What is つ (tsu)?
つ is the general counter in Japanese, used for counting most everyday objects that don't require a specific counter. It uses native Japanese numbers and is one of the most versatile and commonly used counters.
りんごを3つ買いました
"I bought 3 apples"
質問が2つあります
"I have 2 questions"
Complete つ Counter List (1-10)
| Number | Hiragana | Romaji | Kanji |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ひとつ | hitotsu | 一つ |
| 2 | ふたつ | futatsu | 二つ |
| 3 | みっつ | mittsu | 三つ |
| 4 | よっつ | yottsu | 四つ |
| 5 | いつつ | itsutsu | 五つ |
| 6 | むっつ | muttsu | 六つ |
| 7 | ななつ | nanatsu | 七つ |
| 8 | やっつ | yattsu | 八つ |
| 9 | ここのつ | kokonotsu | 九つ |
| 10 | とお | too | 十 |
Important: Native counters are rarely used above 10!
When to Use つ
1. General Objects Without Specific Counter
When you don't know or need a specific counter:
問題が5つあります
"There are 5 problems"
理由が3つあります
"There are 3 reasons"
アイデアが2つあります
"I have 2 ideas"
2. Foods and Grocery Items
りんごを4つ買いました
"I bought 4 apples"
卵を10個ください
(can also say: 卵を10買いました)
"10 eggs, please"
パンを2つください
"2 breads, please"
3. Abstract Concepts
質問が3つあります
"I have 3 questions"
選択肢が4つあります
"There are 4 choices"
意見が2つあります
"There are 2 opinions"
4. Small Items or Things
お土産を3つもらいました
"I received 3 souvenirs"
プレゼントを2つ買いました
"I bought 2 presents"
5. When Counter is Unclear
If you're unsure which specific counter to use, つ is always safe:
これを2つください
"2 of these, please"
あれを5つ持ってきて
"Bring 5 of those"
つ vs Specific Counters
Both Are Acceptable
For many items, you can use either つ or a specific counter:
りんごを3つ ✓
りんごを3個 ✓
"3 apples"
ペンを2つ ✓
ペンを2本 ✓
"2 pens"
Specific Counter Sounds More Natural
While つ works, specific counters sound more precise:
More casual: 紙を3つ ⚠️
More natural: 紙を3枚 ✓
"3 sheets of paper"
More casual: 犬を2つ ❌ (sounds odd)
Correct: 犬を2匹 ✓
"2 dogs"
When つ is Preferred
- Casual conversation
- Abstract concepts
- When specific counter is unknown
- Mixed or unclear items
Common Patterns
Object + を + つ Counter
みかんを5つ買った
"I bought 5 oranges"
クッキーを3つ食べた
"I ate 3 cookies"
お土産を2つもらった
"I received 2 souvenirs"
つ Counter + の + Noun
3つのりんご
"3 apples"
2つの理由
"2 reasons"
5つの質問
"5 questions"
Subject + が + つ Counter + Verb
問題が4つあります
"There are 4 problems"
選択肢が3つあります
"There are 3 choices"
Asking "How Many?" with つ
いくつ - "How many?"
いくつありますか？
"How many are there?"
いくつ買いますか？
"How many will you buy?"
いくつ欲しいですか？
"How many do you want?"
いくつ必要ですか？
"How many do you need?"
Answering
Q: いくつありますか？
"How many are there?"
A: 3つあります
"There are 3"
A: 5つです
"5"
Above 10: Switch to Sino Numbers
After 10, switch to Sino-Japanese numbers with 個 (こ):
1-10: つ counter
ひとつ、ふたつ、みっつ... とお
11+: 個 counter
11個 (じゅういっこ)
15個 (じゅうごこ)
20個 (にじゅっこ)
100個 (ひゃっこ)
Exception: You might hear とお for 10, but above that, always use 個 or another specific counter.
Pronunciation Tips
Small つ (っ) Sound
Notice the small っ in several numbers:
みっつ (3)
よっつ (4)
むっつ (6)
やっつ (8)
The small っ creates a brief pause/stop:
みっつ = mi-t-tsu (not mi-tsu)
やっつ = ya-t-tsu (not ya-tsu)
Long Vowels
ここのつ = ko-ko-no-tsu
とお = to-o (long "o" sound)
Numbers Above 10 (with 個)
When counting more than 10 items:
11 = じゅういっこ
12 = じゅうにこ
13 = じゅうさんこ
20 = にじゅっこ
30 = さんじゅっこ
50 = ごじゅっこ
100 = ひゃっこ
Common Conversations
Example 1: Shopping
A: みかんをいくつ買いますか？
"How many oranges will you buy?"
