Japanese counter word
Template:Short description In Japanese, counter words or counters are measure words used with numbers to count things, actions, and events. Counters are added directly after numbers.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite journal</ref> There are numerous counters, and different counters are used depending on the kind or shape of nouns that are being described.<ref name=":3" /> The Japanese term, Template:Nihongo, appears to have been literally calqued from the English term auxiliary numeral used by Basil Hall Chamberlain in A Handbook of Colloquial Japanese.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In Japanese, as in Chinese and Korean, numerals cannot quantify nouns by themselves (except, in certain cases, for the numbers from one to ten; see below).<ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref> For example, to express the idea "two dogs" in Japanese one could say either:
Template:Columns-start Template:Fs interlinear Template:Column Template:Fs interlinear Template:Columns-end
but just pasting {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} together in either order is ungrammatical. Here Template:Wikt-lang Template:Translit is the number "two", Template:Wikt-lang Template:Translit is the counter for small animals, Template:Wikt-lang Template:Translit is the possessive particle (a reversed "of", similar to the " 's" in "John's dog"), and Template:Wikt-lang Template:Translit is the word "dog".
Counters are not independent words; they must appear with a numeric prefix. The number can be imprecise: Template:Wikt-lang Template:Translit or, less commonly, Template:Wikt-lang Template:Translit, can both be used to mean "some/several/many", and, in questions, "what/how many/how much". For example:
Template:Columns-start Template:Fs interlinear Template:Column Template:Fs interlinear Template:Columns-end
Some nouns prefer {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit, as in:
- {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit "how many nights?"
- {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit "I was gone for many days."
Counters are similar in function to the word "pieces" in "two pieces of paper" or "cups" in "two cups of coffee". However, they cannot take non-numerical modifiers. So while "two pieces of paper" translates fairly directly as:
"two green pieces of paper" must be rendered as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit, akin to "two pieces of green paper".
Just as in English, different counters can be used to convey different types of quantity.
Template:Columns-start Template:Fs interlinear Template:Column Template:Fs interlinear Template:Columns-end
There are numerous counters, and depending on the kind or shape of nouns the number is describing, different counters are used.<ref name=":3" />
Grammatically, counter words can appear either before or after the noun they count. They generally occur after the noun (following particles), and if used before the noun, they emphasize the quantity; this is a common mistake for English learners of Japanese. For example:
In contrast:
would only be appropriate when emphasizing the number as in responding with "[I] drank two bottles of beer" to "How many beers did you drink?".
Phrase structure involving numerals and countersEdit
In generative grammar, one proposed structure of Japanese nominal phrases includes three layers of functional projections: #P, CaseP, and QuantifierP.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref> Here, #P is placed above NP to explain Japanese's lack of plural morphology, and to make clear the # head is the stem of such morphology.<ref name=":0" /> This structure relies on movement in order to satisfy agreement via extended projection principle features.Template:Clarifyme<ref name=":0" />
Substitution of countersEdit
In Japanese, virtually all nouns must use a counter to express number because Japanese lacks singular/plural morphology.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":0" /> In this sense, virtually all Japanese nouns are mass nouns. This grammatical feature can result in situations where one is unable to express the number of a particular object in a syntactically correct way because one does not know, or cannot remember, the appropriate counting word. With quantities from one to ten, this problem can often be sidestepped by using the traditional numerals (see below), which can quantify many nouns without help. For example, "four apples" is {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit where Template:Wikt-lang Template:Translit is the counter, but can also be expressed, using the traditional numeral four, as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit. These traditional numerals cannot be used to count all nouns, however; some, including nouns for people and animals, require a proper counter (except for 1 and 2 people, which virtually always use variants of the traditional numerals; see exceptions).
