the prohibition.
Take a look at the examples :
一羽 .
イチワ . One [winged animal] / One rabbit
二羽 .
ニワ . Two [winged animals] / Two rabbits
三羽 .
サンバ / サンワ . Three [winged animals] / Three rabbits
四羽 .
よんワ . Four [winged animals] / Four rabbits
五羽 .
ゴワ . Five [winged animals] / Five rabbits
六羽 .
ロッパ / ロクワ . Six [winged animals] / Six rabbits
七羽 .
ななワ . Seven [winged animals] / Seven rabbits
八羽 .
ハッパ / ハチワ . Eight [winged animals] / Eight rabbits
九羽 .
キュウワ . Nine [winged animals] / Nine rabbits
十羽 .
ジュウワ . Ten [winged animals] / Ten rabbits
…etcetera
Now if we mean :
I see four birds on the tree branch in the garden.
We’ll write the sentence like this in Japanese :
私は庭の木の枝に鳥が四羽見る。
わたしはにわのきのえだにとりがよんわみる。
I see four birds on the tree branch in the garden.
Note : the numeral classifier 羽 . ワ is therefore used to quantify / count winged animals and rabbits. By winged animals, this means all winged animals: birds, pigeons, doves, crows, woodpeckers, robins, seagulls, eagles, hawks and other raptors but also chickens, roosters and other animals with wings even if they don’t necessarily know how to fly.
枚 .
マイ .
Flat and thin objects
Used to count flat and thin objects. For example, stamps, banknotes, tickets, mattresses, plates, rice fields, sheets of paper, CDs, pizzas, sheets, handkerchiefs, towels, tea towels, envelopes... Even clothing such as t-shirts, shirts, pants or even swimsuits can be included in this category (except socks).
Take a look at the examples :
一枚 .
イチマイ . One [flat and thin object]
二枚 .
ニマイ . Two [flat and thin objects]
三枚 .
サンマイ . Three [flat and thin objects]
四枚 .
よんマイ . Four [flat and thin objects]
五枚 .
ゴマイ . Five [flat and thin objects]
六枚 .
ロクマイ . Six [flat and thin objects]
七枚 .
ななマイ. Seven [flat and thin objects]
八枚 .
ハチマイ . Eight [flat and thin objects]
九枚 .
キュウマイ . Nine [flat and thin objects]
十枚 .
ジュウマイ . Ten [flat and thin objects]
…etcetera
Now if we mean :
Kaori buys a cheese pizza.
We’ll write the sentence like this in Japanese :
香織は一枚のチーズピザを買う。
かおりはいちまいのチーズピザをかう。
Kaori buys one cheese pizza.
Thus, we effectively understand that we are counting a pizza and not something else. As a rule of thumb, we might as well have written :
香織はチーズピザを買う。
かおりはチーズピザをかう。
The exact quantity of cheese pizzas is not specified, but knowing that in Japanese the plural can be implied and that only the context of the sentence possibly allows to know whether the plural is expressed or not, the sentence below, out of context, can be translated as :
Kaori buys one cheese pizza.
OR
Kaori buys cheese pizzas.
By indicating very precisely the numeral classifier, I thus specify the exact quantity of pizzas.
香織は一枚のチーズピザを買う。
かおりはいちまいのチーズピザをかう。
Kaori buys one cheese pizza.
Note : there is a numeral classifier for clothing (except those worn on the foot) but the classifier 枚 . マイ seems the most used for counting clothes – perhaps because it encompasses a larger number of objects –.
本 .
ホン .
Long and cylindrical objects
Used to count long and cylindrical objects. For example, trees, baguettes, chalk, pencils, pens, fingers, bread sticks, chocolate bars, cereal bars, sticks, brooms, mops, rakes…
Note that this is the book kanji with the same Sino-Japanese pronunciation. But then, how did this kanji end up as a numeral classifier for long and cylindrical objects ? Before books as we know them existed, with their very rectangular shape, the Japanese wrote mainly on scrolls of parchment wrapped around a piece of wood or bamboo, which gave the whole a cylindrical shape. It was probably only with the gradual opening up to the West that the Japanese came to embrace the rectangular book we know so well.
