Along with kanji and onomatopoeia, counting is an element of Japanese that seems daunting due to the sheer amount of words involved.
There seems to be a counter for everything—in fact, the Japanese language has about 500 – 600 counters! (reference page is in Japanese only) Even native speakers will confess they don’t know all of them. In this article, we’ll discuss the most common Japanese counters and how to use them.
What Is a Counter?
In Japanese, counters are used to help define numbered or counted objects. English uses counters too—in fact, almost every language does. A common example of a counter in English would be:
“Mix in two cups of milk.”
In English, general counters are most often found in measurement-specific instances. Beyond that, things are count things using the actual name of the object.
“I’d like three sodas, please.”
“I just saw two deer running across the field.”
“Did you order four pancakes, or five?”
Counting in Japanese is simpler in this respect.
Because sodas are drinks stored in long, hollow containers, they are counted the same way as other drinks by using 本 (ほん). Deer are large animals and are counted like all other large animals using 頭 (とう). Pancakes are thin and flat, which uses the counter 枚 (まい).
Most counters can be used with various objects, and the only rules to remember are a few changes in pronunciation that we will get to later. Before diving into common Japanese counters, I’d like to introduce you to 2 of the most useful that you can use is almost any situation.
Counters in Japanese: Is There An Easier Way?
If my husband ever hears me complaining about how many counters there are to memorize, he shrugs and tells me to just use 個 (こ). “You can use it for everything,” he’ll say.
While 個 can be used to count a TON of different things, there are certain things it can’t be used for.
In general, the counter 個 (こ) is drawn from Japan’s Chinese roots and is used for small, and/or most physical objects, but not ALL objects. Usually, counting things like animals using 個 would sound strange.
Example:
- 昨日、鳥を2個見た。(きのう、とりをにこみた): I saw 2 birds yesterday.
While birds are technically physical objects, that fact that they are living creatures makes using the 個 counter sound weird.
In this case, the most elegant solution would be to use the counter for birds, which is 羽 (わ). We’ll cover this in more detail below.
- 昨日、鳥を2羽見た。(きのう、とりをにわみた): I saw 2 birds yesterday.
What makes 個 tricky is that it can even be used for non-physical, abstract object as well.
Example:
- 昨日、夢を2個見た。(きのう、ゆめをにこみた): I had 2 dreams yesterday.
Isn’t there a simpler way? That’s where “つ” comes in.
Counting With つ: When All Else Fails
Unlike 個, the counter つ can be naturally applied to both of the previous examples:
- “I saw two birds yesterday.” → “昨日、鳥を２つ見た。” (きのう、とりをふたつみた)
- “I saw two dreams last night.” → “昨日、夢を２つ見た。” (きのう、ゆめをふたつみた)
If you don’t know how to count using the Japanese “つ” system, you can learn it below.
つ is so useful, that even when I make an effort to use the proper counters when ordering a drink or food at a restaurant, my order might just be repeated back using the つ counter. Don’t be ashamed to resort to using this counter. It can be used to count many things and you can easily communicate with native speakers.
**Important note: In Japan, using the “つ” counting system is common, but usually only for numbers 1 – 9. The number 10 is pronounced as “とお” and can be used, but it’s more common to use the Sino-Japanese counting system for numbers 10 or higher.
Example:
- 昨日、11の夢を見た。(きのう、じゅういちのゆめをみた): I had 11 dreams yesterday.
- 昨日、鳥を14見た。(きのう、とりをじゅうよんみた): I saw 14 birds yesterday.
Of course, if you can master and use the counters below, you’ll impress people from Japan. Most importantly, learning these counters will be highly useful when speaking Japanese with native speakers.
How to Count With つ
つ is a newer system than 個 and comes from the fully-Japanese category known as 和語（わご）. If you can remember the つ counting style from 1~10, the rest of the numbers should be no problem.
| English | Wago | Japanese Reading | Romaji |
| One | 一つ | ひとつ | hitotsu |
| Two | 二つ | ふたつ | futatsu |
| Three | 三つ | みっつ | mittsu |
| Four | 四つ | よっつ | yottsu |
| Five | 五つ | いつつ | itsutsu |
| Six | 六つ | むっつ | muttsu |
| Seven | 七つ | ななつ | nanatsu |
| Eight | 八つ | やっつ | yattsu |
| Nine | 九つ | ここのつ | kokonotsu |
| Ten | 十 | とお | too |
For your benefit, I’ve divided the counters into categories of where you’ll use them the most. But first, let’s start off with some of the most common counters you’ll hear in Japan.
Common Counters
While this list has been extensive, there are a few more commonly used counters in daily life. These are harder to categorize but still important.
個 (こ): Most Inanimate Objects, Certain Abstract Objects, Etc.
