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Lesson 2 Counting in Japanese
Last Updated on Tuesday, 19 September 2006 15:18 Written by Aaron Tuesday, 03 February 2004 00:05
This lesson is about counting. The best way to learn this is just to say the Japanese numbers over and over until you get used to them. Japanese uses different counters for different kinds of objects and this is what makes counting in Japanese hard for Japanese learners. The Kanji for counting and hiragana for the numbers can be found in the Kanji section. However I suggest practicing your hiragana by trying to convert the basic romaji for the numbers into hiragana yourself then checking the hiragana section to see if you got them right! Also notice how the sound of the counter suffix changes depending on the number used. See if you can figure out that pattern! First is just the regular numbers: 1 ichi2 ni
3 san
4 shi or yon
5 go
6 roku
7 shichi or nana
8 hachi
9 ku or kyu
10 ju or jyu
11 juichi
12 juni
13 jusan, etc....
20 niju
30 sanju
40 yonju
50 goju, etc..
100 hyaku
How Many ikutsu
Counting simple Objects
Now here are the Japanese counter for objects learn this well!
2 futatsu
3 mittsu
4 yottsu
5 itsutsu
6 muttsu
7 nanatsu
8 yatsu
9 kokonotsu
10 tou
then continue counting with regular numbers as in regular numbers.
How Many ikutsu
Counting people
here we use the suffix "nin" but this changes depending on the number before and 1 and 2 have exceptions again just learn by counting over and over out loud.
2 people futari
3 people sannin
4 people yonin
5 people gonin
6 people rokunin
7 people shichinin
8 people hachinin
9 people kunin
10 people junin
How many people nannin
Counting flat things
Example: paper, plates etc. uses suffix "mai"
2 nimai
3 sanmai
4 yonmai
5 gomai
6 rokumai
7 nanamai
8 hachimai
9 kyumai
10 jumai
How Many nanmai
Counting Long Slender Things
The counter here is suffix "hon".
Example: Pencils, sticks, etc..
2 nihon
3 sanbon
4 yohon
5 gohon
6 roppon
7 nanahon
8 happon
9 kyuhon
10 jyuppon
How Many nanbon
Counting Books
The Counter here is "satsu".
2 Books nisatsu
3 Books sansatsu
4 Books yonsatsu
5 Books gosatsu
6 Books rokusatsu
7 Books nanasatsu
8 Books hassatsu
9 Books kyusatsu
10 Books jissatsu
How Many nansatsu
There are many different types of counters. These other counters will be introduced at the end of future lessons. It is important to learn these counters as it is always tested on Japanese exams, as well it shows your knowledge of Japanese. Good luck!
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