5.3. Counters



5.3.1. Basic counters


To count things in Japanese, you cannot put nouns immediately after a number. Counters, which are added after numbers, are necessary. Do you think it is strange? English also has some counters for nouns representing things that cannot be counted as discrete objects. For instance, you would say two cups of water, ten pieces of paper, and fifty head of cattle. Japanese nouns resemble English abstract nouns.

There are three basic counters in Japanese.

CategoryCounterDescription
human
Hiragana:(ni)(n)
Phonemes:ni'N
Romanization:nin
human beings
animate
Hiragana:(hi)(ki)
Phonemes:hi'ki
Romanization:hiki
life that can move, such as animals and protists, excluding human beings
inanimate
Hiragana:(ko)
Phonemes:ko'
Romanization:ko
life that cannot move, such as plants, fungi, and eggs, and non-life including abstract concepts

Before counting things with counters, I'd like to introduce the genitive marker (no) /no/ "no", which is similar to the English suffix 's and the English word of. The word (no) /no/ "no" is a postposition, which is a suffix to add a grammatical function to a noun. Postpositions are similar to prepositions, but the order of words are opposite as the name implies. The order of words for (no) /no/ is the same as that for 's, so A's B is the same as A (no) B, and A of B is the same as B (no) A.

It is important to know that phrases that add information to a main phrase are always placed before the main phrase in Japanese. This is a consistent rule with no exception. Linguists call it head-last. English is a head-first language, where a main phrase is placed before additional phrases, but it is not so consistent as Japanese. That-clauses and preposition phrases are good examples of the head-first rule of English; both a dog that is white and a dog with white hair are dogs. But adjectives break the rule because they are placed before a main phrase. A white dog is a kind of dog, not a kind of whiteness.

Let's get back to (no) /no/ "no". Here is an example:

Hiragana:(ne)(ko)(no)  (mi)(mi)
Phonemes:ne'konomimi'
Romanization:nekonomimi
Structure: noun
(cat)
genitive
marker
noun
(ear)
Meaning:a cat's ears

Japanese doesn't care much about singular, plural, definite, or indefinite, so the example can mean any combination of either a cat, the cat, cats, or the cats and either an ear, the ear, ears, or the ears. Anyway, the phrase means a kind of ear, because of the head-last rule.


Now that you know (no) /no/ "no", you can count things with counters.
Put (no) /no/ "no" after counters like this:

Hiragana:(sa)(n)(bi)(ki)(no)  (ne)(ko)
Phonemes:sa'Nbikinone'ko
Romanization:sambikinoneko
Structure: noun
(three)
noun
(counter)
genitive
marker
noun
(cat)
Meaning:three cats

Since cats are animals, the counter for cats is (hi)(ki) /hi' ki/ "hiki". The Japanese word for three is (sa)(n) /sa N/ "san". The phoneme modification rule of small numbers is applied to counters, so the /sa N/ changes /h/ in the /hi' ki/ into /b/. The result is (sa)(n)(bi)(ki) /sa' N bi ki/ "sambiki".


The counter (ni)(n) /ni' N/ "nin" is not used for counting a person or two. There are other words for one person and two people.

Hiragana:(hi)(to)(ri)
Phonemes:hito'ri
Romanization:hitori
Meaning:one person

Hiragana:(hu)(ta)(ri)
Phonemes:hutari'
Romanization:futari
Meaning:two people

Hiragana:(sa)(n)(ni)(n)
Phonemes:saNni'N
Romanization:sannin
Meaning:three people (three + counter)


Example:

Hiragana:(hu)(ta)(ri)(no)  (mu)(su)(me)
Phonemes:hutari'nomusume'
Romanization:futarinomusume
Structure: noun
(two people)
genitive
marker
noun
(daughter)
Meaning:two daughters


Note: If a language has counters for general nouns, it doesn't have genders, and vice versa. Both counters and genders are ways of categorizing nouns, and they don't coexist. East Asian languages and Native American languages often have counters, and other languages often have genders. English is a rare language that has neither of them.