個 comes in right behind the つ counter in terms of usefulness. You can use 個 to count most inanimate objects or certain abstract things like ideas or dreams. You can count so many things using 個, but as mentioned above, counting things like animals can sound weird. My advice is if you aren’t sure of how to count something, use the つ counting system listed above.
個 derives from the original Chinese-based language used in ancient Japan, or 漢語（かんご）. Counting in this style is perhaps more familiar to most learners.
Examples:
- “Two apples, please.” → “りんごを二個ください。” (りんごをにこください)
- “There are 8 planets total in the solar system.” → “太陽系の惑星は全部で８個あります。” (たいようけいのわくせいはぜんぶではちこあります)
- I had 2 dreams yesterday.” → “昨日、夢を2個見た。”(きのう、ゆめをにこみた)
| English | Kango | Japanese Reading | Romaji |
| One | 一個 | いっこ | ikko |
| Two | 二個 | にこ | niko |
| Three | 三個 | さんこ | sanko |
| Four | 四個 | よんこ | yonko |
| Five | 五個 | ごこ | goko |
| Six | 六個 | ろっこ | rokko |
| Seven | 七個 | ななこ | nanako |
| Eight | 八個 | はちこ / はっこ | hachiko / hakko |
| Nine | 九個 | きゅうこ | kyuuko |
| Ten | 十個 | じっこ / じゅっこ | jikko / jukko |
人（にん）- People
人(にん) is used for counting people in any situation that isn’t a booking or reservation. If there are 3 or more people, you can count using the standard counting system (いち, に, さん, etc.). In the case of one or two people, however, the つ counting method is used. But the つ is changed to り(ri). (1人=ひとり, 2人= ふたり)
Examples:
- “There are three people in my family.” → “私の家族は3人です。” (わたしのかぞくはさんにんです)
- “I want some time with just the two of us.” → “2人きりの時間が欲しい。” (ふたりきりのじかんがほしい)
| English | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji |
| One person | 一人 | ひとり | hitori |
| Two people | 二人 | ふたり | futari |
| Three people | 三人 | さんにん | sannin |
| Four people | 四人 | よにん | yonin |
| Five people | 五人 | ごにん | gonin |
| Six people | 六人 | ろくにん | rokunin |
| Seven people | 七人 | しちにん / ななにん | shichinin / nananin |
| Eight people | 八人 | はちにん | hachinin |
| Nine people | 九人 | きゅうにん / くにん | kyuunin / kunin |
| Ten people | 十人 | じゅうにん | juunin |
**Important! If you ever order food from a restaurant in Japan, you may see this kanji 前(まえ) attached at the end of these counters. For example, you may see this kanji 一人前(いちにんまえ). Notice that this is not read as “ひとりまえ.”
When there is the kanji “前” attached to a person counter, the meaning changes to “serving portions.” If you say 三人前(さんにんまえ) in a restaurant, that means you want food for 3 people, or 3 servings.
| English | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji |
| For one person | 一人前 | いちにんまえ | ichininmae |
| For two people | 二人前 | ににんまえ | nininmae |
| For three people | 三人前 | さんにんまえ | sanninmae |
| For four people | 四人前 | よにんまえ | yoninmae |
| For five people | 五人前 | ごにんまえ | goninmae |
| For six people | 六人前 | ろくにんまえ | rokuninmae |
| For seven people | 七人前 | ななにんまえ / しちにんまえ | nananinmae / shichininmae |
| For eight people | 八人前 | はちにんまえ | hachininmae |
| For nine people | 九人前 | きゅうにんまえ / くにんまえ | kyuuninmae / kuninmae |
| For ten people | 十人前 | じゅうにんまえ | juuninmae |
匹（ひき）- Small Animals (Cats, Dogs, Monkeys, Some Fish, Etc.)
If you own pets in your home, 匹(ひき) is the counter you would use. Typically “small” refers to an animal that can be picked up by the average adult. 匹 is counted using the 個 counting method.
Some small fish can be counted using 匹 as well.
Example:
- “I have four cats.” → “私は猫を4匹飼っています。” (わたしはねこをよんひきかっています)
| English | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji |
| One (small) animal | 一匹 | いっぴき | ippiki |
| Two (small) animals | 二匹 | にひき | nihiki |
| Three (small) animals | 三匹 | さんびき | sanbiki |
| Four (small) animals | 四匹 | よんひき | yonhiki |
| Five (small) animals | 五匹 | ごひき | gohiki |
| Six (small) animals | 六匹 | ろっぴき | roppiki |
| Seven (small) animals | 七匹 | ななひき / しちひき | nanahiki / shichihiki |
| Eight (small) animals | 八匹 | はっぴき / はちひき | happiki / hachihiki |
| Nine (small) animals | 九匹 | きゅうひき | kyuuhiki |
| Ten (small) animals | 十匹 | じゅっぴき / じっぴき | juppiki / jippiki |
頭（とう）- Large Animals (Horses, Cows, Crocodiles, Marine Mammals, Etc.)
