{"id":475,"date":"2017-10-16T19:37:42","date_gmt":"2017-10-16T23:37:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/?p=475"},"modified":"2017-10-17T15:12:45","modified_gmt":"2017-10-17T19:12:45","slug":"counting-and-counters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/complete\/counting","title":{"rendered":"Counting and counters"},"content":{"rendered":"

Counters<\/h2>\n

Unfortunately, counting discrete items isn’t as straight-forward as just using the numbers we just learned in the last section. We must use various counters depending on the type of object we’re counting. We already learned the counter for age in the very first chapter. Below are a list of more common counters and when to use them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Counter<\/th>\nWhen to Use<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\u4eba \u3010\u306b\u3093\u3011<\/td>\nTo count number of people<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5186 \u3010\u3048\u3093\u3011<\/td>\nTo count money in yen, the Japanese currency<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u672c \u3010\u307b\u3093\u3011<\/td>\nTo count long, cylindrical objects such as bottles or chopsticks<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u679a \u3010\u307e\u3044\u3011<\/td>\nTo count thin objects such as paper or shirts<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u518a \u3010\u3055\u3064\u3011<\/td>\nTo count bound objects usually books<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5339 \u3010\u3072\u304d\u3011<\/td>\nTo count small animals like cats or dogs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u6b73\uff0f\u624d \u3010\u3055\u3044\u3011<\/td>\nTo count the age of a living creatures such as people or animals<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u500b \u3010\u3053\u3011<\/td>\nTo count small (often round) objects<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u56de \u3010\u304b\u3044\u3011<\/td>\nTo count number of times<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30f6\u6240\uff08\u7b87\u6240\uff09 \u3010\u304b\u30fb\u3057\u3087\u3011<\/td>\nTo count number of locations<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

