Japanese counter word

Template:Short description In Japanese, counter words or counters are measure words used with numbers to count things, actions, and events. Counters are added directly after numbers.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite journal</ref> There are numerous counters, and different counters are used depending on the kind or shape of nouns that are being described.<ref name=":3" /> The Japanese term, Template:Nihongo, appears to have been literally calqued from the English term auxiliary numeral used by Basil Hall Chamberlain in A Handbook of Colloquial Japanese.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In Japanese, as in Chinese and Korean, numerals cannot quantify nouns by themselves (except, in certain cases, for the numbers from one to ten; see below).<ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref> For example, to express the idea "two dogs" in Japanese one could say either:

but just pasting Template:Lang and Template:Lang together in either order is ungrammatical. Here Template:Wikt-lang Template:Translit is the number "two", Template:Wikt-lang Template:Translit is the counter for small animals, Template:Wikt-lang Template:Translit is the possessive particle (a reversed "of", similar to the " 's" in "John's dog"), and Template:Wikt-lang Template:Translit is the word "dog".

Counters are not independent words; they must appear with a numeric prefix. The number can be imprecise: Template:Wikt-lang Template:Translit or, less commonly, Template:Wikt-lang Template:Translit, can both be used to mean "some/several/many", and, in questions, "what/how many/how much". For example:

Some nouns prefer Template:Lang Template:Translit, as in:

Template:Lang Template:Translit "how many nights?"

Template:Lang Template:Translit "I was gone for many days."

Counters are similar in function to the word "pieces" in "two pieces of paper" or "cups" in "two cups of coffee". However, they cannot take non-numerical modifiers. So while "two pieces of paper" translates fairly directly as:

"two green pieces of paper" must be rendered as Template:Lang Template:Translit, akin to "two pieces of green paper".

Just as in English, different counters can be used to convey different types of quantity.

There are numerous counters, and depending on the kind or shape of nouns the number is describing, different counters are used.<ref name=":3" />

Grammatically, counter words can appear either before or after the noun they count. They generally occur after the noun (following particles), and if used before the noun, they emphasize the quantity; this is a common mistake for English learners of Japanese. For example:

In contrast:

would only be appropriate when emphasizing the number as in responding with "[I] drank two bottles of beer" to "How many beers did you drink?".

Phrase structure involving numerals and counters

File:Japanese Nominal structure.png

Japanese Nominal Structure as proposed by Akira Watanabe

In generative grammar, one proposed structure of Japanese nominal phrases includes three layers of functional projections: #P, CaseP, and QuantifierP.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref> Here, #P is placed above NP to explain Japanese's lack of plural morphology, and to make clear the # head is the stem of such morphology.<ref name=":0" /> This structure relies on movement in order to satisfy agreement via extended projection principle features.Template:Clarify<ref name=":0" />

Substitution of counters

In Japanese, virtually all nouns must use a counter to express number because Japanese lacks singular/plural morphology.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":0" /> In this sense, virtually all Japanese nouns are mass nouns. This grammatical feature can result in situations where one is unable to express the number of a particular object in a syntactically correct way because one does not know, or cannot remember, the appropriate counting word. With quantities from one to ten, this problem can often be sidestepped by using the traditional numerals (see below), which can quantify many nouns without help. For example, "four apples" is Template:Lang Template:Translit where Template:Wikt-lang Template:Translit is the counter, but can also be expressed, using the traditional numeral four, as Template:Lang Template:Translit. These traditional numerals cannot be used to count all nouns, however; some, including nouns for people and animals, require a proper counter (except for 1 and 2 people, which virtually always use variants of the traditional numerals; see exceptions).

Some of the more common counters may substitute for less common ones. For example, Template:Lang Template:Translit (see below) is often used for all animals, regardless of size. However, many speakers will prefer to use the traditionally correct counter, Template:Lang Template:Translit, when speaking of larger animals such as horses. This yields a range of possible counters, with differing degrees of usage and acceptability – for example, when ordering kushikatsu (fried skewers), one may order them as Template:Lang Template:Translit (two skewers), Template:Lang Template:Translit (two sticks), or Template:Lang Template:Translit (two items), in decreasing order of precision.