In contrast to 匹(ひき), 頭(とう) is the counter for animals that are too large to be picked up easily by an average adult.
頭 can also be used for marine mammals like whales, dolphins, sea lions, etc. Aquatic creatures like fish (tuna, bonito, and yellowtail, saury, etc.) are counted using 本(hon – fishes with long, slender bodies) or 匹 (usually for smaller fish).
Example:
- “We saw three horses on the farm.” → “農場で馬を3頭見た。” (のうじょうでうまをさんとうみた)
| English | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji |
| One (large) animal | 一頭 | いっとう | ittou |
| Two (large) animals | 二頭 | にとう | nitou |
| Three (large) animals | 三頭 | さんとう | santou |
| Four (large) animals | 四頭 | よんとう | yontou |
| Five (large) animals | 五頭 | ごとう | gotou |
| Six (large) animals | 六頭 | ろくとう | rokutou |
| Seven (large) animals | 七頭 | ななとう | nanatou |
| Eight (large) animals | 八頭 | はっとう / はちとう | hattou / hachitou |
| Nine (large) animals | 九頭 | きゅうとう | kyuutou |
| Ten (large) animals | 十頭 | じっとう / じゅっとう | jittou / juttou |
羽（わ）- Birds, Bats*, Rabbits
羽(わ) is a rather specific counter used for birds, bats, and rabbits. It can also be used for poultry, such a roast chicken or turkey. However, many native speakers would use the “つ” or 個 (こ) counters to count whole, cooked poultry.
Example:
- “My cat killed two rabbits today.” → “うちの猫は今日、ウサギを2羽殺した。” (うちのねこはきょう、ウサギをにわころした)
| English | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji |
| One (bird, rabbit, bat) | 一羽 | いちわ | ichiwa |
| Two (birds, rabbits, bats) | 二羽 | にわ | niwa |
| Three (birds, rabbits, bats) | 三羽 | さんわ / さんば | sanwa / sanba |
| Four (birds, rabbits, bats) | 四羽 | よんわ | yonwa |
| Five (birds, rabbits, bats) | 五羽 | ごわ | gowa |
| Six (birds, rabbits, bats) | 六羽 | ろくわ / ろっぱ | rokuwa / roppa |
| Seven (birds, rabbits, bats) | 七羽 | ななわ | nanawa |
| Eight (birds, rabbits, bats) | 八羽 | はちわ | hachiwa |
| Nine (birds, rabbits, bats) | 九羽 | きゅうわ | kyuuwa |
| Ten (birds, rabbits, bats) | 十羽 | じゅうわ / じっぱ | juuwa / jippa |
*Note: According the NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), bats can be counted with this 羽 (わ) counter, or using 匹（ひき）counter listed above. The 匹（ひき）is more commonly used on the news and shows.
階（かい）- Floors of a Building
階 (かい) is a counter you’ll find on any elevator or floor plan for a building with 2 or more stories. It can refer to specific floors (i.e., the 4th floor, the 8th floor) or how many levels the building has.
Examples:
- “I live in a five-story apartment building.” → “私は5階建てのアパートに住んでいます。” (わたしはごかいだてのアパートにすんでいます)
- “The restaurant is on the third floor.” → “レストランは3階にあります。” (レストランはさんがいにあります)
| English | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji |
| One/first floor | 一階 | いっかい | ikkai |
| Two/second floor | 二階 | にかい | nikai |
| Three/thrid floor | 三階 | さんがい / さんかい | sangai / sankai |
| Four/fourth floor | 四階 | よんかい | yonkai |
| Five/fifth floor | 五階 | ごかい | gokai |
| Six/sixth floor | 六階 | ろっかい | rokkai |
| Seven/seventh floor | 七階 | ななかい | nanakai |
| Eight/eighth floor | 八階 | はちかい / はっかい | hachikai / hakkai |
| Nine/ninth floor | 九階 | きゅうかい | kyuukai |
| Ten/tenth floor | 十階 | じっかい / じゅっかい | jikkai / jukkai |
台（だい）- Furniture, Vehicles, Electronics
The counter 台(だい) can be used for furniture, electronics or appliances, and land transport vehicles*. It can also count whole cakes or pies, but in my experience, ordering a cake or pie using 台 is uncommon.
