{"id":2683,"date":"2018-10-15T17:11:23","date_gmt":"2018-10-15T17:11:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/?p=2683"},"modified":"2019-09-06T14:43:32","modified_gmt":"2019-09-06T14:43:32","slug":"japanese-number-counters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/fr\/japanese-number-counters\/","title":{"rendered":"Lesson 12. Top 5 Japanese Counters You Must Know!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-2670\" src=\"http:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/justin-bisson-beck-192842-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Japanese Counters, Counters in Japanese\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/justin-bisson-beck-192842-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/justin-bisson-beck-192842-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/justin-bisson-beck-192842-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/justin-bisson-beck-192842-unsplash-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/justin-bisson-beck-192842-unsplash-240x160.jpg 240w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In English, we can count the object directly in [number + object], as in the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>an apple,<\/li>\n<li>two bags,<\/li>\n<li>three umbrellas,<\/li>\n<li>and so on.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h6>Japanese Counters<\/h6>\n<p>Well\u2026 The counting method above doesn\u2019t work in Japanese. In addition, there are around 500 counters for counting things, which are used differently depending on the shape, size, etc. The structure of the sentence is generally:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>number + counter + object<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Note that there is a possibility to combine the number and counters in several cases. Let\u2019s learn the five most used Japanese counters!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2693\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2693\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Japanese-Counters-Updated.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2693 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Japanese-Counters-Updated.jpg\" alt=\"Japanese Counters\" width=\"1280\" height=\"586\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Japanese-Counters-Updated.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Japanese-Counters-Updated-300x137.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Japanese-Counters-Updated-768x352.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Japanese-Counters-Updated-1024x469.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Japanese-Counters-Updated-600x275.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Japanese-Counters-Updated-280x128.jpg 280w, https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Japanese-Counters-Updated-980x450.jpg 980w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1280px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1280\/586;\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2693\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Japanese counters summary. Click on the image to enlarge. The irregular forms are shown in colour.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h6><strong>\u3064<\/strong> <strong>\u2013 <\/strong><strong>TSU for General Objects<\/strong><\/h6>\n<p>\u3064 [tsu], which is known as the <a href=\"http:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/japanese-numbers-complete-guide\/\">native Japanese number<\/a>, is the general purpose Japanese counter. This is the safest counter to use when you are not sure which one is the exact counter to use. Besides, use \u3064 [tsu] when the object doesn\u2019t have the specific counter category or any object regardless of the shape. Examples:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u3059\u307f\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3001\u30c1\u30e3\u30fc\u30cf\u30f3\u30921\u3064\u4e0b\u3055\u3044\u3002<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Sumimasen, ch\u0101han o hitotsu kudasai.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Excuse me, I would like to have one fried rice, please.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u98df\u5353\u306e\u4e0a\u306b\u3001\u30d1\u30f3\u304c2\u3064\u3042\u308a\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Shokutaku no ue ni, pan ga futatsu arimasu.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">There are two breads on the dining table.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For your information, this general counter is only used up to ten. After ten, use the \u500b [ko] counter.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h6><strong>\u4eba<\/strong> <strong>\u2013 RI\/NIN for People<\/strong><\/h6>\n<p>\u4eba [nin] is the counter that strictly used only for people, regardless the age. <strong>\u4eba<\/strong> is the kanji for the word \u2018person\u2019. Note that the first two counters \u2013 1 person and 2 people \u2013 are irregular yet similar to the \u3064 [tsu] form. Thus:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1\u4eba \u2192 <strong>hito<\/strong>-ri<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">2\u4eba \u2192 <strong>futa<\/strong>-ri<\/p>\n<p>When counting 4 people or 4\u4eba, it is pronounced as <strong>yo-nin<\/strong>, not yon-nin or shi-nin. We can use this counter up to 1 000 people, or even any number you can count to. All you need is adding the word \u4eba [nin] behind the numbers. Read: <a href=\"http:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/japanese-numbers-complete-guide\/\">The Complete Guide of Japanese Number (up to 10<sup>68<\/sup>).<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u79c1\u306f\u30015\u4eba\u5bb6\u65cf\u3067\u3059\u3002<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Watashi wa, 5-nin kazoku desu.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">My family consists of five people.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u305d\u306e\u5b66\u6821\u306b\u306f\u751f\u5f92\u304c1000\u4eba\u3050\u3089\u3044\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Sono gakk\u014d ni wa seito ga 1000-nin gurai imasu.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">There are about 1000 students at that school.<\/p>\n<p>If you go to a restaurant, hotel, or other hospitality industry, you will be more likely to hear \u540d [mei] as the polite counter for people.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h6><strong>\u672c<\/strong> <strong>\u2013 HON\/BON\/PON for Long and Slender Objects<\/strong><\/h6>\n<p>\u672c [hon\/bon\/pon], which is the kanji for books, is the counter for long and slender objects despite the size of the object. We can use \u672c [hon\/bon\/pon] for small size objects like pencil, cables, rose, finger; or even bigger objects, such as bottle, umbrella, tree, and train. The irregular forms are 1\u672c, 6\u672c, 8\u672c [pon] and 3\u672c [bon]. Therefore:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u5098\u3092\u4e09\u672c\u8cb7\u3063\u305f\u3002<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Kasa o san-bon katta.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">I bought three umbrellas.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u30d0\u30e9\u304c520\u672c\u3042\u308a\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Bara ga gohyaku nijup-pon arimasu.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">There are 520 roses.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h6><strong>\u500b<\/strong> <strong>\u2013 KO for General Objects<\/strong><\/h6>\n<p>\u500b [ko] is another often used counters. We can use this counter for almost anything: from huge planet to tiny bacteria, tangible cake to the intangible idea, and so on. Moreover, this counter can be used to substitute other shape counters, like \u672c [hon\/bon\/pon] and \u679a [mai]. While \u3064 [tsu] can only be used up to ten, there is no limitation of the number that can be paired with \u500b [ko]. Therefore:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u30b1\u30fc\u30ad\u30922\u500b\u98df\u3079\u305f\u3002<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">K\u0113ki o ni-ko tabeta.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">I ate two cakes.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u6bcd\u304b\u3089\u5375\u309210\u500b\u3082\u3089\u3063\u305f\u3002<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Haha kara tamago o jik-ko(juk-ko) moratta.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">I received ten eggs from my mother.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h6><strong>\u679a<\/strong> <strong>\u2013 MAI for Flat and Thin Objects<\/strong><\/h6>\n<p>\u679a [mai] is for counting inanimate flat and thin objects, regardless of the square or circular shape. We can use this counter to count paper, CD\/DVD, card, mat, photo, shirt, cheese, bread, including the not totally flat plate. Examples:<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u6620\u753b\u306e\u30c1\u30b1\u30c3\u30c8\u3092\u4e09\u679a\u6301\u3063\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Eiga no chiketto o san-mai motte imasu.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">I have three movie tickets.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u30b7\u30e3\u30c4\u3092\u3082\u30461\u679a\u3044\u304b\u304c\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Shatsu o m\u014d ichi-mai ikaga desu ka?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Would you like another shirt?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s learn Japanese today! Join us at <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/app\/id690557567\">LingoCards<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In English, we can count the object directly in [number + object], as in the following: an apple, two bags, three umbrellas, and so on.&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":2670,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[190,116],"class_list":["post-2683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-japanese","tag-counters","tag-numbers","pmpro-has-access"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2683","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2683"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2683\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3914,"href":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2683\/revisions\/3914"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2670"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lingo-apps.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}