Japanese Counters Complete Guide: Master 助数詞 (Josūshi) in 2025
Learn all essential Japanese counters (助数詞) with clear explanations, pronunciation rules, and practical examples. Never confuse つ、本、枚、or 人 again!
What You'll Learn
Japanese counters are essential for counting anything in Japanese. This guide covers the most important counters, pronunciation rules, and how to avoid common mistakes that even intermediate learners make.
If you've ever been confused about when to use つ (tsu), 個 (ko), or 本 (hon), you're not alone. Japanese counters (助数詞, josūshi) are one of the trickiest aspects of the language, but they're absolutely essential for daily conversation.
Today, we'll demystify Japanese counters with clear rules and plenty of examples.
What Are Japanese Counters?
Japanese counters are suffixes used when counting objects, people, or animals. Unlike English where we can simply say "three apples," Japanese requires specific counters based on what you're counting.
The Basic Pattern
Number + Counter + の + Object
Example: 3冊の本 (san-satsu no hon) = three books
Or: Object + を/が + Number + Counter
Example: 本を3冊 (hon wo san-satsu) = three books
The Universal Counter: つ (tsu)
Before diving into specific counters, let's start with the lifesaver: つ (tsu). This is the general counter that works for almost any physical object.
Universal Counter つ
ひとつ / 一つ
one (thing)
hitotsu
ふたつ / 二つ
two (things)
futatsu
みっつ / 三つ
three (things)
mittsu
よっつ / 四つ
four (things)
yottsu
いつつ / 五つ
five (things)
itsutsu
むっつ / 六つ
six (things)
muttsu
ななつ / 七つ
seven (things)
nanatsu
やっつ / 八つ
eight (things)
yattsu
ここのつ / 九つ
nine (things)
kokonotsu
とお / 十
ten (things)
too
Pro Tip
When in doubt, use つ! It's perfectly acceptable in casual conversation and much better than using the wrong specific counter.
Essential Counters by Category
People: 人 (nin/ri)
Counting People
ひとり / 一人
one person
hitori
ふたり / 二人
two people
futari
さんにん / 三人
three people
san-nin
よにん / 四人
four people
yo-nin
ごにん / 五人
five people
go-nin
Special Readings
- 1人 = ひとり (hitori) - NOT ichi-nin
- 2人 = ふたり (futari) - NOT ni-nin
- 4人 = よにん (yo-nin) - NOT yon-nin or shi-nin
Long Objects: 本 (hon/bon/pon)
Used for: pencils, bottles, trees, roads, rivers, etc.
Sound Changes with 本
いっぽん / 一本
one (long object)
ippon
にほん / 二本
two (long objects)
ni-hon
さんぼん / 三本
three (long objects)
san-bon
よんほん / 四本
four (long objects)
yon-hon
ごほん / 五本
five (long objects)
go-hon
ろっぽん / 六本
six (long objects)
roppon
ななほん / 七本
seven (long objects)
nana-hon
はっぽん / 八本
eight (long objects)
happon
きゅうほん / 九本
nine (long objects)
kyuu-hon
じゅっぽん / 十本
ten (long objects)
juppon
Flat Objects: 枚 (mai)
Used for: paper, plates, shirts, CDs, cards, tickets, etc.
Counting Flat Objects
紙を三枚ください。
Please give me three sheets of paper.
Kami wo san-mai kudasai.
シャツを二枚買いました。
I bought two shirts.
Shatsu wo ni-mai kaimashita.
Small Animals: 匹 (hiki/biki/piki)
Used for: cats, dogs, fish, insects, etc. (NOT for birds!)
Sound Changes with 匹
いっぴき / 一匹
one (small animal)
ippiki
にひき / 二匹
two (small animals)
ni-hiki
さんびき / 三匹
three (small animals)
san-biki
よんひき / 四匹
four (small animals)
yon-hiki
ごひき / 五匹
five (small animals)
go-hiki
ろっぴき / 六匹
six (small animals)
roppiki
ななひき / 七匹
seven (small animals)
nana-hiki
はっぴき / 八匹
eight (small animals)
happiki
きゅうひき / 九匹
nine (small animals)
kyuu-hiki
じゅっぴき / 十匹
ten (small animals)
juppiki
Books: 冊 (satsu)
Counting Books
本を何冊持っていますか？
How many books do you have?
Hon wo nan-satsu motte imasu ka?
五冊買いました。
I bought five books.
Go-satsu kaimashita.
Machines/Vehicles: 台 (dai)
Used for: cars, computers, TVs, washing machines, etc.
Counting Machines
車が二台あります。
There are two cars.
Kuruma ga ni-dai arimasu.
パソコンを一台買いました。
I bought one computer.
Pasokon wo ichi-dai kaimashita.
Sound Change Rules
When Do Sounds Change?
