Japanese Counters Chart
10 essential counter words (助数詞) with all readings 1–10
Native Japanese counting. Used for general objects, abstract things. Only goes up to 10.
りんごをひとつください — One apple, please.
1 and 2 use special readings (ひとり, ふたり). 4 → よにん (not しにん).
三人で行きます — Three of us will go.
Pens, bottles, trees, fingers, roads, rivers. Sound changes at 1, 3, 6, 8, 10.
ペンを二本ください — Two pens, please.
Paper, shirts, plates, tickets, CDs. No sound changes.
切手を五枚ください — Five stamps, please.
Cats, dogs, fish, insects. Sound changes at 1, 3, 6, 8, 10.
猫が三匹います — There are three cats.
Cars, computers, TVs, washing machines. No sound changes.
車が二台あります — There are two cars.
Books, notebooks, magazines. Sound changes at 1, 8, 10.
本を一冊読みました — I read one book.
Cups of coffee, glasses of water, bowls of rice. Sound changes at 1, 3, 6, 8, 10.
コーヒーを一杯お願いします — One cup of coffee, please.
Frequency. Sound changes at 1, 6, 8, 10.
三回行きました — I went three times.
Building floors. 3F → さんがい (not さんかい).
オフィスは五階です — The office is on the 5th floor.