🌸 Japanese Topic 83初級🌿 Elementary

助数詞 (枚・本・匹・台)

Josūshi (mai, hon, hiki, dai)

Counters (Flat, Long, Small Animals, Machines)

🌸 Counting objects based on shape and type 🌸

💬 Dialogue

🌸 Counting Objects 🌸

ケン：すみません、ビールを二本ください。

Sumimasen, bīru o nihon kudasai.

Excuse me, two bottles of beer please.

店員：はい、ビール二本ですね。お皿は何枚いりますか？

Ten'in: Hai, bīru nihon desu ne. Osara wa nanmai irimasu ka?

Certainly, two beers. How many plates do you need?

ケン：三枚お願いします。あそこに猫が二匹いますね。

Ken: Sanmai onegaishimasu. Asoko ni neko ga nihiki imasu ne.

Three plates, please. Oh, there are two cats over there.

店員：はい、看板猫です。店にはテレビも二台ありますよ。

Ten'in: Hai, kanban-neko desu. Mise ni wa terebi mo nidai arimasu yo.

Yes, they are our shop cats. We also have two TVs in the shop.

ケン：にぎやかですね。あ、ペンを一本貸してください。

Ken: Nigiyaka desu ne. A, pen o ippon kashite kudasai.

It's lively here. Oh, please lend me a pen.

店員：はい、どうぞ。チケットも一枚いりますか？

Ten'in: Hai, dōzo. Chiketto mo ichimai irimasu ka?

Here you go. Do you need a ticket too?

📖 Vocabulary

5 words

KanaRomajiEnglish

まいmaicounter for flat objects

ほんhoncounter for long, cylindrical objects

ひきhikicounter for small animals

だいdaicounter for machines/vehicles

さらsaraplate / dish

⭐ Key Sentence

Number + 助数詞

Number + Counter

Pattern: 数 + 助数詞
Meaning: Counting objects by category.

紙が五枚あります。

Kami ga gomai arimasu.

There are five sheets of paper.

猫が三匹います。

Neko ga sanhiki imasu.

There are three cats.

🎓 Explanation

In Japanese, you cannot just use a number to count things. You must attach a counter (josūshi) based on the object's shape or type.

枚 (mai) is used for flat things like paper, plates, or shirts.

本 (hon) is for long, thin objects like bottles, pens, or umbrellas.

匹 (hiki) is for small animals, fish, or insects.

台 (dai) is for mechanical objects like cars, computers, or TVs.

Bīru ni-hon
= 'Two bottles of beer'

Kuruma san-dai
= 'Three cars'

📝 Quiz

Which counter would you use for three shirts?