本・枚・個・台 — A Beginner's Guide to Japanese Counters

In English you can say "three apples" without any extra word, but Japanese requires a counter (助数詞 / じょすうし) between the number and what you're counting — much like "three sheets of paper" or "two cups of coffee." There are reportedly over 500 counters in Japanese, but only about ten show up constantly in everyday life. This article gets you comfortable with the top 10.

Basic Word Order

In Japanese, counters follow the pattern noun + number + counter, or you can place "number + counter" before the verb:

りんごを三個買いました。 → I bought three apples.

ペンを二本ください。 → Please give me two pens.

Top 10 Most Common Counters

1. つ — The Universal Counter (Native Japanese System)

つ uses the native Japanese counting system (和語). From 一つ to 九つ, each number has a unique reading. At 10 it becomes 十（とお） with no つ. When in doubt about which counter to use, つ is always safe.

りんごを三つください。 → Three apples, please.

Note: You can't use つ beyond 10 — you'll need a specific counter instead.

2. 個（こ）— Small Objects

Used for small, roundish, three-dimensional objects: apples, eggs, rice balls, etc.

卵を二個買いました。 → I bought two eggs.

おにぎりを三個食べた。 → I ate three rice balls.

Notice the double-consonant (促音) changes at 1, 6, 8, and 10 (いっこ, ろっこ, はっこ, じゅっこ).

3. 本（ほん）— Long, Thin Objects

Used for long, cylindrical things: pens, umbrellas, bottled drinks, telephone poles, neckties, etc.

ペンを一本貸してください。 → Please lend me one pen.

ビールを三本買った。 → I bought three bottles of beer.

The pattern: 1, 6, 8, 10 → ぽん (double consonant + half-voiced); 3 → ぼん (voiced); everything else → ほん.

4. 枚（まい）— Flat Objects

Used for thin, flat things: paper, photos, shirts, plates, CDs, etc.

紙を一枚ください。 → One sheet of paper, please.

シャツを二枚買いました。 → I bought two shirts.

枚 has perfectly regular readings with no sound changes: いちまい, にまい, さんまい, よんまい, ごまい, ろくまい, ななまい, はちまい, きゅうまい, じゅうまい.

5. 台（だい）— Machines & Vehicles

Used for machines, vehicles, and large equipment: cars, computers, TVs, bicycles, etc.

車を一台持っています。 → I have one car.

パソコンが二台あります。 → There are two computers.

Also perfectly regular: いちだい, にだい, さんだい, よんだい, ごだい, ろくだい, ななだい, はちだい, きゅうだい, じゅうだい.

6. 冊（さつ）— Books

Used for bound volumes: books, notebooks, magazines, etc.

本を三冊借りました。 → I borrowed three books.

Important: 本（ほん）means "book" as a noun, but as a counter it counts long thin objects. The counter for books is 冊, not 本 — don't mix them up!

7. 杯（はい）— Cups & Glasses

Used for things in cups, glasses, or bowls: coffee, beer, ramen, etc.

コーヒーを一杯お願いします。 → One coffee, please.

ビールを三杯飲みました。 → I drank three glasses of beer.

The sound change pattern is identical to 本: 1, 6, 8, 10 → half-voiced; 3 → voiced.

8. 人（にん）— People

Counts people, but 1 and 2 have special readings:

三人で食事をしました。 → The three of us ate together.

ひとり and ふたり are irregular readings you simply have to memorize; from 3 onward they're regular. Akira Kurosawa's classic film 七人の侍（しちにんのさむらい, Seven Samurai） uses exactly this counter.

9. 匹（ひき）— Small Animals

Counts small animals: cats, dogs, fish, insects, etc.

猫を一匹飼っています。 → I have one cat.

犬が二匹います。 → There are two dogs.

The sound change pattern is exactly the same as 本 and 杯 — all counters starting with the は-row follow this rule.

10. 回（かい）— Times / Occurrences

Counts frequency:

一回やってみてください。 → Please try it once.

週に三回運動しています。 → I exercise three times a week.

Readings: いっかい, にかい, さんかい, よんかい, ごかい, ろっかい, ななかい, はっかい, きゅうかい, じゅっかい. Double-consonant changes at 1, 6, 8, and 10.

Sound Change Rules Summary

Counters starting with the は-row (ほん, はい, ひき, etc.) and か-row (かい, etc.) undergo sound changes after certain numbers:

Remember this rule of thumb: 1, 6, 8, 10 → double consonant; 3 → voiced.

When in Doubt, Use つ

If you're a beginner and not sure which counter to use, just go with つ. Japanese speakers will understand you perfectly fine — at worst, you'll sound a bit childlike, but you'll never be misunderstood. As you advance, gradually swap in more precise counters.

Summary

• Japanese counters (助数詞) number in the hundreds, but only about a dozen are truly common
• つ is the universal fallback — use it when unsure
• 個 (small objects), 本 (long/thin), 枚 (flat), 台 (machines), 冊 (books) are the five most fundamental
• 杯 (cups), 人 (people), 匹 (small animals), 回 (times) are also extremely frequent
• は-row counters at 1, 6, 8, 10 → double consonant + half-voiced; at 3 → voiced

Practice Quiz

Q1. Fill in the blanks: 「ペン二＿」「紙三＿」「車一＿」 — what counter goes in each?

Q2. In 「本を五＿読みました」, 本 here means "book." What counter fills the blank?

Q3. 「ビール三＿」can be said two ways. What are they?