That said, the numeral classifier 本 . ホン is not used to quantify / count books. For this we will use another numeral classifier.
But for now, some examples are needed. If we mean « two long and cylindrical objects », « three long and cylindrical objects » or even « four long and cylindrical objects ».
Take a look at the examples :
一本 .
イッポン . One [long and cylindrical object]
二本 .
ニホン . Two [long and cylindrical objects]
三本 .
サンボン . Three [long and cylindrical objects]
四本 .
よんホン / しり . Four [long and cylindrical objects]
五本 .
ゴホン . Five [long and cylindrical objects]
六本 .
ロッポン . Six [long and cylindrical objects]
七本 .
ななホン, しちニン . Seven [long and cylindrical objects]
八本 .
ハッポン . Eight [long and cylindrical objects]
九本 .
キュウホン . Nine [long and cylindrical objects]
十本 .
ジュッポン, ジッポン . Ten [long and cylindrical objects]
…etcetera
Now if we mean :
Today I am going to buy the three bonsai trees.
We’ll write the sentence like this in Japanese :
今日は三本の盆栽を買う。
きょうはさんぼんのぼんさいをかう。
Today I am going to buy the three bonsai trees.
Note : the numeral classifier 本 . ホン is used to count long and cylindrical objects including trees. Bonsai tree doesn’t really have a long, cylindrical shape, but think of it as if it were a tree.
冊 .
サツ .
Bound objects
Used to count related objects. For example, books, notebooks, dictionaries and magazines.
Now, if we mean « two bound objects », « three bound objects » or even « four bound objects ».
Take a look at the examples :
一冊 .
イッサツ . One [bound object]
二冊 .
ニサツ . Two [bound objects]
三冊 .
サンサツ . Three [bound objects]
四冊 .
よんサツ . Four [bound objects]
五冊 .
ゴサツ . Five [bound objects]
六冊 .
ロクサツ . Six [bound objects]
七冊 .
ななサツ . Seven [bound objects]
八冊 .
ハッサツ . Eight [bound objects]
九冊 .
キュウサツ . Nine [bound objects]
十冊 .
ジュッサツ, ジッサツ . Ten [bound objects]
…etcetera
Now if we mean :
Hayashida buys seven books from a bookstore.
We’ll write the sentence like this in Japanese :
林田は書店で本を七冊の盆栽を買う。
はやしだはしょてんでほんをななさしかう。
Hayashida buys seven books from a bookstore.
Another example :
宮田は日仏辞典を二冊の盆栽を買う。
みやたはにちふつじてんをにさしさがす。
Miyata is looking for two Franco-Japanese dictionaries.
台 .
ダイ .
Machines (PCs, telephones, etc.), industrial products, vehicles
Used to quantify / count technological objects and vehicles such as kitchens, refrigerators, freezers, electric mixers, ovens, microwaves, pressure cookers, water heaters, bathrooms, bathtubs, televisions, MP3 players, smartphones, tablets, computers, hard drives, cars, scooters, motorcycles, bicycles, taxis, trucks...
Please note : airplanes, helicopters, gliders and all flying machines do not fit into this list. They have their own numeral counter which we will see below.
Now, if we mean « two machines », « three machines » or even « four machines ».
Take a look at the examples :
一台 .
イチダイ . One [machine]
二台 .
ニダイ . Two [machines]
三台 .
サンダイ . Three [machines]
四台 .
よんダイ . Four [machines]
五台 .
ゴダイ . Five [machines]
六台 .
ロクダイ . Six [machines]
七台 .
ななダイ . Seven [machines]
八台 .
ハチダイ . Eight [machines]
九台 .
キュウダイ . Nine [machines]
十台 .
ジュッダイ . Ten [machines]
…etcetera
Now if we mean :
There are the four bikes and the motorbike in the garage.