Counters may be intentionally misused for humorous, stupid, or insulting effects. For example, the phrase Template:Lang Template:Translit ("one man [like an animal]"), uses Template:Lang Template:Translit, the counter for animals, instead of the typical counters for people.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Table of traditional numerals

Numeral	Japanese	Pronunciation (romaji)	Writing (hiragana)
1	Template:Lang	Template:Translit	Template:Lang
2	Template:Lang	Template:Translit	Template:Lang
3	Template:Lang	Template:Translit	Template:Lang
4	Template:Lang	Template:Translit	Template:Lang
5	Template:Lang	Template:Translit	Template:Lang
6	Template:Lang	Template:Translit	Template:Lang
7	Template:Lang	Template:Translit	Template:Lang
8	Template:Lang	Template:Translit	Template:Lang
9	Template:Lang	Template:Translit	Template:Lang
10	Template:Lang	Template:Translit	Template:Lang

Common counters by category

This is a selective list of some of the more commonly used counting words.

Pronunciation	Japanese	Use
People and Things
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Copies of a magazine or newspaper, or other packets of papers
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Cars, bicycles, machines, mechanical devices, household appliances
Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Cups and glasses of drink, spoonsful; cuttlefish, octopuses, crabs, squid, abalone, boats (slang)
Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Small animals, insects, fish, reptiles, amphibians, oni (demons/ogres)
Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	frequently used word Long, thin objects: rivers, roads, train tracks, ties, pencils, bottles, guitars; also, metaphorically, telephone calls, train or bus routes, movies (see also: Template:Translit), points or bounds in sports events. Although Template:Lang also means "book", the counter for (modern codex format) books is Template:Translit.
Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Number of floors, stories
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, or Template:Wikt-lang	frequently used word Implies that the item is small and/or round.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Lang is also used for military units.
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	frequently used word Thin, flat objects: sheets of paper, photographs, plates, articles of clothing (see also: Template:Translit)
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	People (polite) (Template:Lang means "name")
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Broad, flat objects: mirrors, boards for board games (chess, igo, shogi), stages of computer games, walls of a room, tennis courts
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	People (but see table of exceptions below)
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Lang or Template:Wikt-lang	People, used in the words Template:Lang and Template:Lang
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Books
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Lang	frequently used word General-purpose counter, used as part of the indigenous Japanese numbers Template:Lang ("one thing"), Template:Lang ("two things"), Template:Lang ("three things"), etc.
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Stories, episodes of TV series, etc.
Time, Calendar, etc.
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Seconds
Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Minutes
Template:Lang Template:Translit, also Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Months of the year. Month-long periods when read Template:Translit (see also: Template:Translit)
Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Nights of a stay
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Hours of the day
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Hour-long periods
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Day of the month
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Lang	Month-long periods (see also: Template:Translit). Template:Lang is normally abbreviated using a small katakana Template:Lang in modern Japanese. Alternatively Template:Lang, hiragana Template:Lang, small katakana Template:Lang and full-size katakana Template:Lang & Template:Lang can also be seen, although only Template:Lang is similarly frequent.
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Years, school years (grades); not years of age
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Days of the month (but see table of exceptions below)
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang (or Template:Wikt-lang)	Years of age (Template:Lang is used informally as a ryakuji)
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Weeks
Extent, Frequency, etc.
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Multiples, -fold as in "twofold"
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Position, turn, sports matches
Template:Lang Template:Translit, also Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	frequently used word Occurrences, number of times, degrees of temperature or angle (see also: Template:Translit).
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Tatami mats. The kanji Template:Lang is also read Template:Translit and is the same one used for the mats. The room size of a washitsu in Japan is given as a number of mats, for example 4½ Template:Translit
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	frequently used word Occurrences, number of times (see also: Template:Translit)

Extended list of counters

This list also includes some counters and usages that are rarely used or not widely known; other words can also be used as counters more sporadically.

