Japanese Counters Guide: Master 個, 枚, 本 & More Common Japanese Counters

If you've been learning Japanese for a while, you've probably stumbled across one of the language's trickier aspects: counters. You can't just say "three cats" or "two books" in Japanese the same way you would in English. You need to use specific counter words depending on what you're counting. Pretty wild, right? Understanding Japanese grammar basics will definitely help you grasp counters faster, since they follow specific grammatical patterns. Let's dive in.

What are Japanese counters?

Japanese counters () are special words that attach to numbers when you're counting things. Think of them as classifiers that categorize objects based on their shape, size, or type. When you want to say "three apples" in Japanese, you say , where is the counter for small, round objects.

Sometimes the order changes, but that's the general pattern. You'll also see the number and counter come before the object in certain contexts.

The reason Japanese uses counters comes from Chinese influence. The counting system borrowed heavily from Chinese, which also uses counters. But Japanese took it and made it their own, developing unique counters for very specific categories.

How do Japanese counters work?

Here's how the system breaks down. Japanese actually has two number systems running in parallel: the native Japanese system (Wago) and the Chinese-derived system (Kango). The wago system uses words like ひとつ, ふたつ, みっつ, while the kango system uses いち, に, さん.

Most counters attach to the kango numbers, but some use the wago system. And here's where it gets interesting: when you combine numbers with counters, the pronunciation often changes. These sound changes follow specific patterns, but honestly, you just need to memorize the common ones through practice.

For example, , the counter for long cylindrical objects, changes depending on the number:

Notice how the counter shifts between hon, pon, and bon? These phonetic changes make pronunciation smoother, but they can trip up beginners. The good news is that after you've heard and used these combinations enough times, they start feeling natural.

The general tsu counter

Let me introduce you to your new best friend: つ. This is the general counter that works for almost anything when you can't remember the specific counter. It's part of the native Japanese wago counting system and only goes up to ten.

Here's the complete list:

The tsu counter is super handy when you're starting out because you can use it for physical objects without worrying about getting the specific counter wrong. Want to order three items at a restaurant but forgot the proper counter? Just say みっつ and you're good.

However, you can't use tsu for everything. It doesn't work well for people, animals, or abstract concepts. And once you get past ten, you need to switch to specific counters anyway.

個: Ko for small round objects

The counter is probably the most versatile specific counter you'll learn. Technically, it's meant for small, compact objects, especially round ones. But in modern Japanese, people use it as a general counter for tons of stuff.

The pronunciation stays pretty consistent:

You'll use for things like:

Modern Japanese speakers tend to overuse when they're not sure which counter to pick. It's become the default counter for many everyday items, which actually makes life easier for learners. If you're debating between and another counter, is usually a safe bet for small objects.

枚: Mai for flat objects

The counter is flat, thin objects. This one's pretty straightforward once you understand the category.

The pronunciation:

Use for:

Basically, if it's flat and you could stack it neatly, is probably your counter. When you're learning how to count in Japanese, mastering early on will help you in tons of everyday situations.

本: Hon for cylindrical objects

The character counts long, cylindrical things. As I mentioned earlier, this counter has those tricky sound changes that shift between hon, pon, and bon.

Full breakdown:

You'll use 本 for:

The sound changes follow a pattern: numbers ending in 1, 6, 8, and 10 use pon, while 3 uses bon. Everything else uses hon. Just takes practice to get comfortable with it.

人: Counters for people

Counting people in Japanese uses , but the first two numbers are completely irregular.

Here's how it works:

Notice that ひとり and ふたり don't follow the regular pattern at all. These are special readings you just have to memorize. From three onwards, it follows the standard number + にん pattern.

When you're talking about yourself and others, you'll use this counter constantly. "How many people?" is . "Four people, please" at a restaurant is .

匹: Counters for animals

For animals, you'll use , which also has sound changes similar to 本.

The pattern:

The counter works for small animals like cats, dogs, fish, insects, and basically any creature smaller than a human. For larger animals like elephants, horses, or cows, you'd use instead, but covers most situations you'll encounter.

台: Dai for machines and vehicles

The character counts mechanical things and vehicles. The pronunciation stays pretty regular.

Use for:

Basically, if it's a machine or vehicle, is probably the right counter. This one's super useful in modern life since we're surrounded by devices and vehicles.

Other useful counters you should know

Let me run through some other common counters that'll come up regularly.

冊 (satsu) counts books, magazines, and notebooks. One book is , two books is . If you're building up your Japanese vocabulary lists, you'll definitely need this counter when talking about study materials.

回 (kai) counts occurrences or times. "Once" is , "twice" is . You'll hear this all the time: "How many times have you been to Japan?" is .

日 (nichi) counts days. This one gets complicated because the first ten days of the month have special readings:

These readings also work for counting duration in days. "Three days" is 三日間 .

歳 (sai) counts age. "I'm 25 years old" is 25歳です . Pretty straightforward once you know your Japanese numbers.

階 (kai) counts floors in buildings. "Third floor" is . Super useful when navigating department stores or giving directions.

Common mistakes to avoid

One mistake beginners make is trying to use counters with every single number. Sometimes Japanese drops the counter entirely in casual conversation, especially when the context is obvious. If someone asks "How many?" and you're holding apples, just saying 三つ works fine.

Another issue is mixing up similar counters. for days versus for times trips people up. "I went three times" uses (三回 ), while "I went for three days" uses (三日間 ). The meanings are completely different.

Also, watch out for assuming English categories map directly to Japanese ones. In English, we might think of a banana as just "fruit," but in Japanese, it's counted with because of its cylindrical shape. The categorization logic sometimes differs.

Tips for learning Japanese counters

Here's what actually works for learning counters.

If you're looking for structured practice with real Japanese content, Migaku's browser extension and app let you look up counters and other vocabulary instantly while watching shows or reading articles. You can create flashcards directly from content you're actually interested in, which makes the learning process way less tedious. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out.

FAQs

Rome is not built in one day, so is your study on basic counters

While I've covered the essentials here, you'll want ongoing practice to really nail these down. Flash cards work great for drilling counter combinations. You could create your own or find pre-made decks online. Apps with audio are particularly helpful since pronunciation matters so much with counters. Hearing the sound changes repeatedly trains your ear better than just reading.

We are what we repeatedly do!