2. Numeral, Number Counters

people

"You need the QuickTime player in order to view this animation."

age

"You need the QuickTime player in order to view this animation."

1	hitori
2	futari
3	san-nin
4	yo-nin
5	go-nin
6	roku-nin
7	nana-nin
8	hachi-nin
9	kyuu-nin
10	juu-nin

1	issai
2	ni-sai
3	san-sai
4	yon-sai
5	go-sai
6	roku-sai
7	nana-sai
8	hassai
9	kyuu-sai
10	jussai

cylindrical objects

"You need the QuickTime player in order to view this animation."

glasses, cups

"You need the QuickTime player in order to view this animation."

1	ippon
2	ni-hon
3	san-bon
4	yon-hon
5	go-hon
6	roppon
7	nana-hon
8	happon
9	kyuu-hon
10	juppon

1	ippai
2	ni-hai
3	san-bai
4	yon-hai
5	go-hai
6	roppai
7	nana-hai
8	happai
9	kyuu-hai
10	juppai

* -ko is used for empty glasses and cups

papers, thin objects

"You need the QuickTime player in order to view this animation."

books, booklet

"You need the QuickTime player in order to view this animation."

1	ichi-mai
2	ni-mai
3	san-mai
4	yon-mai
5	go-mai
6	roku-mai
7	nana-mai
8	hachi-mai
9	kyuu-mai
10	juu-mai

1	issatsu
2	ni-satsi
3	san-satsu
4	yon-satsu
5	go-satsu
6	roku-satsu
7	nana-satsu
8	hassatsu
9	kyuu-satsu
10	jussatsu

pieces

"You need the QuickTime player in order to view this animation."

machines

"You need the QuickTime player in order to view this animation."

1	ikko
2	ni-ko
3	san-ko
4	yon-ko
5	go-ko
6	rokko
7	nana-ko
8	hachi-ko
9	kyuu-ko
10	jukko

1	ichi-dai
2	ni-dai
3	san-dai
4	yon-dai
5	go-dai
6	roku-dai
7	nana-dai
8	hachi-dai
9	kyuu-dai
10	juudai

number of times

"You need the QuickTime player in order to view this animation."
floors

"You need the QuickTime player in order to view this animation."

houses

"You need the QuickTime player in order to view this animation."

1	ikkai
2	ni-kai
3	san-kai
4	yon-kai
5	go-kai
6	rokkai
7	nana-kai
8	hachi-kai
9	kyuu-kai
10	jukkai

1	ikken
2	ni-ken
3	san-ken
4	yon-ken
5	go-ken
6	rokken
7	nana-ken
8	hachi-ken
9	kyuu-ken
10	jukken

order

"You need the QuickTime player in order to view this animation."

animals

"You need the QuickTime player in order to view this animation."

1	ichi-ban
2	ni-ban
3	san-ban
4	yon-ban
5	go-ban
6	roku-ban
7	nana-ban
8	hachi-ban
9	kyuu-ban
10	juu-ban

1	ippiki
2	ni-hiki
3	san-biki
4	yon-hiki
5	go-hiki
6	roppiki
7	nana-hiki
8	happiki
9	kyuu-hiki
10	juppiki

Examples

"You need the QuickTime player in order to view this animation."

* ippon, ni-hon, san-bon	pencil, bottle of drinks, rope, cord, etc.
* ippai, ni-hai, san-bai	cup of drink, etc.
* ichi-mai, ni-mai, san-mai	paper, ticket, CD, blanket, paint, etc.
* ikko, ni-ko, san-ko	cake, candy, fruit, watch, button, etc.
* ichi-dai, ni-dai, san-dai	car, PC, camera, TV set, etc.
* ippiki, ni-hiki, san-biki	dog, cat, fish, etc.

When Japanese count things, we use various numerals according to their shapes and kinds.
For example, we use ichi-mai, ni-mai for thin things such as a stamp or paper and ichi-dai, ni-dai, san-dai for machinery such as a car or a camera.

The hitotsu-system introduced in chapter 1 can be used without a numeral, but it is limited from 1 to 10 and can be used for neither people nor animals.

The list below is numerals which are often used in daily life. There are many other numerals. Japanese don't remember all of them, either.