Pronunciation	Japanese	Use
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Scene of a play
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Multiples, -fold as in "twofold"
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Nights (see also: Template:Translit)
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Position, platform for a train line, turn, sports matches
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Small fish and shrimps (used in the fish trade; most people say Template:Translit instead)
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Copies of a magazine or newspaper, or other packets of papers
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Sentences
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Seconds
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Suits of clothing (see also: Template:Translit)
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Long, narrow things such as guns, sticks of ink, palanquins, rickshaws, violins
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Sheets, pages, leaves, tools, scissors, saws, trousers, pistols, cakes of tofu, town blocks, servings at a restaurant
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Town blocks
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Generations, historical periods, reigns
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Cars, bicycles, machines, mechanical devices, household appliances
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	levels, ranks, steps (of stairs).
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Paragraphs
Template:Lang Template:Translit, also Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Occurrences, number of times, degrees of temperature or angle (see also: Template:Translit).
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Sequences of letters or drawings that you write or draw without removing your pen off the paper. Not to be confused with Template:Translit (Template:Lang) below.
Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Bowls of Template:Translit (powdered green tea); packets or doses of powdered medicine; puffs (of, e.g., a cigarette); rests or breaks
Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Hanging scrolls (Template:Translit)
Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Minutes
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Swords
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Classes (in pre-university education)
Template:Lang Template:Translit, also Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Months of the year. Month-long periods when read Template:Translit (see also: Template:Translit)
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Words
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	small container (e.g. rice cup, sake cup)
Template:Lang Template:Translit, also Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Words
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Suits of armour, sets of furniture
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Lines of text
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Nights of a stay
Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Cups and glasses of drink, spoonfuls, cuttlefish, octopuses, crabs, squid, abalone, boats (slang)
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Losses (sports bouts)
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Boxes
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Umbrellas, parasols, tents
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	gods, memorial tablets
Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Gunshots, bullets, aerial fireworks; orgasms, sex acts
Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Small animals, insects, fish, reptiles, amphibians, oni (ogres)
Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Parts of a meal, courses (see also: Template:Translit)
Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	pieces of land and number of people
Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Number of (foot)steps
Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Long, thin objects: rivers, roads, train tracks, ties, pencils, bottles, guitars; also, metaphorically, telephone calls (see also: Template:Translit), train or bus routes, movies, home runs, points or boundsTemplate:Clarify in sports events. Although Template:Lang also means "book", the counter for books is Template:Translit.
Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Votes
Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Musical beats
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Letters, kanji, kana
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Children. As in "father of two (children)", etc.
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Hours of the day
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Hour-long periods
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Tatami mats. The kanji Template:Lang is also read Template:Translit and is the same one used for the mats. The room size of a washitsu in Japan is given as a number of mats, for example 4½ Template:Translit
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Pills/capsules
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Articles of law, thin objects, rays or streams of light, streaks of smoke or lightning
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Day of the month
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Frames
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Lessons
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Company shares; nursery trees
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Lang	Month-long periods (see also: Template:Translit). Template:Lang is normally abbreviated using a small katakana Template:Lang in modern Japanese. Alternatively Template:Lang, hiragana Template:Lang, small katakana Template:Lang and full-size katakana Template:Lang & Template:Lang can also be seen, although only Template:Lang is similarly frequent.
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Occurrences, number of times (see also: Template:Translit)
Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Number of floors, storeys
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Lang	Countries
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Lang	(National) languages
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Strokes in kanji
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Pieces of nigiri-zushi
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Warships
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Bus routes
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Abstract matters and cases
Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Houses
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Aircraft, machines
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Graves, wreaths, CPUs, reactors, elevators, dams
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Loaves of bread
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Slices (of bread, cake, sashimi etc.)
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, or Template:Wikt-lang	General measure word, used when there is no specific counter. Template:Lang is also used for military units.
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Houses (Template:Lang means "door")
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Schools
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Drafts of a manuscript
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Banks
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang	Frames, panels. Template:Lang is virtually unused nowadays.
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	shots (of drink)
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Sections, city districts
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Haiku, senryū
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	(Bank) accounts, donations (Template:Lang means "opening" or "entrance")
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Groups, a pair of people (twins, a husband and a wife, dancers, etc.)
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	School classes
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Desks, chairs, long-stemmed glasses
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Pairs of cup and saucer
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Pieces of music
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Board game matches (chess, igo, shogi, mahjong); radio stations, television stations
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Thin, flat objects, sheets of paper, photographs, plates, articles of clothing (see also: Template:Translit)
Template:Lang Template:Translit or Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Rolls, scrolls, kan for volumes of book
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Theatrical acts
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	People (polite) (Template:Lang means "name")
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Mirrors, boards for board games (chess, igo, shogi), stages of computer games, walls of a room, tennis courts
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Cannons
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Questions
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Years, school years (grades); not years of age
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Days of the month (but see table of exceptions below)
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	People (but see table of exceptions below)
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Food portions (without exceptions, unlike Template:Translit above)
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Boxes made of folded paper (compare to Template:Translit above, which refers to boxes in general)
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang	Pages
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Cases, examples
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Bows during worship at a shrine
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	finger rings or necklace loops
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Lang or Template:Wikt-lang	People, used in the words Template:Lang and Template:Lang.
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Wheels, flowers
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Railway cars
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang or Template:Wikt-lang	Years of age
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Chests of drawers, flags
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Books
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Seats, rakugo shows, (drinking) parties
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Ships, half of a pair (e.g., half of a folding screen), item carried in a bundle (fish, birds, arrows etc.)
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Parts of a meal, courses (see also: Template:Translit)
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	used for businesses, i.e. Template:Lang
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Sets of things, such as documents or furniture
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Wins (sports bouts)
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Tanka
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Weeks
Template:Lang Template:Translit or Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang or Template:Wikt-lang	Kinds, species
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Pairs of footwear, pairs of socks, stockings, tabi
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Pairs
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	bundles (of banknotes), bunches (of flowers, vegetables), sheaves
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Images, statues, person's remains, dolls, androids, humanoid robots
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Bags of rice
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Drops of liquid
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Points, dots, pieces of a set
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Large animals, cattle, elephants, whales, dolphins, butterflies (Template:Lang means "head")
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Time periods, a sixth of either day or night (in the traditional, obsolete way of telling time). See also: Template:Translit
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Combinations, puzzle solutions
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Lang	Used as part of the indigenous Japanese numbers Template:Lang, Template:Lang, Template:Lang etc.
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Letters
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Commonly used unit of area equal to 3.3 square metres.
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Almonds, grain
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Telephone calls (see also: Template:Translit)
Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Birds, rabbits. Template:Lang means "feather" or "wing."
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Bundles
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Stories, episodes of TV series, etc.
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Nights (see also: Template:Translit)
Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Wikt-lang	Pairs of chopsticks; bowls of rice