B: 5つください
"5, please"
A: はい、かしこまりました
"Yes, certainly"
Example 2: At Home
A: りんごがいくつありますか？
"How many apples are there?"
B: 3つあります
"There are 3"
A: じゃあ、2つ食べてもいい？
"Then, can I eat 2?"
B: いいよ
"Sure"
Example 3: Classroom
A: 質問がいくつありますか？
"How many questions do you have?"
B: 2つあります
"I have 2"
A: どうぞ
"Go ahead"
Example 4: Planning
A: 選択肢がいくつありますか？
"How many options are there?"
B: 4つあります
"There are 4"
A: 一つずつ説明してください
"Please explain them one by one"
Special Expressions with つ
一つ (ひとつ)
Can mean "one" or "a certain":
一つお願いがあります
"I have one favor to ask"
一つの方法
"One method"
一つ言わせてください
"Let me say one thing"
二つ (ふたつ)
二つの選択肢
"Two choices"
二つ返事
"Immediate reply" (idiom)
いくつか (ikutsuka)
"Some/several":
いくつか質問があります
"I have some questions"
いくつか方法があります
"There are several methods"
いくつも (ikutsumo)
"Many":
いくつも問題がある
"There are many problems"
いくつも買いました
"I bought many"
Combinations with Other Words
〜ずつ (each/apiece)
2つずつください
"2 each, please"
一つずつ取ってください
"Please take one at a time"
3つずつ分けましょう
"Let's divide into groups of 3"
〜くらい/ぐらい (about)
3つくらい
"About 3"
5つぐらい欲しい
"I want about 5"
〜しか (only)
2つしかない
"There are only 2"
一つしか食べなかった
"I only ate one"
Age Usage (Informal)
つ can informally indicate age for young children:
A: いくつ？
"How old?"
B: 5つ
"5 (years old)"
More formal: 5 歳 (ごさい)
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using つ above 10
Wrong: じゅうつ ❌
Right: 10個 (じゅっこ) ✓
"10 (items)"
Wrong: じゅういちつ ❌
Right: 11個 (じゅういっこ) ✓
"11 (items)"
Mistake 2: Wrong pronunciation
Wrong: みつつ (3) ❌
Right: みっつ ✓
Wrong: むつつ (6) ❌
Right: むっつ ✓
Mistake 3: Using with living things inappropriately
Sounds odd: 人を3つ ❌
Correct: 人を3人 (さんにん) ✓
"3 people"
Sounds odd: 犬を2つ ❌
Correct: 犬を2匹 (にひき) ✓
"2 dogs"
Mistake 4: Forgetting to use a counter
Wrong: りんごを3買いました ❌
Right: りんごを3つ買いました ✓
"I bought 3 apples"
Formal vs Casual
Casual Speech
Often drop particles:
Very casual: これ3つ
More complete: これを3つ
"3 of these"
Casual: りんご2つちょうだい
Complete: りんごを2つください
"2 apples, please"
Written/Formal
選択肢が4つございます
"There are 4 options" (formal)
理由を3つ挙げます
"I will raise 3 reasons"
Comparison with 個 (こ)
つ - Native, casual, 1-10
3つ (みっつ)
"3 (things)"
Used for: general items, 1-10 range
個 - Sino, can be used for all numbers
3個 (さんこ)
"3 (small objects)"
Used for: small, discrete objects, any number
Both are often interchangeable for everyday items!
Practice Sentences
Basic
りんごを3つ買いました
"I bought 3 apples"
質問が2つあります
"I have 2 questions"
お土産を5つもらいました
"I received 5 souvenirs"
Intermediate
選択肢が4つありますが、どれがいいですか？
"There are 4 options, which is good?"
一つずつ説明してください
"Please explain one by one"
いくつか問題があります
"There are several problems"
Advanced
この問題には3つの解決方法があります
"There are 3 solutions to this problem"
彼女は一つも間違えなかった
"She didn't make a single mistake"
いくつもの困難を乗り越えた
"I overcame many difficulties"
Related Grammar Points
- Number System Overview - Japanese numbers
- Native vs Sino Numbers - Two systems
- Counter System Basics - How counters work
- 個 (こ) counter - Small objects
- いくつ (ikutsu) - How many
- Quantity expressions - Expressing amounts
- Specific counters - When to use what