Some of the more common counters may substitute for less common ones. For example, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit (see below) is often used for all animals, regardless of size. However, many speakers will prefer to use the traditionally correct counter, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit, when speaking of larger animals such as horses. This yields a range of possible counters, with differing degrees of usage and acceptability – for example, when ordering kushikatsu (fried skewers), one may order them as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit (two skewers), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit (two sticks), or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit (two items), in decreasing order of precision.
Counters may be intentionally misused for humorous, stupid, or insulting effects. For example, the phrase {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit ("one man [like an animal]"), uses {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit, the counter for animals, instead of the typical counters for people.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Table of traditional numeralsEdit
| Numeral | Japanese | Pronunciation (romaji) | Writing (hiragana) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | lang}} | Template:Translit | lang}} |
| 2 | lang}} | Template:Translit | lang}} |
| 3 | lang}} | Template:Translit | lang}} |
| 4 | lang}} | Template:Translit | lang}} |
| 5 | lang}} | Template:Translit | lang}} |
| 6 | lang}} | Template:Translit | lang}} |
| 7 | lang}} | Template:Translit | lang}} |
| 8 | lang}} | Template:Translit | lang}} |
| 9 | lang}} | Template:Translit | lang}} |
| 10 | lang}} | Template:Translit | lang}} |
Common counters by categoryEdit
This is a selective list of some of the more commonly used counting words.
| Pronunciation | Japanese | Use | |
|---|---|---|---|
| People and Things | |||
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Copies of a magazine or newspaper, or other packets of papers | |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Cars, bicycles, machines, mechanical devices, household appliances | |
| lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Cups and glasses of drink, spoonsful; cuttlefish, octopuses, crabs, squid, abalone, boats (slang) | |
| lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Small animals, insects, fish, reptiles, amphibians, oni (demons/ogres) | |
| lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | frequently used word Long, thin objects: rivers, roads, train tracks, ties, pencils, bottles, guitars; also, metaphorically, telephone calls, train or bus routes, movies (see also: Template:Translit), points or bounds in sports events. Although {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} also means "book", the counter for books is Template:Translit. | |
| lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Number of floors, stories | |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, or Template:Wikt-lang | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} is also used for military units. |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | frequently used word Thin, flat objects: sheets of paper, photographs, plates, articles of clothing (see also: Template:Translit) | |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | People (polite) ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}} means "name") | |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Broad, flat objects: mirrors, boards for board games (chess, igo, shogi), stages of computer games, walls of a room, tennis courts | |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | People (but see table of exceptions below) | |
| lang}} Template:Translit | lang}} or Template:Wikt-lang | lang}} and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Books | |
| lang}} Template:Translit | lang}} | lang}} ("one thing"), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ("two things"), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ("three things"), etc. | |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Stories, episodes of TV series, etc. | |
| Time, Calendar, etc. | |||
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Seconds | |
| lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Minutes | |
| lang}} Template:Translit, also {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Months of the year. Month-long periods when read Template:Translit (see also: Template:Translit) | |
| lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Nights of a stay | |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Hours of the day | |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Hour-long periods | |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Day of the month | |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Month-long periods (see also: Template:Translit). {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} is normally abbreviated using a small katakana {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} in modern Japanese. Alternatively {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, hiragana {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, small katakana {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} and full-size katakana {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} & {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} can also be seen, although only {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} is similarly frequent. | |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Years, school years (grades); not years of age | |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Days of the month (but see table of exceptions below) | |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang (or Template:Wikt-lang) | lang}} is used informally as a ryakuji) | |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Weeks | |
| Extent, Frequency, etc. | |||
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Multiples, -fold as in "twofold" | |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Position, turn, sports matches | |
| lang}} Template:Translit, also {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | frequently used word Occurrences, number of times, degrees of temperature or angle (see also: Template:Translit). | |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Tatami mats. The kanji {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} is also read Template:Translit and is the same one used for the mats. The room size of a washitsu in Japan is given as a number of mats, for example 4½ Template:Translit | |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | frequently used word Occurrences, number of times (see also: Template:Translit) | |
Extended list of countersEdit
This list also includes some counters and usages that are rarely used or not widely known; other words can also be used as counters more sporadically.