We’ll write the sentence like this in Japanese :
ガレージには四台の自転車と一台のバイクがある。
ガレージにはよんだいのじてんしゃといちだいのバイクがある。
There are the four bikes and the motorbike in the garage.
杯 .
ハイ .
Contents of a glass, bowl, cup, spoon
Used to count liquids in any container such as glasses, bowls, cups, spoons.
Can also be used to count boats, octopuses and squids.
Now, if we mean « two glasses of… », « three glasses of… » or even « four glasses of… ».
Take a look at the examples :
一杯 .
イッパイ . One glass of… / One bowl of…
二杯 .
ニハイ . Two glasses of… / Two bowls of…
三杯 .
サンバイ . Three glasses of… / Three bowls of…
四杯 .
よんハイ . Four glasses of… / Four bowls of…
五杯 .
ゴハイ . Five glasses of… / Five bowls of…
六杯 .
ロッパイ . Six glasses of… / Six bowls of…
七杯 .
ななハイ . Seven glasses of… / Seven bowls of…
八杯 .
ハッパイ . Eight glasses of… / Eight bowls of…
九杯 .
キュウハイ . Nine glasses of… / Nine bowls of…
十杯 .
ジュッパイ , ジッパイ . Ten glasses of… / Ten bowls of…
…etcetera
Now if we mean :
There are three glasses of champagnes on the table.
We’ll write the sentence like this in Japanese :
テーブルにはシャンパンが三杯のバイクと一台のバイクがある。
テーブルにはシャンパンがさんばいのバイクといちだいのバイクがある。
There are three glasses of champagnes on the table.
Note : we find the kanji 杯 in the expression 乾杯 . カンパイ which means « to your health ! ».
足 .
ソク .
Counter for all items worn on the foot (socks, shoes, etc.)
Used to count all items worn on the foot (socks, shoes...). Note that the counter 足 . ソク can mean pairs of shoes or pairs of socks.
Take a look at the examples :
一足 .
イッソク . One (pair of) shoe(s) / (pair of) sock(s)
二足 .
ニソク . Two (pairs of) shoe(s) / (pairs of) sock(s)
三足 .
サンゾク . Three (pairs of) shoe(s) / (pairs of) sock(s)
四足 .
よんソク . Four (pairs of) shoe(s) / (pairs of) sock(s)
五足 .
ゴソク . Five (pairs of) shoe(s) / (pairs of) sock(s)
六足 .
ロクソク . Six (pairs of) shoe(s) / (pairs of) sock(s)
七足 .
ななソク . Seven (pairs of) shoe(s) / (pairs of) sock(s)
八足 .
ハッソク . Eight (pairs of) shoe(s) / (pairs of) sock(s)
九足 .
キュウソク . Nine (pairs of) shoe(s) / (pairs of) sock(s)
十足 .
ジュッソク , ジッソク . Ten (pairs of) shoe(s) / (pairs of) sock(s)
…etcetera
Now if we mean :
There are the eight pairs of socks on the bed.
We’ll write the sentence like this in Japanese :
ベッドの上に八足の靴下がある。
ベッドのうえにはっそくのくつしたがある。
There are the eight pairs of socks on the bed.
脚 .
キャク .
Numeral counter for counting chairs
Used to count chairs.
Take a look at the examples :
一脚 .
イッキャク . One chair
二脚 .
ニキャク . Two chairs
三脚 .
サンキャク . Three chairs
四脚 .
よんキャク . Four chairs
五脚 .
ゴキャク . Five chairs
六脚 .
ロッキャク . Six chairs
七脚 .
ななキャク . Seven chairs
八脚 .
ハッキャク . Eight chairs
九脚 .
キュウキャク . Nine chairs
十脚 .
ジュッキャク , ジッソク . Ten chairs
…etcetera
Now if we mean :
There are the seven chairs in the kitchen.