Euphonic changes

Systematic changes occur when particular numbers precede counters that begin with certain phonemes. For example, Template:Lang Template:Translit + Template:Lang Template:Translit → Template:Lang Template:Translit. The details are listed in the table below.

This can be the result of the morpho-phonological phenomenon of historical sound changes,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> as shown by the voicing of Template:Lang Template:Translit:

change from glottal Template:IPA to bilabial Template:IPA.

It may also be that some counters carry features which are responsible for Template:Clarify for singular, dual, and plural nouns, where singular carries [+singular, −augmented] features, dual carries [−singular, −augmented] features, and plural carries [−singular, +augmented] features.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

These changes are followed fairly consistently but exceptions and variations between speakers do exist. Where variations are common, more than one alternative is listed.

Template:Translit is replaced by either Template:Translit or Template:Translit (Template:Lang) followed by a doubled consonant before the voiceless consonants as shown in the table. Template:Translit is the older form, but it has been replaced by Template:Translit in the speech of recent generations.

Numeral	k- (Template:Lang Template:Lang etc.)	s/sh- (Template:Lang Template:Lang etc.)	t/ch- (Template:Lang Template:Lang etc.)	h- (Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang)	f- (Template:Lang)	p- (Template:Lang etc.)	w- (Template:Lang)
1 Template:Translit	Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang
3 Template:Translit				Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang		Template:Translit Template:Lang
4 Template:Translit				Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang		Template:Translit Template:Lang
6 Template:Translit	Template:Translit Template:Lang			Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang
8 Template:Translit	Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang
10 Template:Translit	Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang
100 Template:Translit	Template:Translit Template:Lang			Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang
1000 Template:Translit				Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang
10000 Template:Translit				Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang
何 Template:Translit				Template:Translit Template:Lang	Template:Translit Template:Lang

Exceptions

The traditional numbers are used by and for young children to give their ages, instead of using the age counter Template:Lang (or Template:Lang) Template:Translit.

Some counters, notably Template:Lang Template:Translit and Template:Lang Template:Translit, use the traditional numerals for some numbers as shown in the table below. Other uses of traditional numbers are usually restricted to certain phrases, such as Template:Lang Template:Translit and Template:Lang Template:Translit (one and two months respectively), Template:Lang Template:Translit (a single word) and Template:Lang Template:Translit (once).

Sometimes common numbers that have a derived meaning are written using different kanji. For example, Template:Translit (alone) is written Template:Lang, and Template:Translit (once more, another time) is normally written Template:Lang instead of Template:Lang. The counter for months Template:Translit (derived from kanji Template:Lang) is commonly written Template:Lang.

