Japanese grammar
What does 助数詞（counters: ～つ・～人・～本・～枚） mean? Japanese grammar N5
助数詞（counters: ～つ・～人・～本・～枚） means counter words.
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N5 |
|---|---|
| Structure | 数字 + 助数詞 |
| Romaji | josūshi |
| Meaning | counter words |
Forming it
| Person | ～人 (ひとり・ふたり・さんにん…) |
|---|---|
| Long objects | ～本 (いっぽん・にほん・さんぼん…) |
| Flat, thin objects | ～枚 (いちまい・にまい…) |
| General objects (1-10) | ひとつ・ふたつ・みっつ… とお |
How to use it
Counting quantities — each type of item has its own counter word.
- Japanese doesn't count plainly like Vietnamese — you must choose the counter based on the SHAPE/TYPE of the item.
- ～つ is the "all-purpose" counter for items of unclear type, but it only counts up to 10 (とお).
- People: 1 person and 2 people have special readings (ひとり・ふたり); from 3 onward they're regular (さんにん).
- ～本 often has sound changes: 1本 = いっぽん, 3本 = さんぼん, 6本 = ろっぽん.
Examples
りんごを三つください。
Please give me three apples.
家族は四人です。
My family has four people.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong学生が三つあります。
Correct学生が三人います。
People must be counted with ～人 and use います, not ～つ/あります.
Exam tips
- Exams love asking about sound changes: 一本(いっぽん)・八本(はっぽん)・一人(ひとり).