We’ll write the sentence like this in Japanese :
台所には七脚の椅子がある。
だいどころにはななきゃくのいすがある。
There are the seven chairs in the kitchen.
個 .
コ .
Numeral counter for very small things, of various shapes and which do not fit into any of the above categories
Used to count sugar cubes, paper clips, gummies, dice, croissants, apples, pears, apricots, bananas, tangerines, pineapples, mangoes, kiwis, melons, oranges, cherries, tomatoes, eggs, omelets, milk cartons, candies, yogurts, flower pots, tea bags, shells...
Take a look at the examples :
一個 .
イッコ . One [very small object]
二個 .
ニコ . Two [very small objects]
三個 .
サンコ . Three [very small objects]
四個 .
よんコ . Four [very small objects]
五個 .
ゴコ . Five [very small objects]
六個 .
ロッコ . Six [very small objects]
七個 .
ななコ . Seven [very small objects]
八個 .
ハッコ . Eight [very small objects]
九個 .
キュウコ . Nine [very small objects]
十個 .
ジュッコ, ジッコ . Ten [very small objects]
…etcetera
Now if we mean :
On the student’s desk there is one eraser and two paper clips.
We’ll write the sentence like this in Japanese :
学生の机の上には一個の消しゴムと二個のペーパークリップがある。
がくせいのつくえのうえにはいっこのけししゴムとにこのペーパークリップがある。
On the student’s desk there is one eraser and two paper clips.
Another example :
ゲームテーブルには二個のサイコロがある。
ゲームテーブルにはにこのサイコロがある。
There are the two dice on the game table.
The list of numeral classifiers is still long. I will put four more below very quickly. For example, sentences, try to find some on your own.
棟 .
トウ .
Large buildings
Used to quantify / count tall buildings, apartment buildings, skyscrapers.
Take a look at the few examples :
一棟 .
イットウ . One [large building / skyscraper]
二棟 .
ニトウ . Two [large buildings / skyscrapers]
三棟 .
サントウ . Three [large buildings / skyscrapers]
四棟 .
よんトウ . Four [large buildings / skyscrapers]
五棟 .
ゴトウ . Five [large buildings / skyscrapers]
六棟 .
ロクトウ . Six [large buildings / skyscrapers]
七棟 .
ななトウ . Seven [large buildings / skyscrapers]
八棟 .
ハットウ . Eight [large buildings / skyscrapers]
九棟 .
キュウトウ . Nine [large buildings / skyscrapers]
十棟 .
ジュットウ, ジットウ . Ten [large buildings / skyscrapers]
…etcetera
軒 .
ケン .
Houses, small buildings
Used to quantify/count houses and small buildings. For example, grocery stores, patisseries, bakeries, restaurants, pizzerias, food shops, boutiques, fish shop, butcheries, tea rooms, fast food restaurants, cafes, internet cafes and supermarkets. In short, all restaurants and shops. Even arcade rooms and casinos.
Do you remember your vocabulary lesson entitled 飲食店など - Places To Eat and Others? All the vocabulary words we saw there fit into this category.
Take a look at the few examples :
一軒 .
イッケン . One [house / small building]
二軒 .
ニケン . Two [houses / small buildings]
三軒 .
サンケン . Three [houses / small buildings]
四軒 .
よんケン . Four [houses / small buildings]
五軒 .
ゴケン . Five [houses / small buildings]
六軒 .
ロッケン . Six [houses / small buildings]
七軒 .
ななケン . Seven [houses / small buildings]
八軒 .
ハッケン . Eight [houses / small buildings]
九軒 .
キュウケン . Nine [houses / small buildings]
十軒 .
ジュッケン, ジッケン . Ten [houses / small buildings]
…etcetera
行 .
コウ .
Banks
Used to quantify/count banks.
Nothing more to add. It is a unique numeral classifier for banks.
Take a look at the few examples :
一行 .
イッコウ . One bank
二行 .
ニコウ . Two banks
三行 .
サンコウ . Three banks
四行 .
よんコウ . Four banks
五行 .