5.3.2. Traditional numbers


Japanese has another set of number names from the ones I explained in the small numbers chapter. They are the original number names of Japanese but were replaced by the new ones, most of which were imported from Chinese more than a thousand years ago. Now they are used only for counting inanimates, and treated as combinations of a digit and the inanimate counter (ko) /ko/ "ko". The traditional numbers are often used to count abstract things.

NumberTraditional Japanese
1
Hiragana:(hi)(to)(tu)
Phonemes:hito'tu
Romanization:hitotsu
2
Hiragana:(hu)(ta)(tu)
Phonemes:hutatu'
Romanization:futatsu
3
Hiragana:(mi)(small tu)(tu)
Phonemes:miQtu'
Romanization:mittsu
4
Hiragana:(yo)(small tu)(tu)
Phonemes:yoQtu'
Romanization:yottsu
5
Hiragana:(i)(tu)(tu)
Phonemes:itu'tu
Romanization:itsutsu
6
Hiragana:(mu)(small tu)(tu)
Phonemes:muQtu'
Romanization:muttsu
7
Hiragana:(na)(na)(tu)
Phonemes:nana'tu
Romanization:nanatsu
8
Hiragana:(ya)(small tu)(tu)
Phonemes:yaQtu'
Romanization:yattsu
9
Hiragana:(ko)(ko)(no)(tu)
Phonemes:koko'notu
Romanization:kokonotsu
10
Hiragana:(to)(o)
Phonemes:to'o
Romanization:

The ancient Japanese numbers larger than ten were almost lost. Notice that the special human counter for one person (hi)(to)(ri) /hi to' ri/ "hitori" and that for two people (hu)(ta)(ri) /hu ta ri/ "futari" are similar to the traditional number for one (hi)(to)(tu) /hi to' tu/ "hitotsu" and that for two (hu)(ta)(tu) /hu ta tu/ "futatsu". In fact (ri) /ri/ "ri" was a human counter in ancient Japanese. The last (tu) /tu/ "tsu" in the traditional number names was an inanimate counter, but modern native Japanese speakers don't feel a boundary between a digit name and (tu) /tu/ "tsu" because they are too old.

You may notice that two number names are similar when one is twice the other such as 1 and 2 ((hi)(to)(tu) /hi to' tu/ "hitotsu" and (hu)(ta)(tu) /hu ta tu/ "futatsu"), 3 and 6 ((mi)(small tu)(tu) /mi Q tu/ "mittsu" and (mu)(small tu)(tu) /mu Q tu/ "muttsu"), and 4 and 8 ((yo)(small tu)(tu) /yo Q tu/ "yottsu" and (ya)(small tu)(tu) /ya Q tu/ "yattsu"). If you find a language that has this kind of number name pairs, you will be welcome because it suggests a relationship to ancient Japanese and linguists are still looking for the origin of Japanese. Some say it came from Korea, some say from west Pacific islands, and some say even from south India.

A few ancient words for larger numbers survive in modern Japanese as shown below, but they are used only for a person's age and Japanese people rarely know they were numbers.

NumberTraditional JapaneseMeaning in
modern Japanese
20
Hiragana:(ha)(ta)(ti)
Phonemes:ha'tati
Romanization:hatachi
twenty years old
(= being an adult in Japan)
30
Hiragana:(mi)(so)(zi)
Phonemes:misozi
Romanization:misoji
thirty years old


5.3.3. Additional counters


The three basic counters you have just learned are not all counters Japanese has. Here is a list of important additional counters.

CategorySubcategoryCounterDescription
animate large animals
Hiragana:(to)(u)
Phonemes:to'u
Romanization:
animals larger than human beings.
This word literally means head, so it is the same as head in fifty head of cattle.
birds
Hiragana:(wa)
Phonemes:wa'
Romanization:wa
birds
inanimate long things
Hiragana:(ho)(n)
Phonemes:ho'N
Romanization:hon
things that have length - pens, ropes, trees, movies, programs, etc.
thin things
Hiragana:(ma)(i)
Phonemes:ma'i
Romanization:mai
pieces of paper, leaves, plates, tickets, etc.
books
Hiragana:(sa)(tu)
Phonemes:sa'tu
Romanization:satsu
books, magazines, etc.
cups of liquid
Hiragana:(ha)(i)
Phonemes:ha'i
Romanization:hai
same as the English counter cup
(cups of water, cups of tea, etc.)
lifelike
Hiragana:(ta)(i)
Phonemes:ta'i
Romanization:tai
dead bodies, mannequins, human-shaped robots, etc.
machines
Hiragana:(da)(i)
Phonemes:da'i
Romanization:dai
cars, televisions, etc.
ships
Hiragana:(se)(ki)
Phonemes:se'ki
Romanization:seki
ships