Template:Translit and Template:Translit are alternatives for 7, Template:Translit and Template:Translit are alternatives for 4, and Template:Translit and Template:Translit are alternatives for 9. In those three pairs of options, Template:Translit, Template:Translit and Template:Translit respectively are more commonly used. Some counters, however, notably Template:Lang Template:Translit (people), Template:Lang Template:Translit (month of the year), Template:Lang Template:Translit (day of the month, days), Template:Lang Template:Translit (time of day) and Template:Lang Template:Translit (hours) take certain alternatives only. These are shown in the table below.

While Template:Lang Template:Translit (occurrences) and Template:Lang Template:Translit (0.01 yen, now rarely used) follow the euphonic changes listed above, homophones Template:Lang Template:Translit (stories/floors of a building) and Template:Lang Template:Translit (1000) are slightly different as shown below, although these differences are not followed by all speakers. Thus Template:Lang ("third floor") can be read either Template:Translit or Template:Translit, while Template:Lang ("three times") can only be read Template:Translit.

Numeral	Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Lang Template:Translit
1	Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:TranslitTemplate:Efn	Template:Translit				Template:Translit		Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit
2	Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit
3	Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Translit					Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit		Template:Translit
4	Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:TranslitTemplate:Efn	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit
5	Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Translit
6	Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Translit					Template:Translit	Template:Translit			Template:Translit
7	Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit		Template:Translit	Template:Translit
8	Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Translit					Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit
9	Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Translit			Template:Translit	Template:Translit
10	Template:Lang Template:Translit	Template:Translit					Template:Translit			Template:Translit	Template:Translit
14		Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit		Template:Translit	Template:Translit
17		Template:Translit	Template:Translit			Template:Translit
19		Template:Translit				Template:Translit
20		Template:Translit								Template:Translit
24		Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit		Template:Translit	Template:Translit
Template:Lang Template:Translit			Template:Efn				Template:Translit	Template:Translit	Template:Translit		Template:Translit

Ordinal numbers

In general, the counter words mentioned above are cardinal numbers, in that they indicate quantity. To transform a counter word into an ordinal number that denotes position in a sequence, Template:Lang Template:Translit is added to the end of the counter. Thus "one time" would be translated as Template:Lang Template:Translit, whereas "the first time" would be translated as Template:Lang Template:Translit.

This rule is inconsistent, however, as counters without the Template:Translit suffix are often used interchangeably with cardinal and ordinal meanings. For example, Template:Lang Template:Translit can mean both "three floors" and "third floor."

Periods of time

To express a period of time one may add Template:Lang Template:Translit to the following words: Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit (and its irregular readings aside from Template:Translit), Template:Lang Template:Translit, Template:Lang Template:Translit and Template:Lang Template:Translit. Usage varies depending on the word, though. For example, omitting Template:Translit in the case of Template:Lang Template:Translit would be a mistake, whereas Template:Translit and Template:Translit are both in frequent use. In addition, Template:Translit is rarely heard due to essentially being superfluous, the Template:Translit already functioning to express the length.

Counter for rabbits

The counter for rabbits is Template:Translit (Template:Lang), which is the same as the counter for birds. Usually, Template:Translit  (Template:Lang) is used for "small-to-medium-size animals",<ref name=":03">Template:Cite journal</ref> therefore, the counter for rabbits is an exception. There are many theories about why Template:Translit (Template:Lang) is used for rabbits instead of Template:Translit (Template:Lang).

One of the theories is that in Edo-era, eating four-legged animals was strictly forbidden by the government, and people were not allowed to consume rabbit meat.<ref name="Tsurumi">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref> Then, people started to categorize rabbits as birds so that they could consume rabbit meat, and the counter was also changed from Template:Translit (Template:Lang) to Template:Translit (Template:Lang).<ref name="Tsurumi" /><ref name=":2" /> Another theory is that taste of rabbit meat is similar to bird meat, and in addition, the rabbits were captured using a net just like birds so Template:Translit (Template:Lang) is used instead of Template:Translit (Template:Lang).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Takemitsu says that the origin of the word rabbit, Template:Lang Template:Translit, is Template:Lang Template:Translit which describes birds feather: therefore, the counter, Template:Translit (Template:Lang), is used for rabbits.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

See also

• Measure words
• Japanese units of measurement

References

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External links

• About.com - Counters Template:Webarchive
• A list of numeral counters with ichi/hito set indicated.