Lesson 1: Counters

  

The Japanese numbering system is a bit peculiar to English speakers,this is mainly because it is in units of four instead of three as we are conversant with.This can make conversion into English a bit tricky.Also,there are what we call counters,which are required for counting different types of objects,animals and people.

1. COUNTER FOR MONEY

The table above shows the counter for money. Take note that you should say yoen for four yen, not yonen.

2. COUNTER FOR FLAT AND THIN OBJECTS

3. COUNTER FOR VEHICLES AND BIG EQUIPMENT

4. COUNTER FOR PEOPLE

The table above shows the counter for people. Take note of the different pronunciations required for the highlighted numbers.

5. COUNTER FOR FLOOR (OF A BUILDING)

The table above shows the counter for floor. Take note of the different pronunciations required for the highlighted numbers.

6. DAYS OF THE MONTH

Note: The first 10 days, the 14th, 19th, 20th, 29th have special readings that must be separately memorized.

Days of the month

Day	Kanji	Reading
What day	何日	なん・にち
1st	一日	ついたち
2nd	二日	ふつ・か
3rd	三日	みっ・か
4th	四日	よっ・か
5th	五日	いつ・か
6th	六日	むい・か
7th	七日	なの・か
8th	八日	よう・か
9th	九日	ここの・か
10th	十日	とお・か
11th	十一日	じゅう・いち・にち
12th	十二日	じゅう・に・にち
13th	十三日	じゅう・さん・にち
14th	十四日	じゅう・よっ・か
15th	十五日	じゅう・ご・にち
16th	十六日	じゅう・ろく・にち
17th	十七日	じゅう・しち・にち
18th	十八日	じゅう・はち・にち
19th	十九日	じゅう・く・にち
20th	二十日	はつ・か
21st	二十一日	に・じゅう・いち・にち
22nd	二十二日	に・じゅう・に・にち
23rd	二十三日	に・じゅう・さん・にち
24th	二十四日	に・じゅう・よっ・か
25th	二十五日	に・じゅう・ご・にち
26th	二十六日	に・じゅう・ろく・にち
27th	二十七日	に・じゅう・しち・にち
28th	二十八日	に・じゅう・はち・にち
29th	二十九日	に・じゅう・く・にち
30th	三十日	さん・じゅう・にち
31st	三十一日	さん・じゅう・いち・にち

7. COUNTERS FOR AGE

The table above shows the Japanese age counters using onyomi. You just need to append (sai) to the number to get the respective age. Take note that ages like 1,8,10, 20, 30 and all the ages in the tens have to be pronounced differently.