Don't be afraid of many counters, because counters are not so strict as genders. Using the additional counters is better for the subcategories listed above, but using the three basic counters is always understandable.

The subcategories for the additional counters are not strict. Do you categorize sheep in large animals? In fact, both (to)(u) /to' u/ "tô" and (hi)(ki) /hi' ki/ "hiki" work well in this case. Penguines are counted with (wa) /wa/ "wa" because they are birds, but some people use (hi)(ki) /hi' ki/ "hiki" for them because they don't fly. Your impression decides which counter to use.


Examples:

Hiragana:(go)(ho)(n)(no)  (sa)(ku)(ra)
Phonemes:gohoNnosakura
Romanization:gohonnosakura
Structure: noun
(five)
noun
(counter)
genitive
marker
noun
(cherry tree)
Meaning:five cherry trees

Hiragana:(ni)(ha)(i)(no)  (o)(ti)(small ya)
Phonemes:ni'hainootya
Romanization:nihainoocha
Structure: noun
(two)
noun
(counter,
cup)
genitive
marker
noun
(green tea)
Meaning:two cups of green tea


5.3.4. Continuum counters


A continuum, which cannot be measured by an integer only, always needs appropriate units in Japanese just as in English. Length is a good example of continuum, because it cannot be measured without using a unit, and it can have a decimal value. Japan uses the metric system for scientific values. Most metric units are written with katakana, because they are imported words.

CategorySubcategoryCounterDescription
continuum length
Hiragana:(me)(long)(to)(ru)
Phonemes:meetoru
Romanization:toru
meter
Hiragana:(ki)(ro)
Phonemes:ki'ro
Romanization:kiro
1 kilometer = 1000 meters
Abbreviation of (ki)(ro)(me)(long)(to)(ru) /ki ro me' e to ru/ "kiromêtoru".
Hiragana:(mi)(ri)
Phonemes:mi'ri
Romanization:miri
1 millimeter = 1/1000 meter
Abbreviation of (mi)(ri)(me)(long)(to)(ru) /mi ri me' e to ru/ "mirimêtoru".
Hiragana:(se)(n)(ti)
Phonemes:se'Nti
Romanization:senchi
1 centimeter = 1/100 meter
Abbreviation of (se)(n)(ti)(me)(long)(to)(ru) /se N ti me' e to ru/ "senchimêtoru".
mass
Hiragana:(ki)(ro)
Phonemes:ki'ro
Romanization:kiro
1 kilogram = 1000 grams
Abbreviation of (ki)(ro)(gu)(ra)(mu) /ki ro gu' ra mu/ "kiroguramu".
Hiragana:(gu)(ra)(mu)
Phonemes:guramu
Romanization:guramu
gram
Hiragana:(to)(n)
Phonemes:to'N
Romanization:ton
1 metric ton = 1000 kilograms
volume
Hiragana:(ri)(small tu)(to)(ru)
Phonemes:riQtoru
Romanization:rittoru
1 liter = 1000 cubic centimeters
temperature
Hiragana:(do)
Phonemes:do'
Romanization:do
degree Celsius
money
Hiragana:(e)(n)
Phonemes:e'N
Romanization:en
Japanese yen (not "yen" but "en" !)
Hiragana:(do)(ru)
Phonemes:do'ru
Romanization:doru
American dollar
Hiragana:(yu)(long)(ro)
Phonemes:yu'uro
Romanization:ro
EU euro
Hiragana:(po)(n)(do)
Phonemes:po'Ndo
Romanization:pondo
British pound

Example:

Hiragana:(yo)(n)(to)(n)(no)  (te)(tu)
Phonemes:yo'NtoNnotetu
Romanization:yontonnotetsu
Structure: noun
(four)
noun
(counter,
ton)
genitive
marker
noun
(iron)
Meaning:four metric tons of iron


5.3.5. Phoneme modification


I have explained the phoneme modification rule of small numbers, and it is also used for counters. Even though counting things without using the rule is understandable, memorizing the following charts will help you speak natural Japanese.