| Pronunciation | Japanese | Use |
|---|---|---|
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Scene of a play |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Multiples, -fold as in "twofold" |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Nights (see also: Template:Translit) |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Position, platform for a train line, turn, sports matches |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Small fish and shrimps (used in the fish trade; most people say Template:Translit instead) |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Copies of a magazine or newspaper, or other packets of papers |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Sentences |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Seconds |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Suits of clothing (see also: Template:Translit) |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Long, narrow things such as guns, sticks of ink, palanquins, rickshaws, violins |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Sheets, pages, leaves, tools, scissors, saws, trousers, pistols, cakes of tofu, town blocks, servings at a restaurant |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Town blocks |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Generations, historical periods, reigns |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Cars, bicycles, machines, mechanical devices, household appliances |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | levels, ranks, steps (of stairs). |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Paragraphs |
| lang}} Template:Translit, also {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Occurrences, number of times, degrees of temperature or angle (see also: Template:Translit). |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Sequences of letters or drawings that you write or draw without removing your pen off the paper. Not to be confused with Template:Translit ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) below. |
| lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Bowls of Template:Translit (powdered green tea); packets or doses of powdered medicine; puffs (of, e.g., a cigarette); rests or breaks |
| lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Hanging scrolls (Template:Translit) |
| lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Minutes |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Swords |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Classes (in pre-university education) |
| lang}} Template:Translit, also {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Months of the year. Month-long periods when read Template:Translit (see also: Template:Translit) |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Words |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | small container (e.g. rice cup, sake cup) |
| lang}} Template:Translit, also {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Words |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Suits of armour, sets of furniture |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Lines of text |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Nights of a stay |
| lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Cups and glasses of drink, spoonfuls, cuttlefish, octopuses, crabs, squid, abalone, boats (slang) |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Losses (sports bouts) |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Boxes |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Umbrellas, parasols, tents |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | gods, memorial tablets |
| lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Gunshots, bullets, aerial fireworks; orgasms, sex acts |
| lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Small animals, insects, fish, reptiles, amphibians, oni (ogres) |
| lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Parts of a meal, courses (see also: Template:Translit) |
| lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | pieces of land and number of people |
| lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Number of (foot)steps |
| lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Long, thin objects: rivers, roads, train tracks, ties, pencils, bottles, guitars; also, metaphorically, telephone calls (see also: Template:Translit), train or bus routes, movies, home runs, points or boundsTemplate:Clarify in sports events. Although {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} also means "book", the counter for books is Template:Translit. |
| lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Votes |
| lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Musical beats |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Letters, kanji, kana |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Children. As in "father of two (children)", etc. |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Hours of the day |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Hour-long periods |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Tatami mats. The kanji {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} is also read Template:Translit and is the same one used for the mats. The room size of a washitsu in Japan is given as a number of mats, for example 4½ Template:Translit |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Pills/capsules |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Articles of law, thin objects, rays or streams of light, streaks of smoke or lightning |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Day of the month |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Frames |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Lessons |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Stocks; nursery trees |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Month-long periods (see also: Template:Translit). {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} is normally abbreviated using a small katakana {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} in modern Japanese. Alternatively {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, hiragana {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, small katakana {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} and full-size katakana {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} & {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} can also be seen, although only {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} is similarly frequent. |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Occurrences, number of times (see also: Template:Translit) |
| lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Number of floors, storeys |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Countries |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | (National) languages |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Strokes in kanji |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Pieces of nigiri-zushi |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Warships |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Bus routes |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Abstract matters and cases |
| lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Houses |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Aircraft, machines |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Graves, wreaths, CPUs, reactors, elevators, dams |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Loaves of bread |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Slices (of bread, cake, sashimi etc.) |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang, or Template:Wikt-lang | lang}} is also used for military units. |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | lang}} means "door") |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Schools |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Drafts of a manuscript |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Banks |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang | lang}} is virtually unused nowadays. |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | shots (of drink) |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Sections, city districts |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Haiku, senryū |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | lang}} means "opening" or "entrance") |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Groups, a pair of people (twins, a husband and a wife, dancers, etc.) |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | School classes |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Desks, chairs, long-stemmed glasses |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Pairs of cup and saucer |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Pieces of music |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Board game matches (chess, igo, shogi, mahjong); radio stations, television stations |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Thin, flat objects, sheets of paper, photographs, plates, articles of clothing (see also: Template:Translit) |
| lang}} Template:Translit or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Rolls, scrolls, kan for volumes of book |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Theatrical acts |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | lang}} means "name") |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Mirrors, boards for board games (chess, igo, shogi), stages of computer games, walls of a room, tennis courts |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Cannons |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Questions |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Years, school years (grades); not years of age |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Days of the month (but see table of exceptions below) |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | People (but see table of exceptions below) |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Food portions (without exceptions, unlike Template:Translit above) |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Boxes made of folded paper (compare to Template:Translit above, which refers to boxes in general) |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang, Template:Wikt-lang | Pages |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Cases, examples |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Bows during worship at a shrine |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | finger rings or necklace loops |
| lang}} Template:Translit | lang}} or Template:Wikt-lang | lang}} and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}. |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Wheels, flowers |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Railway cars |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang or Template:Wikt-lang | Years of age |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Chests of drawers, flags |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Books |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Seats, rakugo shows, (drinking) parties |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Ships, half of a pair (e.g., half of a folding screen), item carried in a bundle (fish, birds, arrows etc.) |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Parts of a meal, courses (see also: Template:Translit) |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | lang}} |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Sets of things, such as documents or furniture |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Wins (sports bouts) |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Tanka |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Weeks |
| lang}} Template:Translit or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang or Template:Wikt-lang | Kinds, species |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Pairs of footwear, pairs of socks, stockings, tabi |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Pairs |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | bundles (of banknotes), bunches (of flowers, vegetables), sheaves |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Images, statues, person's remains, dolls, androids, humanoid robots |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Bags of rice |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Drops of liquid |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Points, dots, pieces of a set |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | lang}} means "head") |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Time periods, a sixth of either day or night (in the traditional, obsolete way of telling time). See also: Template:Translit |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Combinations, puzzle solutions |
| lang}} Template:Translit | lang}} | lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} etc. |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Letters |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Commonly used unit of area equal to 3.3 square metres. |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Almonds, grain |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Telephone calls (see also: Template:Translit) |
| lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | lang}} means "feather" or "wing." |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Bundles |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Stories, episodes of TV series, etc. |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Nights (see also: Template:Translit) |
| lang}} Template:Translit | Template:Wikt-lang | Pairs of chopsticks; bowls of rice |
Euphonic changesEdit
Systematic changes occur when particular numbers precede counters that begin with certain phonemes. For example, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit + {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit → {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit. The details are listed in the table below.
This can be the result of the morpho-phonological phenomenon of historical sound changes,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> as shown by the voicing of {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit:
change from glottal {{#invoke:IPA|main}} to bilabial {{#invoke:IPA|main}}.
It may also be that some counters carry features which are responsible for Template:What? for singular, dual, and plural nouns, where singular carries [+singular, −augmented] features, dual carries [−singular, −augmented] features, and plural carries [−singular, +augmented] features.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
These changes are followed fairly consistently but exceptions and variations between speakers do exist. Where variations are common, more than one alternative is listed.