Example:
- “There are two cars at that stoplight.” → “あの信号で、車が2台止まっています。” (あのしんごうで、くるまがにだいとまっています)
| English | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji |
| One (piece of) furniture, vehicle, electronics | 一台 | いちだい | ichidai |
| Two (pieces of) furniture, vehicle, electronics | 二台 | にだい | nidai |
| Three (pieces of) furniture, vehicle, electronics | 三台 | さんだい | sandai |
| Four (pieces of) furniture, vehicle, electronics | 四台 | よんだい | yondai |
| Five (pieces of) furniture, vehicle, electronics | 五台 | ごだい | godai |
| Six (pieces of) furniture, vehicle, electronics | 六台 | ろくだい | rokudai |
| Seven (pieces of) furniture, vehicle, electronics | 七台 | ななだい / しちだい | nanadai / shichidai |
| Eight (pieces of) furniture, vehicle, electronics | 八台 | はちだい | hachidai |
| Nine (pieces of) furniture, vehicle, electronics | 九台 | きゅうだい | kyuudai |
| Ten (pieces of) furniture, vehicle, electronics | 十台 | じゅうだい | juudai |
*Note: Trains can be the exception. You’ll hear the counters “両 (りょう – counter for carriages)”, “編成 (へんせい – composition, formation, or operation of carriages)” and “本 (ほん – counter for long objects) to count trains.
本（ほん）- Stick-Shaped or Long Objects
本(ほん) is a counter that covers a wide variety of objects. Items such as pencils, bottles, asparagus, certain varieties of fish, etc. can all be counted with 本!
In addition, there are some abstract things often counted using 本. They are phone calls, nice plays in certain sports (kendo, judo, wrestling, etc.) contest prizes, and things with a solid start or ending (i.e., performances, movies, scripts, etc.).
One thing to be careful of is that even though 本 is the kanji for book, you can’t count books using 本 as a counter! We’ll get to that one next.
Example:
- “My class collected 127 plastic bottles from nearby parks.” → “うちのクラスは近くの公園からペットボトルを127本集めました。” (うちのくらすはちかくのこうえんからペットボトルをひゃくにじゅうななほんあつめました)
| English | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji |
| One (long, cylindrical shaped item) | 一本 | いっぽん | ippon |
| Two (long, cylindrical shaped items) | 二本 | にほん | nihon |
| Three (long, cylindrical shaped items) | 三本 | さんぼん | sanbon |
| Four (long, cylindrical shaped items) | 四本 | よんほん | yonhon |
| Five (long, cylindrical shaped items) | 五本 | ごほん | gohon |
| Six (long, cylindrical shaped items) | 六本 | ろっぽん | roppon |
| Seven (long, cylindrical shaped items) | 七本 | ななほん / しちほん | nanahon / shichihon |
| Eight (long, cylindrical shaped items) | 八本 | はっぽん | happon |
| Nine (long, cylindrical shaped items) | 九本 | きゅうほん | kyuuhon |
| Ten (long, cylindrical shaped items) | 十本 | じゅっぽん / じっぽん | juppon / jippon |
冊（さつ）- Books, Bound Files, Notebooks
As mentioned previously, books aren’t counted using 本（ほん）. The counter 冊(さつ) is used for books, notebooks, and anything else consisting of bound paper or sheets.
Example:
- “My brother has three manga books.” → “兄はマンガを3冊持っています。” (あにはマンガをさんさつもっています)
| English | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji |
| One (book) | 一冊 | いっさつ | issatsu |
| Two (books) | 二冊 | にさつ | nisatsu |
| Three (books) | 三冊 | さんさつ | sansatsu |
| Four (books) | 四冊 | よんさつ | yonsatsu |
| Five (books) | 五冊 | ごさつ | gosatsu |
| Six (books) | 六冊 | ろくさつ | rokusatsu |
| Seven (books) | 七冊 | ななさつ | nanasatsu |
| Eight (books) | 八冊 | はっさつ | hassatsu |
| Nine (books) | 九冊 | きゅうさつ | kyuusatsu |
| Ten (books) | 十冊 | じっさつ / じゅっさつ | jissatsu / jussatsu |
枚（まい）- Flat Objects
Whereas 冊(さつ) counts bound sheets of paper, 枚(まい) is the counter to use for single sheets of paper or other flat objects. For example, stickers, DVDs, and slices of bread can all be counted with 枚.
Example:
- “Could I have a sheet of paper, please?” → “紙を1枚いただいていいですか？” (かみをいちまいいただいていいですか)
| English | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji |
| One (flat object) | 一枚 | いちまい | ichimai |
| Two (flat objects) | 二枚 | にまい | nimai |
| Three (flat objects) | 三枚 | さんまい | sanmai |
| Four (flat objects) | 四枚 | よんまい | yonmai |
| Five (flat objects) | 五枚 | ごまい | gomai |
| Six (flat objects) | 六枚 | ろくまい | rokumai |
| Seven (flat objects) | 七枚 | ななまい | nanamai |
| Eight (flat objects) | 八枚 | はちまい | hachimai |
| Nine (flat objects) | 九枚 | きゅうまい | kyuumai |
| Ten (flat objects) | 十枚 | じゅうまい | juumai |
Time Counters
