How to count various things in Japanese! #1

Hi! Lovely kittens. :)
In this lesson, I'm gonna teach these kittens how to count various things in Japanese. :)
How many kittens are there in my class?
Let me count them.
One,two,three,,
There are three kittens learning Japanese in my class.
Don't worry even if there're only three students in my class I'll keep doing this corse for them. ::)
Plz gimme a cuddle... sigh,,,,
Anyway, do you know how to count small animal such as a cat in Japanese?



There're 3 cats in this room.

この部屋には、３匹(ひき)のねこがいます。/Kono heya ni wa, san hiki no neko ga imasu.

*部屋(へや)[n] a room

What the hell is 匹???
Yes, I feel you. When counting small animals/insects we use 匹(ひき).
How about books?

There're 4 books on the desk.

机のうえに、４冊(さつ)の本があります。/Tukue no ue ni, yon satu no hon ga arimasu.

*机(つくえ)[n] a table, desk
  本(ほん)[n] a book


Oh my,,,,冊???!
Can't believe my eyes,,,
But it's the same as English, right??
A cup of tea! Hm, makes sence to me.
A piece of paper! Hm,ok.
A flock of sheep! Hm,,?????
Phew, We still have to learn a lots of things. hehe

So in this lesson, let me teach you Japanese counting system(counters) which you should know.
Are you ready??
 Let's have a look :)

枚(まい) is used for paper, plate, mirror and leaf etc.

　　紙が１枚。お皿が２枚。かがみが３枚。葉っぱが４枚。

*紙(かみ)[n] paper
  皿(さら)[n] plate
  鏡(かがみ)[n] mirror
  葉/葉っぱ(は/はっぱ)[n] leaf/leaves


日(にち/っか/か) is used for days, dates.

        今日は、１日。２日。３日。４日。

Here is a tip.
Writing is quite simple. Just write number besides 日.
However pronunciation is changed each number.
For example, １日 you can say 'いちにち' or 'ついたち which means 1st day' while ２日 you can say 'ふつか'.
It's not even pronunced に as 2.
Yes, it's quite complicated part.
I'm gonna make a chart later. So you don't have to remember them right now.
Just remember that you can count dates with 日 for now. :)


年(ねん) is used for years.

                   今年は２０１８年です。/ Kotoshi wa ni sen juu hachi nenn desu.
  

個(こ) is used for small things which is countable such as an apple.

                  りんごが１個。コップが２個。/Ringo ga ikko. Koppu ga ni ko.

*林檎(りんご)[n] apple
 コップ(こっぷ)[n] cup 


冊(さつ) is used for books.

                  マンガが１冊 。ざっしが２冊。

*漫画(まんが)[n] comic
 雑誌(ざっし)[n] magazine


人(とり/にん) is used for people, person.

                 ともだちが１人。２人。３人。４人。/Tomodachi ga hitori, hutari, san nin, yo nin.

Here is a tip.
Only for 1 person and 2 persons, 人 is pronounced とり.


羽(わ) is used for birds.

               からすが１羽。はとが２羽。/Karasu ga ichi wa. Hato ga ni wa.

* からす[n] crow
   鳩(はと)[n] pigeon


We have more patterns like these counters in Japanese.
How to count houses. How to count cabbages and so on.
But I think you need to know just those counters above for now.
Anyway, I'm gonna teach you another patterns and counters in another lesson if you want me to.
 

How was today's lesson?
It's a bit difficult to understand for now, isn't it?
You'll see these complicated Japanese counting system too many times if you keep learning Japanese.
If you don't understand it but don't give it up.
You'll get used to it soon. :)

See you next lesson :)
Thanks.

ありがとうございました！