ゴコウ . Five banks
六行 .
ロッコウ . Six banks
七行 .
ななコウ . Seven banks
八行 .
ハッコウ . Eight banks
九行 .
キュウコウ . Nine banks
十行 .
ジュッコウ, ジッコウ . Ten banks
…etcetera
階 .
カイ .
Floors
Used to count floors (first floor, second floor...). Be careful, what is equivalent to the ground floor for us is equivalent to the first floor in Japan.
Take a look at the few examples :
一階 .
イッカイ . One floor
二階 .
ニカイ . Two floors
三階 .
サンガイ . Three floors
四階 .
よんカイ . Four floors
五階 .
ゴカイ . Five floors
六階 .
ロッカイ . Six floors
七階 .
ななカイ . Seven floors
八階 .
ハッカイ . Eight floors
九階 .
キュウカイ . Nine floors
十階 .
ジュッカイ, ジッカイ . Ten floors
…etcetera
In Japanese, to say « number of floors », we will say : 階建て . カイだて. To indicate the number of floors, just add the corresponding number, which gives us from one to ten.
一階建て .
イッカイだて . A one-story (house, building…)
二階建て .
ニカイだて . A two-story (house, building…)
三階建て .
サンガイだて . A three-story (house, building…)
四階建て .
よんカイだて . A four-story (house, building…)
五階建て .
ゴカイだて . A five-story (house, building…)
六階建て .
ロッカイだて . A six-story (house, building…)
七階建て .
ななカイだて . A seven-story (house, building…)
八階建て .
ハッカイだて . An eight-story (house, building…)
九階建て .
キュウカイだて . A nine-story (house, building…)
十階建て .
ジュッカイだて, ジッカイだて . A ten-story (house, building…)
…etcetera
We can finally move on to a more concrete use of everything we have just seen from the start, starting with the questions. We are going to create new interrogative words by replacing the Sino-Japanese numbers with the interrogative noun 何 . なん.
Let’s start with a first list of interrogative nouns :
何人 .
なんニン . How many people ?
何通 .
なんサツ . How many letters ? / How many resume ? / How many certificates ?
何匹 .
なんビキ . How many [small animals] ?
何頭 .
なんトウ . How many [large animals] ?
何羽 .
なんハ . How many [winged animals] ? / How many rabbits ?
何枚 .
なんマイ . How many [flat and thin objects] ?
何本 .
なんホン . How many [long, cylindrical objects] ?
何冊 .
なんサツ . How many [bound objects] ?
何台 .
なんダイ . How many [machines] ?
何杯 .
なんバイ . How many glasses ? How many bowls ? How many cups ? How many spoons ?
何足 .
なんゾク . How many socks ? How many shoes ?
何脚 .
なんキャク . How many chairs ?
何個 .
なんコ . How many [very small objects] ?
We will now be able to create lots of new words with the following particles : か, も and でも.
Particle か
Remember, in the lesson entitled « Ask a Question in Japanese », we saw that we could combine interrogative nouns with particles to create new words.
Here we will do it with the particle か to create undefined words :
+か (undefined word)
Let’s start with a new list of nouns :
何人か .
なんニンか . Some people
何通か .
なんサツか . Some letters / Some resumes / Some certificates
何匹か .
なんビキか . Some [small animals]
何頭か .
なんトウか . Some [large animals]
何羽か .
なんハか . Some [winged animals] / Some rabbits
何枚か .
なんマイか . Some [flat and thin objects]
何本か .
なんホンか . Some [long and cylindrical objects]
何冊か .
なんサツか . Some [bound objects]
何台か .
なんダイか . Some [machines]
何杯か .
なんバイか . Some glasses / Some bowls / Some cups / Some spoons
何足か .
なんゾクか . Some socks / Some shoes
何脚か .
なんキャクか . Some chairs
何個か .
なんコか . Some [very small objects]
Particle も
Now we are going to create new words with the particle も to indicate an absolute positive value :
+も (absolute positive value)
何人も .
