Counting
The Japanese language has specific ways to count depending on the type of counted item. Included are 13 of the major ones that people use. There are a lot more in existence, but these are more of the common ones. Any kanji for counted values will consist of the number then the kanji for the appropriate counter.
-つ
Usage: For generic objects without a specific counter. “つ” applies only to single digit number 1 to 9.
| Number | Hiragana |
| 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 ot じゅう |
-枚（まい）
Usage: For flat, thin objects such as paper or cloth.
| Number | Hiragana |
| 1 | いちまい |
| 2 | にまい |
| 3 | さんまい |
| 4 | よんまい or よまい |
| 5 | ごまい |
| 6 | ろくまい |
| 7 | ななまい |
| 8 | はちまい |
| 9 | きゅうまい |
| 10 | じゅうまい |
-人（にん）
Usage: For counting people.
| Number | Hiragana |
| 1 | ひとり |
| 2 | ふたり |
| 3 | さんにん |
| 4 | よにん |
| 5 | ごにん |
| 6 | ろくにん |
| 7 | ななにん or しちにん |
| 8 | はちにん |
| 9 | きゅうにん |
| 10 | じゅうにん |
-冊（さつ）
Usage: For counting bound objects, such as books or magazines.
| Number | Hiragana |
| 1 | いっさつ |
| 2 | にさつ |
| 3 | さんさつ |
| 4 | よさつ |
| 5 | ごさつ |
| 6 | ろくさつ |
| 7 | ななさつ |
| 8 | はっさつ |
| 9 | きゅうさつ |
| 10 | じゅっさつ |
-匹（ひき）
Usage: For counting small animals, fish or insects.
| Number | Hiragana |
| 1 | いっぴき |
| 2 | にひき |
| 3 | さんびき |
| 4 | よんひき |
| 5 | ごひき |
| 6 | ろっぴき |
| 7 | ななひき |
| 8 | はっぴき |
| 9 | きゅうひき |
| 10 | じゅっぴき |
-回（かい）
| Number | Hiragana |
| 1 | いっかい |
| 2 | にかい |
| 3 | さんかい |
| 4 | よんかい |
| 5 | ごかい |
| 6 | ろっかい |
| 7 | ななかい |
| 8 | はちかい or はっかい |
| 9 | きゅうかい |
| 10 | じゅっかい |
-歳（さい）
Usage: To count the age of something or someone.
| Number | Hiragana |
| 1 | いっさい |
| 2 | にさい |
| 3 | さんさい |
| 4 | よんさい |
| 5 | ごさい |
| 6 | ろくさい |
| 7 | ななさい |
| 8 | はっさい |
| 9 | きゅうさい |
| 10 | じゅっさい |
-本（ほん）
Usage: To count long, cylindrical objects such as pencils or trees.
| Number | Hiragana |
| 1 | いっぽん |
| 2 | にほん |
| 3 | さんぼん |
| 4 | よんほん |
| 5 | ごほん |
| 6 | ろっぽん |
| 7 | ななほん |
| 8 | はちほん |
| 9 | きゅうほん |
| 10 | じゅっぽん |
-杯（はい）
Usage: To count cups or glassfuls of something.
| Number | Hiragana |
| 1 | いっぱい |
| 2 | にはい |
| 3 | さんばい |
| 4 | よんはい or しはい |
| 5 | ごはい |
| 6 | ろっぱい |
| 7 | ななはい or しちはい |
| 8 | はちはい or はっぱい |
| 9 | きゅうはい |
| 10 | じゅっぱい |
-階（かい）
Usage: To count the number of floors of a building.
| Number | Hiragana |
| 1 | いっかい |
| 2 | にかい |
| 3 | さんかい |
| 4 | よんかい |
| 5 | ごかい |
| 6 | ろっかい |
| 7 | ななかい |
| 8 | はちかい or はっかい |
| 9 | きゅうかい |
| 10 | じゅっかい |
-台（だい）
Usage: To count machines or vehicles.
| Number | Hiragana |
| 1 | いちだい |
| 2 | にだい |
| 3 | さんだい |
| 4 | よんだい |
| 5 | ごだい |
| 6 | ろくだい |
| 7 | ななだい |
| 8 | はちだい |
| 9 | きゅうだい |
| 10 | じゅうだい |
-個（こ）
Usage: To count other small, generally round objects.
| Number | Hiragana |
| 1 | いっこ |
| 2 | にこ |
| 3 | さんこ |
| 4 | よんこ |
| 5 | ごこ |
| 6 | ろっこ |
| 7 | ななこ |
| 8 | はちこ |
| 9 | きゅうこ |
| 10 | じゅっこ |
-羽（は）
Usage: To count birds.
| Number | Hiragana |
| 1 | いっぱ |
| 2 | にわ |
| 3 | さんば |
| 4 | よんぱ |
| 5 | ごわ |
| 6 | ろっぱ |
| 7 | ななは or しちは |
| 8 | はっぱ |
| 9 | きゅうわ |
| 10 | じゅっぱ |