Basic Counters
ๅฉๆฐ่ฉ
Japanese uses counters when counting things. Different counters are used for different types of objects, similar to 'a piece of paper' or 'a cup of tea' in English.
ใค (general counter)
General counter for things
Formation: ใฒใจใค, ใตใใค, ใฟใฃใค, ใใฃใค, ใใคใค...
Used for various objects; native Japanese numbers up to 10
ใใใใใตใใคใใ ใใใ
ไบบ (ใซใ/ใ)
Counter for people
Formation: ไธไบบ (ใฒใจใ), ไบไบบ (ใตใใ), ไธไบบ (ใใใซใ)...
1 and 2 people use special readings
ไธไบบใงใใ
ๅ (ใ)
Counter for small objects
Formation: ไธๅ (ใใฃใ), ไบๅ (ใซใ), ไธๅ (ใใใ)...
ๅตใไธๅ่ฒทใใพใใใ
ๆฌ (ใปใ)
Counter for long objects
Formation: ไธๆฌ (ใใฃใฝใ), ไบๆฌ (ใซใปใ), ไธๆฌ (ใใใผใ)...
Pens, bottles, trees, etc.
ใใณใไบๆฌใใ ใใใ
ๆ (ใพใ)
Counter for flat objects
Formation: ไธๆ (ใใกใพใ), ไบๆ (ใซใพใ), ไธๆ (ใใใพใ)...
Paper, tickets, plates, shirts, etc.
ๅ็ฌฆใไบๆ่ฒทใใพใใใ
ๆฏ (ใฏใ)
Counter for cups/glasses/bowls
Formation: ไธๆฏ (ใใฃใฑใ), ไบๆฏ (ใซใฏใ), ไธๆฏ (ใใใฐใ)...
ใณใผใใผใไธๆฏ้ฃฒใฟใพใใใ