なんニンも . Many people
何通も .
なんサツも . Many letters / Many resumes / Many certificates
何匹も .
なんビキも . Many [small animals]
何頭も .
なんトウも . Many [large animals]
何羽も .
なんハも . Many [winged animals] / Many rabbits
何枚も .
なんマイも . Many [flat and thin objects]
何本も .
なんホンも . Many [long and cylindrical objects]
何冊も .
なんサツも . Many [bound objects]
何台も .
なんダイも . Many [machines]
何杯も .
なんバイも . Many glasses / Many bowls / Many cups / Many spoons
何足も .
なんゾクも . Many socks / Many shoes
何脚も .
なんキャクも . Many chairs
何個も .
なんコも. Many [very small objects]
Particle でも
Now we are going to create new words with the particle でも to encompass any element whatsoever :
+でも (encompass any element whatsoever)
何人でも .
なんニンでも . Any number of people
何通でも .
なんサツでも . Any number of letters / Any number of resumes / Any number of certificates
何匹でも .
なんビキでも . Any number of [small animals]
何頭でも .
なんトウでも . Any number of [large animals]
何羽でも .
なんハでも . Any number [winged animals] / Any number of rabbits
何枚でも .
なんマイでも . Any number of [flat and thin objects]
何本でも .
なんホンでも . Any number of [long and cylindrical objects]
何冊でも .
なんサツでも . Any number of [bound objects]
何台でも .
なんダイでも . Any number of [machines]
何杯でも .
なんバイでも . Any number of glasses / Any number of bowls / Any number of cups / Any number of spoons
何足でも .
なんゾクでも . Any number of socks / Any number of shoes
何脚でも .
なんキャクでも . Any number of chairs
何個でも .
なんコでも . Any number of [very small objects]
We haven’t seen the negative form in Japanese yet, we’ll cover it in more detail in the third season, but since we’re on numeral classifiers, I’d just like to break down a sample sentence with you.
If I mean, for example :
There is no cat in the rice field.
Or if you prefer :
There is not a single cat in the rice field.
How are we going to translate this sentence into Japanese knowing that the negative form of the verb いる is いない. We’ll also need a new word created with the particle も. Think about this for a moment before reading a little further down.
If you took the time to think about the question and referred to the lesson on demonstrative prefixes, it is likely that most of you translated the sentence as :
田地で猫が何匹もいない。
でんちでねこがなんびきもいない。
There is not a single cat in the rice field.
The above sentence is wrong. In the case of negation, we will not use the word 何匹も. なんビキも. We replace the kanji 何 . なん by the kansuuji 一 (or Arabic numeral 1).
So, here is the correct sentence below :
田地で猫が一匹もいない。
でんちでねこがいっぴきもいない。
There is not a single cat in the rice field.
Note that it is also possible to use the kanji of 零 (or Arabic numeral 0) with the corresponding numeral classifier. The meaning of the sentence will be exactly the same.
Then know that it is possible to transform a numeral classifier into an ordinal number to say « the first », « the second », « the third »… To do this, we are going to use the kanji 目 . め as a suffix of our numeral classifiers to transform them into ordinal numbers.
For you to understand better, an example :
七頭 .
ななトウ . Seven large animals
Okay, we add the suffix 目 . め in order to obtain an ordinal number, which gives us :
七頭目 .
ななトウめ. The seventh big animal
We just created a noun which we cannot use as an adverb of quantity but as a noun to determine another noun using the particle の, which gives us :
七頭目の熊 .
ななトウめのくま. The seventh bear
And then, we have another way to create ordinal numbers in Japanese with the prefix 第 . ダイ that we are going to place just before the number WITHOUT a numeral classifier.
Below is an example :
第五 .
ダイゴ . The fifth
As I told you above, we use the prefix 第 . ダイ without a numeral counter, so it can be the fifth of any category of object. In order to specify which element we are talking about, we will use the particle の followed by the noun we want to determine, which gives us :
第五の熊 .
