Quantity Expressions and Counter Words

Counters for objects (～ひき・～さつ・～まい)

Counter for objects (助数詞, josūshi) is a suffix placed after a number to count objects. In Japanese, each group of objects has its own counter, so the choice of counter is determined by the type or shape of the object. The basic pattern is number + counter, for example 三 + 匹 becomes 三匹(さんびき, three animals). Note that the sound of the counter sometimes changes after certain numbers.

• 〜匹(ひき, small animal) — for small animals such as cats, fish, and insects. Example: 「金魚(きんぎょ, goldfish)を五匹(ごひき)飼(か)っています」. The form 二匹(にひき) is also used.
• 〜冊(さつ, volume) — for books and bound items. Forms: 一冊(いっさつ), 二冊(にさつ), 三冊(さんさつ). Example: 「辞書(じしょ, dictionary)を二冊(にさつ)持っています」. This counter is not used for other objects such as pencils.
• 〜枚(まい, sheet) — for thin, flat objects such as paper, plates, and tickets. Example: 「切符(きっぷ, ticket)を一枚(いちまい)ください」. Books and pencils are not counted with 枚.
• 〜本(ほん, long object) — for long, slender objects such as pencils, bottles, and umbrellas. Note the sound changes: 一本(いっぽん), 三本(さんぼん), 六本(ろっぽん), 八本(はっぽん), 十本(じゅっぽん). Example: 「ペットボトル(plastic bottle)を六本(ろっぽん)買いました」.
• 〜台(だい, unit) — for machines and vehicles such as cars and computers. Example: 「車(くるま, car)を一台(いちだい)持っています」.
• 〜個(こ, piece) — for small, general objects such as eggs. Example: 「卵(たまご, egg)を三個(さんこ)買いました」.
• 〜階(かい, floor) — for floors of a building. Example: 「二階(にかい)に教室があります」. This counter is not used for animals or small objects.

Position pattern: the quantity of objects is placed directly before the existence predicate. Example: 「冷蔵庫(れいぞうこ, refrigerator)に卵が八個(はっこ)あります」. In sentences about the existence of living things, the same pattern is used with いる/います. Example: 「庭に猫が二匹(にひき)います」.