As usual, the reading may change depending on what makes pronunciation easier as well as a couple of exceptions for \u300c\u4eba\u300d. Fortunately, counters are always attached to the end of the number, so we need only worry about the readings for the first 10 numbers. The higher digits are read the same as any other number. Below, you can see a list of readings for the counters with reading variations (\u5186 and \u679a have no variations). The reading variations are in bold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Counting with variations<\/caption>\n
<\/td>\n\u4eba<\/th>\n\u672c<\/th>\n\u518a<\/th>\n\u5339<\/th>\n\u6b73\uff0f\u624d<\/th>\n\u500b<\/th>\n\u56de<\/th>\n\u30f6\u6240\uff08\u7b87\u6240\uff09<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\u4f55<\/th>\n\u306a\u3093\u306b\u3093<\/td>\n\u306a\u3093\u307c\u3093<\/em><\/td>\n\u306a\u3093\u3055\u3064<\/td>\n\u306a\u3093\u3073\u304d<\/em><\/td>\n\u306a\u3093\u3055\u3044<\/td>\n\u306a\u3093\u3053<\/td>\n\u306a\u3093\u304b\u3044<\/td>\n\u306a\u3093\u304b\u3057\u3087<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/th>\n\u3072\u3068\u308a<\/em><\/td>\n\u3044\u3063\u307d\u3093<\/em><\/td>\n\u3044\u3063\u3055\u3064<\/em><\/td>\n\u3044\u3063\u3074\u304d<\/em><\/td>\n\u3044\u3063\u3055\u3044<\/em><\/td>\n\u3044\u3063\u3053<\/em><\/td>\n\u3044\u3063\u304b\u3044<\/em><\/td>\n\u3044\u3063\u304b\u3057\u3087<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/th>\n\u3075\u305f\u308a<\/em><\/td>\n\u306b\u307b\u3093<\/td>\n\u306b\u3055\u3064<\/td>\n\u306b\u3072\u304d<\/td>\n\u306b\u3055\u3044<\/td>\n\u306b\u3053<\/td>\n\u306b\u304b\u3044<\/td>\n\u306b\u304b\u3057\u3087<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/th>\n\u3055\u3093\u306b\u3093<\/td>\n\u3055\u3093\u307c\u3093<\/em><\/td>\n\u3055\u3093\u3055\u3064<\/td>\n\u3055\u3093\u3073\u304d<\/em><\/td>\n\u3055\u3093\u3055\u3044<\/td>\n\u3055\u3093\u3053<\/td>\n\u3055\u3093\u304b\u3044<\/td>\n\u3055\u3093\u304b\u3057\u3087<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/th>\n\u3088\u306b\u3093<\/em><\/td>\n\u3088\u3093\u307b\u3093<\/td>\n\u3088\u3093\u3055\u3064<\/td>\n\u3088\u3093\u3072\u304d<\/td>\n\u3088\u3093\u3055\u3044<\/td>\n\u3088\u3093\u3053<\/td>\n\u3088\u3093\u304b\u3044<\/td>\n\u3088\u3093\u304b\u3057\u3087<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/th>\n\u3054\u306b\u3093<\/td>\n\u3054\u307b\u3093<\/td>\n\u3054\u3055\u3064<\/td>\n\u3054\u3072\u304d<\/td>\n\u3054\u3055\u3044<\/td>\n\u3054\u3053<\/td>\n\u3054\u304b\u3044<\/td>\n\u3054\u304b\u3057\u3087<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/th>\n\u308d\u304f\u306b\u3093<\/td>\n\u308d\u3063\u307d\u3093<\/em><\/td>\n\u308d\u304f\u3055\u3064<\/td>\n\u308d\u3063\u3074\u304d<\/em><\/td>\n\u308d\u304f\u3055\u3044<\/td>\n\u308d\u3063\u3053<\/em><\/td>\n\u308d\u3063\u304b\u3044<\/em><\/td>\n\u308d\u3063\u304b\u3057\u3087<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/th>\n\u3057\u3061\u306b\u3093<\/em><\/td>\n\u306a\u306a\u307b\u3093<\/td>\n\u306a\u306a\u3055\u3064<\/td>\n\u306a\u306a\u3072\u304d<\/td>\n\u306a\u306a\u3055\u3044<\/td>\n\u306a\u306a\u3053<\/td>\n\u306a\u306a\u304b\u3044<\/td>\n\u306a\u306a\u304b\u3057\u3087<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/th>\n\u306f\u3061\u306b\u3093<\/td>\n\u306f\u3061\u307b\u3093<\/td>\n\u306f\u3063\u3055\u3064<\/em><\/td>\n\u306f\u3063\u3074\u304d<\/em><\/td>\n\u306f\u3063\u3055\u3044<\/em><\/td>\n\u306f\u3063\u3053<\/em><\/td>\n\u306f\u3061\u304b\u3044<\/td>\n\u306f\u3063\u304b\u3057\u3087<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/th>\n\u304d\u3085\u3046\u306b\u3093<\/td>\n\u304d\u3085\u3046\u307b\u3093<\/td>\n\u304d\u3085\u3046\u3055\u3064<\/td>\n\u304d\u3085\u3046\u3072\u304d<\/td>\n\u304d\u3085\u3046\u3055\u3044<\/td>\n\u304d\u3085\u3046\u3053<\/td>\n\u304d\u3085\u3046\u304b\u3044<\/td>\n\u304d\u3085\u3046\u304b\u3057\u3087<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/th>\n\u3058\u3085\u3046\u306b\u3093<\/td>\n\u3058\u3085\u3063\u307d\u3093<\/em><\/td>\n\u3058\u3085\u3063\u3055\u3064<\/em><\/td>\n\u3058\u3085\u3063\u3074\u304d<\/em><\/td>\n\u3058\u3085\u3063\u3055\u3044<\/em><\/td>\n\u3058\u3085\u3063\u3053<\/em><\/td>\n\u3058\u3085\u3063\u304b\u3044<\/em><\/td>\n\u3058\u3085\u3063\u304b\u3057\u3087<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20<\/th>\n\u306b\u3058\u3085\u3046\u306b\u3093<\/td>\n\u306b\u3058\u3085\u3063\u307d\u3093<\/td>\n\u306b\u3058\u3085\u3063\u3055\u3064<\/td>\n\u306b\u3058\u3085\u3063\u3074\u304d<\/td>\n\u306f\u305f\u3061<\/em><\/td>\n\u306b\u3058\u3085\u3063\u3053<\/td>\n\u306b\u3058\u3085\u3063\u304b\u3044<\/td>\n\u306b\u3058\u3085\u3063\u304b\u3057\u3087<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

There is also a generic counter for when none of the more specific counter applies. This counter goes up to ten<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Generic Counter<\/caption>\n
Numeral<\/th>\nHow many<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kanji<\/th>\n\u5e7e\u3064<\/th>\n\u4e00\u3064<\/td>\n\u4e8c\u3064<\/td>\n\u4e09\u3064<\/td>\n\u56db\u3064<\/td>\n\u4e94\u3064<\/td>\n\u516d\u3064<\/td>\n\u4e03\u3064<\/td>\n\u516b\u3064<\/td>\n\u4e5d\u3064<\/td>\n\u5341<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Reading<\/th>\n\u3044\u304f\u3064<\/td>\n\u3072\u3068\u3064<\/td>\n\u3075\u305f\u3064<\/td>\n\u307f\u3063\u3064<\/td>\n\u3088\u3063\u3064<\/td>\n\u3044\u3064\u3064<\/td>\n\u3080\u3063\u3064<\/td>\n\u306a\u306a\u3064<\/td>\n\u3084\u3063\u3064<\/td>\n\u3053\u3053\u306e\u3064<\/td>\n\u3068\u304a<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