ダイゴのくま. The fifth bear
That said, if we want to use the prefix 第 . ダイ with a Sino-Japanese word, the particle の is not necessary.
For example :
第7宇宙 .
ダイななウチュウ . The seventh universe
Now what is the difference between ordinal numbers created from the suffix 目 . め and those created from the prefix 第 . ダイ. The suffix 目 . め corresponds to an ordinal order that we create ourselves starting from what we want while 第 . ダイ indicates an official order in a clearly established list.
To give you a more concrete example, imagine a horse race. There are seven horses in all. All horses have an official number according to an established official list. If I want to designate the fifth horse according to the official list established, in this case, I will use the prefix 第 . ダイ. But if I want to point to the fifth horse FROM the right, in this case I fall on horse number three. I’ve designated a horse by making my own list – starting from the right –, so I’ll use the suffix 目 . め. Keep in mind that the list you can make yourself can be both spatial and temporal.
Of course, it is also possible to create interrogative words to ask « the how many ? ». I put them to you quickly below :
何頭目 .
なんトウめ. The how many ? the number how much ? (For a pre-established list)
第何 .
ダイなん. The how many ? the number how much ? (For a list that we establish ourselves)
Here we are in the very last part of this course. Before I get to the conclusion, I’m going to come back with you to a very final numeral classifier that I briefly told you about in season one. When the specific counter to use is not known or certain, when we are looking to classify concrete or abstract things but do not know or no longer in which categories they fit, we can use the default counter : つ.
You will notice that these are purely Japanese numbers. If you don’t remember any more, don’t worry, I’ll put the whole list below, from one to ten. Either way, it’s impossible to go further than ten with this numeral classifier. Like what, it is better to know your numeral classifiers by heart.
Also note that the number ten, as a numeral classifier is simply pronounced とお without the suffix つ.
一つ .
ひとつ . One
二つ .
ふたつ . Two
三つ .
みっつ . Three
四つ .
よっつ . Four
五つ .
いつつ . Five
六つ .
むっつ . Six
七つ .
ななつ . Seven
八つ .
やっつ . Eight
九つ .
ここのつ . Nine
十 .
とお . Ten
It is also possible with this numeral classifier to create an interrogative word : 幾つ . いくつ which means « how much ? ». Note that writing in hiragana is the most common.
With the numeral classifier つ, it is also possible to use the suffix 目 . め on numbers from one to ten.
一つ目.
ひとつめ. The first
二つ目.
ふたつめ. The second
三つ目.
みっつめ. The third
四つ目.
よっつめ. The fourth
五つ目.
いつつめ. The fifth
六つ目.
むっつめ. The sixth
七つ目.
ななつめ. The seventh
八つ目.
やっつめ. The eighth
九つ目.
ここのつめ. The ninth
Of course, we will also have an interrogative word here : 幾つ目 . いくつめ which means « the how many ? ». Again, writing in hiragana is the most common.
Finally, it’s time to end with some interrogative words for the money change. So, if you want to ask « How much does it cost ? » in yen, in euros, in dollars… it’s very simple, you follow the following pattern :
Interrogative word 何 + the name of the monetary currency.
So, if you want to ask « How much does it cost in yen ? », you’ll say :
何円 .
なんエン . How much does it cost in yen ? / How many yen ?
And you follow the same pattern with all other monetary currencies :
何ユーロ .
なんユーロ . How much does it cost in euros ? / How many euros ?
何ドル .
なんドル . How much does it cost in dollars ? / How many dollars ?
We have finally arrived at the end of this course on numeral classifiers in Japanese. This course is probably the longest I have written so far and it was a real pleasure for me to write it to completion.
For this lesson too, you will not cut it, there are exercises to do. Theme and version of course including the use of numeral classifiers. Take the time to understand everything we have seen before continuing. Write and rewrite the example sentences that we have seen in this lesson as well as the sentences that you find in the exercises.
Have a good day everyone and do your homework properly.
Introduction