Sound changes (音便, onbin) occur with certain number-counter combinations. Here are the patterns:
The "P" Sound Change (は行 → ぱ行)
Numbers that trigger P changes
1, 6, 8, 10 + counters starting with H (ひ、ふ、へ、ほ)
- 1 + ほん = いっぽん (ippon)
- 6 + ひき = ろっぴき (roppiki)
- 8 + ふん = はっぷん (happun)
- 10 + ほん = じゅっぽん (juppon)
The "B" Sound Change (は行 → ば行)
Number 3 special rule
3 + counters starting with H become B
- 3 + ほん = さんぼん (san-bon)
- 3 + ひき = さんびき (san-biki)
Small っ (Double Consonant)
Numbers that add っ
1, 6, 8, 10 often add a small っ before the counter
- 1 + こ = いっこ (ikko)
- 6 + ぽん = ろっぽん (roppon)
- 8 + さつ = はっさつ (hassatsu)
- 10 + かい = じゅっかい (jukkai)
Quick Reference Table
| Object Type | Counter | Example | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| General objects | つ | 三つ | mittsu |
| People | 人 | 三人 | san-nin |
| Long objects | 本 | 三本 | san-bon |
| Flat objects | 枚 | 三枚 | san-mai |
| Small animals | 匹 | 三匹 | san-biki |
| Books | 冊 | 三冊 | san-satsu |
| Machines/vehicles | 台 | 三台 | san-dai |
| Small objects | 個 | 三個 | san-ko |
| Floors | 階 | 三階 | san-gai |
| Times/occasions | 回 | 三回 | san-kai |
| Birds | 羽 | 三羽 | san-wa |
| Large animals | 頭 | 三頭 | san-tou |
| Pairs (shoes, socks) | 足 | 三足 | san-zoku |
| Houses/buildings | 軒 | 三軒 | san-ken |
| Drinks/cups | 杯 | 三杯 | san-bai |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Using the Wrong Counter for Animals
❌ 鳥が三匹います (tori ga san-biki imasu) ✅ 鳥が三羽います (tori ga san-wa imasu)
Birds use 羽 (wa), not 匹 (hiki)!
Mistake 2: Forgetting Sound Changes
❌ いちほん、さんほん、ろくほん ✅ いっぽん、さんぼん、ろっぽん
Mistake 3: Using Numbers Alone
❌ りんごを三ください ✅ りんごを三つください / りんごを三個ください
Mistake 4: Wrong Order in Formal Situations
❌ 三冊本を読みました ✅ 本を三冊読みました
The pattern "Object を Number+Counter" is more natural.
Memory Tricks
Visual Associations
- 本 looks like a tree/pole (long and thin)
- 枚 has 木 (tree) → think of flat leaves
- 匹 has animal radical 犬
- 冊 looks like books on a shelf
Practice Exercises
Quick Practice
How would you say these in Japanese?
- Two cats
- Five sheets of paper
- One car
- Three books
- Ten pencils
Click for Answers
- 猫が二匹 (neko ga ni-hiki)
- 紙を五枚 (kami wo go-mai)
- 車が一台 (kuruma ga ichi-dai)
- 本を三冊 (hon wo san-satsu)
- 鉛筆を十本 (enpitsu wo juppon)
Advanced Counters for Daily Life
Time-Related Counters
Time Counters
時間 (jikan) - hours
三時間かかります。
It takes three hours.
San-jikan kakarimasu.
分 (fun/pun) - minutes
十分待ってください。
Please wait ten minutes.
Juppun matte kudasai.
日 (nichi/ka) - days
三日間の旅行
A three-day trip
Mikka-kan no ryokou
Age Counter: 歳/才 (sai)
Counting Age
二十歳です。
I'm twenty years old.
Hatachi desu. (special reading)
三十五歳です。
I'm thirty-five years old.
Sanjuu-go-sai desu.
Using Counters in Real Conversations
At a Restaurant
ビールを二本ください。
Two bottles of beer, please.
Biiru wo ni-hon kudasai.
お箸を三膳お願いします。
Three pairs of chopsticks, please.
Ohashi wo san-zen onegaishimasu.
Shopping
このシャツを二枚ください。
I'll take two of these shirts.
Kono shatsu wo ni-mai kudasai.
りんごを五個ください。
Five apples, please.
Ringo wo go-ko kudasai.
Summary
"Counters are the heartbeat of Japanese counting. Master the basic ones first, and the rest will follow naturally through practice."
Key Takeaways
- Start with つ as your universal counter
- Learn the most common counters: 人、本、枚、匹、冊、台
- Remember sound changes for 1, 3, 6, 8, 10
- Practice with real objects around you
- Don't stress about perfection – natives understand context
Your Counter Learning Path
- Week 1: Master つ and 人
- Week 2: Add 本、枚、個
- Week 3: Learn 匹、冊、台
- Week 4: Practice sound changes
- Ongoing: Add new counters as you encounter them
Remember: Even Japanese children take years to master all counters. Be patient with yourself and celebrate small victories!
Ready to practice Japanese counters in real conversations? Download Suppai and get instant feedback on your counting skills!
Keita Sensei
Founder of Suppai
Passionate about making Japanese learning accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Follow for more tips and insights into mastering the Japanese language! 🎆