You will likely encounter many other types of counters in your studies. In fact, \u300c\u4e00\u756a\u300d, which we have already seen used as a superlative, is yet another counter meaning #1 where #2 is \u300c\u4e8c\u756a\u300d, #3 is \u300c\u4e09\u756a\u300d and so forth.<\/p>\n

Other useful counting vocab<\/h2>\n

There are some additional vocabulary that are useful for counting in certain ways.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \uff5e\u76ee \u3010\uff5e\u3081\u3011 – attaches to a counter to indicate order<\/li>\n
  2. \uff5e\u305a\u3064 \u3010\uff5e\u305a\u3064\u3011 – attaches to a counter to indicate each<\/li>\n
  3. \uff5e\u304a\u304d\u306b – attaches to a counter to indicate repeated intervals<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Example<\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. \u7d19\u3001\u4e8c\u679a\u305a\u3064<\/em>\u3092\u30db\u30c3\u30c1\u30ad\u30b9\u3067\u7559\u3081\u308b\u3002
      \nStaple 2 sheets of paper each.<\/li>\n
    2. \u5e97\u306b\u5165\u3063\u305f\u4e09\u756a\u76ee<\/em>\u306e\u4eba\u306f\u3001\u8ab0\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002
      \nWho is the 3rd person that entered the store?<\/li>\n
    3. \u4e00\u65e5\u304a\u304d<\/em>\u306b\u904b\u52d5\u3092\u3057\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002
      \nExercising every other day (spaced 1 day in between).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Beer is fattening<\/h3>\n

      \u7530\u4e2d\uff1a\u9045\u308c\u3066\u3001\u3059\u307f\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002
      \nTanaka: Sorry I’m late.<\/p>\n

      \u5c71\u672c\uff1a\u5927\u4e08\u592b\u3067\u3059\u3088\u3002
      \nYamamoto: It’s ok.<\/p>\n

      \u7530\u4e2d\uff1a\u4f55\u3092\u98f2\u3093\u3067\u3044\u307e\u3059\u304b\uff1f
      \nTanaka: What are (you) drinking?<\/p>\n

      \u5c71\u672c\uff1a\u751f\u30d3\u30fc\u30eb\u3067\u3059\u3002
      \nYamamoto: Draft beer.<\/p>\n

      \u7530\u4e2d\uff1a\u30d3\u30fc\u30eb\u306f\u3001\u3082\u3046\u98f2\u307e\u306a\u3044\u3068\u8a00\u308f\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f\u3093\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002
      \nTanaka: Didn’t (you) say (you) would not drink beer anymore? <\/p>\n

      \u5c71\u672c\uff1a\u4e00\u672c<\/em>\u306f\u3001\u305f\u307e\u306b\u3044\u3044\u3068\u601d\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3051\u3069\u3002
      \nYamamoto: (I) think one bottle every once in a while is fine.<\/p>\n

      \u7530\u4e2d\uff1a\u30d3\u30fc\u30eb\u306f\u3059\u3050\u592a\u308a\u307e\u3059\u3088\u3002\u3053\u308c\u306f\u3001\u4f55\u672c\u76ee<\/em>\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f
      \nTanaka: As for beer, (you) get fat soon. Which number bottle is this?<\/p>\n

      \u5c71\u672c\uff1a\u305f\u307e\u306b\u306f\u3001\u4e8c\u672c<\/em>\u3082\u5927\u4e08\u592b\u306a\u3093\u3058\u3083\u306a\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f
      \nYamamoto: Isn’t two bottles ok every once in a while as well?<\/p>\n

      \u7530\u4e2d\uff1a\u5927\u4e08\u592b\u3058\u3083\u306a\u3044\u3068\u601d\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002
      \nTanaka: (I) think it’s not ok.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Counters Unfortunately, counting discrete items isn’t as straight-forward as just using the numbers we just learned in the last section. We must use various counters depending on the type of object we’re counting. We already learned the counter for age in the very first chapter. Below are a list of more common counters and when … <\/p>\n

      Continue reading “Counting and counters”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"series":[7],"class_list":["post-475","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-numbers-amounts-and-directions","series-complete-guide"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/475","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=475"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/475\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=475"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=475"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=475"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=475"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}