Template:Translit is replaced by either Template:Translit or Template:Translit ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) followed by a doubled consonant before the voiceless consonants as shown in the table. Template:Translit is the older form, but it has been replaced by Template:Translit in the speech of recent generations.
| Numeral | lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} etc.) | lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} etc.) | lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} etc.) | lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) | lang}}) | lang}} etc.) | lang}}) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Template:Translit | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | |
| 3 Template:Translit | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | ||||
| 4 Template:Translit | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} |
Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} |
Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | ||||
| 6 Template:Translit | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | ||
| 8 Template:Translit | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} |
| 10 Template:Translit | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} |
Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} |
Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} |
Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} |
Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} |
Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} |
Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} |
| 100 Template:Translit | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | |||
| 1000 Template:Translit | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | |||||
| 10000 Template:Translit | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | |||||
| 何 Template:Translit | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} | Template:Translit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} |
ExceptionsEdit
The traditional numbers are used by and for young children to give their ages, instead of using the age counter {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) Template:Translit.
Some counters, notably {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit, use the traditional numerals for some numbers as shown in the table below. Other uses of traditional numbers are usually restricted to certain phrases, such as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit (one and two months respectively), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit (a single word) and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit (once).
Sometimes common numbers that have a derived meaning are written using different kanji. For example, Template:Translit (alone) is written {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, and Template:Translit (once more, another time) is normally written {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} instead of {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}. The counter for months Template:Translit (derived from kanji {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) is commonly written {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}.
Template:Translit and Template:Translit are alternatives for 7, Template:Translit and Template:Translit are alternatives for 4, and Template:Translit and Template:Translit are alternatives for 9. In those three pairs of options, Template:Translit, Template:Translit and Template:Translit respectively are more commonly used. Some counters, however, notably {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit (people), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit (month of the year), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit (day of the month, days), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit (time of day) and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit (hours) take certain alternatives only. These are shown in the table below.
While {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit (occurrences) and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit (0.01 yen, now rarely used) follow the euphonic changes listed above, homophones {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit (stories/floors of a building) and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit (1000) are slightly different as shown below, although these differences are not followed by all speakers. Thus {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ("third floor") can be read either Template:Translit or Template:Translit, while {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ("three times") can only be read Template:Translit.
Ordinal numbersEdit
In general, the counter words mentioned above are cardinal numbers, in that they indicate quantity. To transform a counter word into an ordinal number that denotes position in a sequence, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit is added to the end of the counter. Thus "one time" would be translated as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit, whereas "the first time" would be translated as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit.
This rule is inconsistent, however, as counters without the Template:Translit suffix are often used interchangeably with cardinal and ordinal meanings. For example, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit can mean both "three floors" and "third floor."
Periods of timeEdit
To express a period of time one may add {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit to the following words: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit (and its irregular readings aside from Template:Translit), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit. Usage varies depending on the word, though. For example, omitting Template:Translit in the case of {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit would be a mistake, whereas Template:Translit and Template:Translit are both in frequent use. In addition, Template:Translit is rarely heard due to essentially being superfluous, the Template:Translit already functioning to express the length.
Counter for rabbitsEdit
The counter for rabbits is Template:Translit ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}), which is the same as the counter for birds. Usually, Template:Translit ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) is used for "small-to-medium-size animals",<ref name=":03">Template:Cite journal</ref> therefore, the counter for rabbits is an exception. There are many theories about why Template:Translit ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) is used for rabbits instead of Template:Translit ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}).
One of the theories is that in Edo-era, eating four-legged animals was strictly forbidden by the government, and people were not allowed to consume rabbit meat.<ref name="Tsurumi">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref> Then, people started to categorize rabbits as birds so that they can consume rabbit meat, and the counter was also changed from Template:Translit ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) to Template:Translit ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}).<ref name="Tsurumi" /><ref name=":2" /> Another theory is that taste of rabbit meat is similar to bird meat, and in addition, the rabbits were captured using a net just like birds so Template:Translit ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) is used instead of Template:Translit ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Takemitsu says that the origin of the word rabbit, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit, is {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Translit which describes birds feather: therefore, the counter, Template:Translit ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}), is used for rabbits.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
<section begin="list-of-glossing-abbreviations"/>
<section end="list-of-glossing-abbreviations"/>