NumberPeopleAnimatesInanimates
1
(hi)(to)(ri)
hito'ri
hitori
(i)(small tu)(pi)(ki)
iQpiki'
ippiki
(i)(small tu)(ko)
i'Qko
ikko
2
(hu)(ta)(ri)
hutari'
futari
(ni)(hi)(ki)
ni'hiki
nihiki
(ni)(ko)
ni'ko
niko
3
(sa)(n)(ni)(n)
saNni'N
sannin
(sa)(n)(bi)(ki)
sa'Nbiki
sambiki
(sa)(n)(ko)
sa'Nko
sanko
4
(yo)(ni)(n)
yoni'N
yonin
(yo)(n)(hi)(ki)
yo'Nhiki
yonhiki
(yo)(n)(ko)
yo'Nko
yonko
5
(go)(ni)(n)
goni'N
gonin
(go)(hi)(ki)
go'hiki
gohiki
(go)(ko)
go'ko
goko
6
(ro)(ku)(ni)(n)
roku'niN
rokunin
(ro)(small tu)(pi)(ki)
roQpiki'
roppiki
(ro)(small tu)(ko)
ro'Qko
rokko
7
(na)(na)(ni)(n)
nana'niN
nananin
(na)(na)(hi)(ki)
nana'hiki
nanahiki
(na)(na)(ko)
nana'ko
nanako
8
(ha)(ti)(ni)(n)
hati'niN
hachinin
(ha)(small tu)(pi)(ki)
haQpiki'
happiki
(ha)(small tu)(ko)
ha'Qko
hakko
9
(ki)(small yu)(u)(ni)(n)
kyu'uniN
kyûnin
(ki)(small yu)(u)(hi)(ki)
kyu'uhiki
kyûhiki
(ki)(small yu)(u)(ko)
kyu'uko
kyûko
10
(zi)(small yu)(u)(ni)(n)
zyu'uniN
nin
(zi)(small yu)(small tu)(pi)(ki)
zyuQpiki'
juppiki
(zi)(small yu)(small tu)(ko)
zyu'Qko
jukko
100
(hi)(small ya)(ku)(ni)(n)
hyaku'niN
hyakunin
(hi)(small ya)(small tu)(pi)(ki)
hyaQpiki'
hyappiki
(hi)(small ya)(small tu)(ko)
hya'Qko
hyakko
1000
(se)(n)(ni)(n)
se'NniN
sennin
(se)(n)(bi)(ki)
se'Nbiki
sembiki
(se)(n)(ko)
se'Nko
senko


