Japanese General Counter tsu Vocabulary

General Counter (つ - Tsu)

  • Overview: The Japanese counter つ (tsu) is used as a general counter for items, objects, or things.

  • Counter Forms (1 to 10):

    • One thing: Kanji: 一つ | Kana: ひとつ | Romaji: hitotsu
    • Two things: Kanji: 二つ | Kana: ふたつ | Romaji: futatsu
    • Three things: Kanji: 三つ | Kana: みっつ | Romaji: mittsu
    • Four things: Kanji: 四つ | Kana: よっつ | Romaji: yottsu
    • Five things: Kanji: 五つ | Kana: いつつ | Romaji: itsutsu
    • Six things: Kanji: 六つ | Kana: むっつ | Romaji: muttsu
    • Seven things: Kanji: 七つ | Kana: ななつ | Romaji: nanatsu
    • Eight things: Kanji: 八つ | Kana: やっつ | Romaji: yattsu
    • Nine things: Kanji: 九つ | Kana: ここのつ | Romaji: kokonotsu
    • Ten things: Kanji: 十 | Kana: とお | Romaji: too
  • Interrogative Form:

    • How many: Kana: いくつ | Romaji: ikutsu

Counter for People (人 - Nin / Hitori / Futari)

  • Overview: Japanese counting system specifically designated for counting people.

  • Counter Forms (1 to 10 People):

    • One person: Kanji: 一人 | Kana: ひとり | Romaji: hitori
    • Two people: Kanji: 二人 | Kana: ふたり | Romaji: futari
    • Three people: Kanji: 三人 | Kana: さんにん | Romaji: sannin
    • Four people: Kanji: 四人 | Kana: よにん | Romaji: yonin
    • Five people: Kanji: 五人 | Kana: ごにん | Romaji: gonin
    • Six people: Kanji: 六人 | Kana: ろくにん | Romaji: rokunin
    • Seven people: Kanji: 七人 | Kana: しちにん | Romaji: shichinin
    • Eight people: Kanji: 八人 | Kana: はちにん | Romaji: hachinin
    • Nine people: Kanji: 九人 | Kana: きゅうにん | Romaji: kyuunin
    • Ten people: Kanji: 十人 | Kana: じゅうにん | Romaji: juunin
  • Interrogative Form:

    • How many people: Kanji: 何人 | Kana: なんにん | Romaji: nannin

Counter for Small and Round Objects (個 - Ko)

  • Overview: Counter used specifically for counting small and round objects.

  • Counter Forms (1 to 10):

    • 1: Kanji: 一個 | Kana: いっこ | Romaji: ikko
    • 2: Kanji: 二個 | Kana: にこ | Romaji: niko
    • 3: Kanji: 三個 | Kana: さんこ | Romaji: sanko
    • 4: Kanji: 四個 | Kana: よんこ | Romaji: yonko
    • 5: Kanji: 五個 | Kana: ごこ | Romaji: goko
    • 6: Kanji: 六個 | Kana: ろっこ | Romaji: rokko
    • 7: Kanji: 七個 | Kana: ななこ | Romaji: nanako
    • 8: Kanji: 八個 | Kana: はっこ | Romaji: hakko
    • 9: Kanji: 九個 | Kana: きゅうこ | Romaji: kyuuko
    • 10: Kanji: 十個 | Kana: じゅっこ | Romaji: jukko
  • Interrogative Form:

    • How many: Kanji: 何個 | Kana: なんこ | Romaji: nanko

Counter for Flat Objects (枚 - Mai)

  • Overview: Counter used specifically for counting flat objects (e.g., sheets of paper, plates, tickets).

  • Counter Forms (1 to 10):

    • 1: Kanji: 一枚 | Kana: いちまい | Romaji: ichimai
    • 2: Kanji: 二枚 | Kana: にまい | Romaji: nimai
    • 3: Kanji: 三枚 | Kana: さんまい | Romaji: sanmai
    • 4: Kanji: 四枚 | Kana: よんまい | Romaji: yonmai
    • 5: Kanji: 五枚 | Kana: ごまい | Romaji: gomai
    • 6: Kanji: 六枚 | Kana: ろくまい | Romaji: rokumai
    • 7: Kanji: 七枚 | Kana: ななまい | Romaji: nanamai
    • 8: Kanji: 八枚 | Kana: はちまい | Romaji: hachimai
    • 9: Kanji: 九枚 | Kana: きゅうまい | Romaji: kyuumai
    • 10: Kanji: 十枚 | Kana: じゅうまい | Romaji: juumai
  • Interrogative Form:

    • How many: Kanji: 何枚 | Kana: なんまい | Romaji: nanmai

Counter for Floors of a Building (階 - Kai / Gai)

  • Overview: Counter used specifically for counting or identifying the floors/stories of a building.

  • Counter Forms (1st to 10th Floor):

    • First floor: Kanji: 一階 | Kana: いっかい | Romaji: ikkai
    • Second floor: Kanji: 二階 | Kana: にかい | Romaji: nikai
    • Third floor: Kanji: 三階 | Kana: さんがい | Romaji: sangai
    • Fourth floor: Kanji: 四階 | Kana: よんかい | Romaji: yonkai
    • Fifth floor: Kanji: 五階 | Kana: ごかい | Romaji: gokai
    • Sixth floor: Kanji: 六階 | Kana: ろっかい | Romaji: rokkai
    • Seventh floor: Kanji: 七階 | Kana: ななかい | Romaji: nanakai
    • Eighth floor: Kanji: 八階 | Kana: はっかい | Romaji: hakkai
    • Ninth floor: Kanji: 九階 | Kana: きゅうかい | Romaji: kyuukai
    • Tenth floor: Kanji: 十階 | Kana: じゅっかい | Romaji: jukkai
  • Interrogative Form:

    • Which floor: Kanji: 何階 | Kana: なんがい | Romaji: nangai

Practice Resources

  • Practice URL: Additional practice for all counter types can be accessed at https://www.japanesejlpt.com