JLPT N5 Counters: How to Count Objects Correctly with Examples

JLPT N5 Counters: How to Count Objects Correctly with Examples

In Japanese, counters are used with numbers to count objects, people, animals, and more. Each type of item has a specific counter. This guide covers the most important JLPT N5 counters with examples, readings, and tips to help beginners count correctly.

1. People Counters

Number Counter Hiragana Example Sentence
1人ひとり友達が一人います。
ともだちがひとりいます。I have one friend.
2人ふたり兄弟が二人います。
きょうだいがふたりいます。I have two siblings.
3+人～にん学生が三人います。
がくせいがさんにんいます。There are three students.

2. General Objects Counters

Number Counter Hiragana Example Sentence
1つひとつりんごを一つください。
りんごをひとつください。Please give me one apple.
2つふたつみかんを二つ食べました。
みかんをふたつたべました。I ate two mandarins.
3+つ～つ本を三つ買いました。
ほんをみっつかいました。I bought three books.

3. Long / Cylindrical Objects

Number Counter Hiragana Example Sentence
1本いっぽんペンを一本ください。
ぺんをいっぽんください。Please give me one pen.
2本にほん箸が二本あります。
はしがにほんあります。There are two chopsticks.
3+本～ほん木が三本あります。
きがさんぼんあります。There are three trees.

4. Flat / Thin Objects

Number Counter Hiragana Example Sentence
1枚いちまい紙を一枚ください。
かみをいちまいください。Please give me one sheet of paper.
2枚にまい写真が二枚あります。
しゃしんがにまいあります。There are two photos.
3+枚～まい切手が三枚あります。
きってがさんまいあります。There are three stamps.

5. Small Animals

Number Counter Hiragana Example Sentence
1匹いっぴき犬が一匹います。
いぬがいっぴきいます。There is one dog.
2匹にひき猫が二匹います。
ねこがにひきいます。There are two cats.
3+匹～ひき魚が三匹います。
さかながさんびきいます。There are three fish.

6. Practice Questions

  1. How do you say “I have three friends” in Japanese?
  2. Translate: “Please give me two apples.”
  3. Count five sheets of paper using the correct counter.
  4. How to say “There are two dogs” in Japanese?
  5. Form a sentence: “I bought one pen.”
    6. Complete JLPT-Friendly Counter List

    Complete, Exam-Useful JLPT N5/N4–Level Counter List

    This page collects the most important Japanese counters: time, general objects, people, animals, and a separate list for special/irregular readings. Tables show Kanji, hiragana, reading and common use cases.

    If you want example sentences or practice questions, scroll to the end for suggestions.

    1. MAIN COUNTERS TABLE (JLPT-Friendly)

    Format shown: Kanji | ひらがな | Reading | Use Case

    A. Time Counters

    Hours

    KanjiひらがなReadingUse Case
    ～時～じ~jiClock time (例: 3時＝3 o’clock)
    ～時間～じかん~jikanDuration in hours (例: 3時間＝3 hours)

    Minutes

    KanjiひらがなReadingUse Case
    ～分～ふん／ぷん／ぶんfun / pun / bunMinutes (clock time or duration)

    Days

    KanjiひらがなReadingUse Case
    ～日～にち~nichiDays of month & duration
    一日ついたちtsuitachi1st day of month & sometimes "one day"
    二日ふつかfutsuka2nd day / two days
    三日みっかmikka3rd day / three days
    四日よっかyokka4th day / four days
    五日いつかitsuka5th day / five days
    六日むいかmuika6th day / six days
    七日なのかnanoka7th day / seven days
    八日ようかyōka8th day / eight days
    九日ここのかkokonoka9th day / nine days
    十日とおかtōka10th day / ten days
    二十日はつかhatsuka20th day / twenty days

    Weeks

    KanjiひらがなReadingUse Case
    ～週間～しゅうかんshuukanDuration of weeks
    ～週～しゅうshūNumber of weeks

    Months

    KanjiひらがなReadingUse Case
    ～か月／ヶ月～かげつkagetsuDuration of months
    月がつgatsuMonth of the year (例: 1月＝January)

    Years

    KanjiひらがなReadingUse Case
    ～年～ねんnenNumber of years
    年としtoshiYear / age (old style)

    B. GENERAL COUNTERS

    General Objects

    KanjiひらがなReadingUse Case
    ～つ～つ~tsuGeneric objects (1–10)

    People

    KanjiひらがなReadingUse Case
    ～人～にん / ひとり / ふたり~nin / hitori / futariCounting people

    Small Animals

    KanjiひらがなReadingUse Case
    ～匹～ひき／ぴき／びきhiki / piki / bikiSmall animals (dogs, cats, etc.)

    Large Animals

    KanjiひらがなReadingUse Case
    ～頭～とうtōHorses, cows, elephants

    Long/Cylindrical Objects

    KanjiひらがなReadingUse Case
    ～本～ほん／ぽん／ぼんhon / pon / bonBottles, pens, trees

    Flat Objects

    KanjiひらがなReadingUse Case
    ～枚～まいmaiPaper, plates, shirts

    Machines / Vehicles

    KanjiひらがなReadingUse Case
    ～台～だいdaiCars, TVs, machines

    Frequency

    KanjiひらがなReadingUse Case
    ～回～かいkaiTimes (例: 1回、5回)

    Floors of a Building

    KanjiひらがなReadingUse Case
    ～階～かい／がいkai / gaiBuilding floors

    Books

    KanjiひらがなReadingUse Case
    ～冊～さつsatsuBooks, notebooks

    Clothes (Layers)

    KanjiひらがなReadingUse Case
    ～着～ちゃくchakuClothes (shirts, suits)

    2. COUNTERS USED FOR DIFFERENT THINGS (Quick List)

    CategoryCounterExample
    General items～つひとつ、みっつ
    People～人さんにん
    Small animals～匹さんびき
    Large animals～頭いっとう
    Birds / rabbits～羽いちわ、さんわ
    Long objects～本いっぽん、さんぼん
    Flat objects～枚３まい
    Machines / vehicles～台２だい
    Clothes～着３ちゃく
    Books～冊４さつ
    Houses/buildings～軒いっけん
    Drinks (cups)～杯いっぱい、さんばい
    Bound volumes～冊２さつ
    Steps / stairs～段５だん

    3. SPECIAL / IRREGULAR READINGS LIST (Very Important for JLPT)

    Below are common irregular readings you should memorise.

    General objects (～つ)

    NumberReading
    1ひとつ
    2ふたつ
    3みっつ
    4よっつ
    5いつつ
    6むっつ
    7ななつ
    8やっつ
    9ここのつ
    10とお
    How many?いくつ

    People (～人)

    NumberReading
    1 personひとり
    2 peopleふたり
    3+ peopleさんにん、よにん…

    Days (irregular)

    KanjiReading
    1日ついたち
    2日ふつか
    3日みっか
    4日よっか
    5日いつか
    6日むいか
    7日なのか
    8日ようか
    9日ここのか
    10日とおか
    20日はつか

    Minutes (～分) — common irregulars

    NumberReading
    1いっぷん
    2にふん
    3さんぷん
    4よんぷん
    5ごふん
    6ろっぷん
    7ななふん
    8はっぷん
    9きゅうふん
    10じゅっぷん／じっぷん

    Animals (～匹)

    NumberReading
    1いっぴき
    3さんびき
    6ろっぴき
    8はっぴき
    10じゅっぴき

    Long objects (～本)

    NumberReading
    1いっぽん
    3さんぼん
    6ろっぽん
    8はっぽん
    10じゅっぽん

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