NumberLarge animalsBirdsLong things
1
(i)(small tu)(to)(u)
i'Qtou
it
(i)(ti)(wa)
iti'wa
ichiwa
(i)(small tu)(po)(n)
i'QpoN
ippon
2
(ni)(to)(u)
ni'tou
ni
(ni)(wa)
ni'wa
niwa
(ni)(ho)(n)
ni'hoN
nihon
3
(sa)(n)(to)(u)
sa'Ntou
san
(sa)(n)(wa)
sa'Nwa
sanwa
(sa)(n)(bo)(n)
sa'NboN
sambon
4
(yo)(n)(to)(u)
yo'Ntou
yon
(yo)(n)(wa)
yo'Nwa
yonwa
(yo)(n)(ho)(n)
yo'NhoN
yonhon
5
(go)(to)(u)
go'tou
go
(go)(wa)
go'wa
gowa
(go)(ho)(n)
gohoN
gohon
6
(ro)(ku)(to)(u)
roku'tou
roku
(ro)(ku)(wa)
roku'wa
rokuwa
(ro)(small tu)(po)(n)
ro'QpoN
roppon
7
(na)(na)(to)(u)
nana'tou
nana
(na)(na)(wa)
nana'wa
nanawa
(na)(na)(ho)(n)
nana'hoN
nanahon
8
(ha)(ti)(to)(u)
hati'tou
hachi
(ha)(ti)(wa)
hati'wa
hachiwa
(ha)(small tu)(po)(n)
ha'QpoN
happon
9
(ki)(small yu)(u)(to)(u)
kyu'utou
kyû
(ki)(small yu)(u)(wa)
kyu'uwa
kyûwa
(ki)(small yu)(u)(ho)(n)
kyu'uhoN
kyûhon
10
(zi)(small yu)(small tu)(to)(u)
zyu'Qtou
jut
(zi)(small yu)(u)(wa)
zyu'uwa
wa
(zi)(small yu)(small tu)(po)(n)
zyu'QpoN
juppon
100
(hi)(small ya)(ku)(to)(u)
hyaku'tou
hyaku
(hi)(small ya)(ku)(wa)
hyaku'wa
hyakuwa
(hi)(small ya)(small tu)(po)(n)
hya'QpoN
hyappon
1000
(se)(n)(to)(u)
se'Ntou
sen
(se)(n)(wa)
se'Nwa
senwa
(se)(n)(bo)(n)
se'NboN
sembon


NumberThin thingsBooksCups of liquid
1
(i)(ti)(ma)(i)
iti'mai
ichimai
(i)(small tu)(sa)(tu)
iQsatu'
iSsatsu
(i)(small tu)(pa)(i)
i'Qpai
ippai
2
(ni)(ma)(i)
ni'mai
nimai
(ni)(sa)(tu)
ni'satu
nisatsu
(ni)(ha)(i)
ni'hai
nihai
3
(sa)(n)(ma)(i)
sa'Nmai
sammai
(sa)(n)(sa)(tu)
sa'Nsatu
sansatsu
(sa)(n)(ba)(i)
sa'Nbai
sambai
4
(yo)(n)(ma)(i)
yo'Nmai
yommai
(yo)(n)(sa)(tu)
yo'Nsatu
yonsatsu
(yo)(n)(ha)(i)
yo'Nhai
yonhai
5
(go)(ma)(i)
gomai
gomai
(go)(sa)(tu)
go'satu
gosatsu
(go)(ha)(i)
gohai
gohai
6
(ro)(ku)(ma)(i)
roku'mai
rokumai
(ro)(ku)(sa)(tu)
roku'satu
rokusatsu
(ro)(small tu)(pa)(i)
ro'Qpai
roppai
7
(na)(na)(ma)(i)
nana'mai
nanamai
(na)(na)(sa)(tu)
nana'satu
nanasatsu
(na)(na)(ha)(i)
nana'hai
nanahai
8
(ha)(ti)(ma)(i)
hati'mai
hachimai
(ha)(small tu)(sa)(tu)
haQsatu'
haSsatsu
(ha)(small tu)(pa)(i)
ha'Qpai
happai
9
(ki)(small yu)(u)(ma)(i)
kyu'umai
kyûmai
(ki)(small yu)(u)(sa)(tu)
kyu'usatu
kyûsatsu
(ki)(small yu)(u)(ha)(i)
kyu'uhai
kyûhai
10
(zi)(small yu)(u)(ma)(i)
zyu'umai
mai
(zi)(small yu)(small tu)(sa)(tu)
zyuQsatu'
juSsatsu
(zi)(small yu)(small tu)(pa)(i)
zyu'Qpai
juppai
100
(hi)(small ya)(ku)(ma)(i)
hyaku'mai
hyakumai
(hi)(small ya)(ku)(sa)(tu)
hyaku'satu
hyakusatsu
(hi)(small ya)(small tu)(pa)(i)
hya'Qpai
hyappai
1000
(se)(n)(ma)(i)
se'Nmai
semmai
(se)(n)(sa)(tu)
se'Nsatu
sensatsu
(se)(n)(ba)(i)
se'Nbai
sembai


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Copyright(C) TAKASUGI Shinji (ts@sf.airnet.ne.jp)