On Counting in Japanese - Japanese Counter Primer - Part Trois (III)
If you have been busy practicing your Japanese numbers since last lesson, then I assume you can say in Japanese, the numbers, 1 through 10 forwards and backwards (You are starting to count the Japanese numbers in your sleep.
Before proceeding, make sure you are confident in your ability to count in Japanese... well at least to ten. Once you can capably count in Japanese from 1 to 10, then you may proceed.
Once your confident in your Japanese counting ability and can say them forward and backwards then we can go and learn and grow our Japanese conversational skills and find out a lot of other useful ways that knowing how to count in Japanese can work for the benefit of our Japanese speaking abilities.
Let's review. (If you want an entire review of the Japanese numbers then see http://squidoo.com/japanesecounting)
1 - ichi
2 - ni
3 - san
4 - yon, shi
5 - go
6 - roku
7 - shichi, nana
8 - hachi
9 - kyu, ku
10 ju, to
In Japanese when you ask the question,"How many", the response is dependent on what it is you are counting. In Japanese all things are not counted equally. They are grouped into categories by size, shape, and other factors.
In Japanese a counter is added to the standard set of numbers as learned thus far, that is ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, shichi, hachi, ku, and ju. Japanese counters will describe what is being counted more than English does when it counts. 5 pencils in English is 5 of them. In Japanese, 5 pencils would be 5 of those round thingies instead. As I said, which counter to use is usually determined by the size, and or shape of that which is being counted. Although the basic numbers from 1-10 then 10-20, and so are the same, the shape of the object being counted may differ. For example, the difference in shape between a book and a car is obvious and when counted in Japanese is accounted for.There are many counters. Here are a few of the most common counters you will encounter in Japanes with examples of each unique counter. As ALways, Ganbatte Ne! Do Your Best!
COMMON JAPANESE COUNTERS
~hon - For cylindrical, bulbous, or elongated shapes like pencils, balloons, legs, or even bullet trains, the counter is Since hon can transform into its voiced, non-voiced and labiated versions, some of the numbers for the counters may be ppon, or bon. Ippon, nihon, sanbon, yonhon, gohon, roppon, nanahon, happon, kyu^hon, juppon. These counters could either be used to express how many pencils from 1-10 pencils, or 1-10 bullet trains, or anything that you can count that has a cylindrical appearance. Nothing is too strange to be counted with the hon counter.
~dai - machines, cars, etc. so ichi dai = ichidai, or, one car etc. No exceptions on pronunciation here; just add number dai to say how many machines or to express how many 'machine-like' objects there are. How many in this case is "nandai?"
~hiki - counter for small animals. ippiki, nihiki, sanbiki, yonhiki, gohiki, roppiki, nanhiki, happiki, kyuhiki, juppiki.
to^ - with the long o(oh) is the counter for larger animals - ito, nito, sando, yondo, goto, rokuto etc.ko - counter for a small piece or pieces of an object, like candy, or pebbles etc. even goldfish
...continued in Counting In Japanese - Part quatro here on Japanesecounting IV
And there you have it. Instant plug and play Japanese wordage for your Japanese as SL2 enjoyment. Now go out there and use it on somebody!
Ganbatte ne! Do you Best! Makurasuki.
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- Danielle Danielle Mar 7, 2009 @ 12:28 pm
- More examples are needed for Japanese counters.
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