Counting in Japanese: Numbers, Counters, and Usage Explained

General Counters
Small Objects
People
Animals
Machines and Vehicles
Long, Thin Objects
Flat Objects
Books
Copies or Portions
Drinks in Cups/Glasses
Rank/Order
Pages
Floors of a Building

General Counters

ひとつ (hitotsu), ふたつ (futatsu), etc.:
These are traditional Japanese numbers used for counting general, unspecific items up to ten. They are often taught first to beginners.

ひとつ (hitotsu) – one
ふたつ (futatsu) – two
みっつ (mittsu) – three
よっつ (yottsu) – four
いつつ (itsutsu) – five
むっつ (muttsu) – six
ななつ (nanatsu) – seven
やっつ (yattsu) – eight
ここのつ (kokonotsu) – nine
とお (tō) – ten

Small Objects

いっこ (ikko), にこ (niko), etc.:
This counter is used for small, round, or compact objects, like apples, candies, or erasers.

いっこ (ikko) – one small object
にこ (niko) – two small objects
さんこ (sanko) – three small objects
よんこ (yonko) – four small objects
ごこ (goko) – five small objects
ろっこ (rokko) – six small objects
ななこ (nanako) – seven small objects
はちこ (hachiko) – eight small objects
きゅうこ (kyūko) – nine small objects
じゅっこ (jukko) – ten small objects

People

ひとり (hitori), ふたり (futari), さんにん (san nin), etc.:
This counter is specific for counting people. Note the irregular forms for “one person” (ひとり) and “two people” (ふたり).

ひとり (hitori) – one person (irregular)
ふたり (futari) – two people (irregular)
さんにん (san nin) – three people
よにん (yo nin) – four people
ごにん (go nin) – five people
ろくにん (roku nin) – six people
ななにん (nana nin) – seven people
はちにん (hachi nin) – eight people
きゅうにん (kyū nin) – nine people
じゅうにん (jū nin) – ten people

Animals

いっぴき (ippiki), にひき (nihiki), さんびき (sanbiki), etc.:
This counter is used for small animals, like cats, dogs, and fish. Pay attention to pronunciation changes (like ぴき or びき) depending on the number.

いっぴき (ippiki) – one small animal
にひき (nihiki) – two small animals
さんびき (sanbiki) – three small animals
よんひき (yonhiki) – four small animals
ごひき (gohiki) – five small animals
ろっぴき (roppiki) – six small animals
ななひき (nanahiki) – seven small animals
はっぴき (happiki) – eight small animals
きゅうひき (kyūhiki) – nine small animals
じゅっぴき (juppiki) – ten small animals

Machines and Vehicles

いちだい (ichi dai), にだい (ni dai), etc.:
This counter is used for machines and vehicles, such as cars, computers, and TVs.

いちだい (ichi dai) – one machine/vehicle
にだい (ni dai) – two machines/vehicles
さんだい (san dai) – three machines/vehicles
よんだい (yon dai) – four machines/vehicles
ごだい (go dai) – five machines/vehicles
ろくだい (roku dai) – six machines/vehicles
ななだい (nana dai) – seven machines/vehicles
はちだい (hachi dai) – eight machines/vehicles
きゅうだい (kyū dai) – nine machines/vehicles
じゅうだい (jū dai) – ten machines/vehicles

Long, Thin Objects

いっぽん (ippon), にほん (nihon), さんぼん (sanbon), etc.:
This counter applies to long, thin objects like pencils, bottles, and chopsticks. Pronunciation changes for certain numbers, such as いっぽん or さんぼん.

いっぽん (ippon) – one long, thin object
にほん (nihon) – two long, thin objects
さんぼん (sanbon) – three long, thin objects
よんほん (yonhon) – four long, thin objects
ごほん (gohon) – five long, thin objects
ろっぽん (roppon) – six long, thin objects
ななほん (nanahon) – seven long, thin objects
はっぽん (happon) – eight long, thin objects
きゅうほん (kyūhon) – nine long, thin objects
じゅっぽん (juppon) – ten long, thin objects

Flat Objects

いちまい (ichi mai), にまい (ni mai), etc.:
Use this counter for flat, thin objects like paper, tickets, or plates.

いちまい (ichi mai) – one flat object
にまい (ni mai) – two flat objects
さんまい (san mai) – three flat objects
よんまい (yon mai) – four flat objects
ごまい (go mai) – five flat objects
ろくまい (roku mai) – six flat objects
ななまい (nana mai) – seven flat objects
はちまい (hachi mai) – eight flat objects
きゅうまい (kyū mai) – nine flat objects
じゅうまい (jū mai) – ten flat objects

Books

いっさつ (issatsu), にさつ (nisatsu), etc.:
This counter is specific to bound volumes like books or magazines.

いっさつ (issatsu) – one book
にさつ (nisatsu) – two books
さんさつ (sansatsu) – three books
よんさつ (yonsatsu) – four books
ごさつ (gosatsu) – five books
ろくさつ (rokusatsu) – six books
ななさつ (nanasatsu) – seven books
はちさつ (hachisatsu) – eight books
きゅうさつ (kyūsatsu) – nine books
じゅっさつ (jussatsu) – ten books

Copies or Portions

いちぶ (ichi bu), にぶ (ni bu), etc.:
Use this counter for parts of documents, copies of a report, or portions of something divided.

いちぶ (ichi bu) – one portion
にぶ (ni bu) – two portions
さんぶ (san bu) – three portions
よんぶ (yon bu) – four portions
ごぶ (go bu) – five portions
ろくぶ (roku bu) – six portions
ななぶ (nana bu) – seven portions
はちぶ (hachi bu) – eight portions
きゅうぶ (kyū bu) – nine portions
じゅうぶ (jū bu) – ten portions

Drinks in Cups/Glasses

いっぱい (ippai), にはい (nihai), さんばい (sanbai), etc.:
This counter is for liquid portions in cups or glasses. Pronunciation changes occur (like いっぱい, さんばい).

いっぱい (ippai) – one drink
にはい (nihai) – two drinks
さんばい (sanbai) – three drinks
よんはい (yonhai) – four drinks
ごはい (gohai) – five drinks
ろくはい (rokuhai) – six drinks
ななはい (nanahai) – seven drinks
はっぱい (happai) – eight drinks
きゅうはい (kyūhai) – nine drinks
じゅうはい (jūhai) – ten drinks

Rank/Order

いちばん (ichiban), にばん (niban), etc.:
This counter is for rankings or order in competitions, lines, or preferences.

いちばん (ichiban) – first place
にばん (niban) – second place
さんばん (sanban) – third place
よんばん (yonban) – fourth place
ごばん (goban) – fifth place
ろくばん (rokuban) – sixth place
ななばん (nanaban) – seventh place
はちばん (hachiban) – eighth place
きゅうばん (kyūban) – ninth place
じゅうばん (jūban) – tenth place

Floors of a Building

いっかい (ikkai), にかい (nikai), さんがい (sangai), etc.:
This counter is used for counting floors in a building. Note irregular forms like さんがい (3rd floor).