Questions tagged [counters]
助数詞. Suffixes attached to numbers to indicate what is being counted. In linguistics, these are sometimes called 'classifiers'. The combination of a number plus a classifier forms a type of 'quantifier', and the movement of quantifiers into other parts of the sentence is called 'quantifier float'.
237
questions
39
votes
4
answers
14k
views
Differences between 度 and 回 when counting occurrences
What are the differences between using 度 and 回 when used to count number of occurrences?
For example:
そんなことは一度もしたことがない
そんなことは一回もしたことがない
Are there any restrictions on what kind of actions referred ...
- 19.9k
38
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Why was "一匹" used for Godzilla?
I've heard someone say that "一匹{いっぴき}" was used at the end of the original Godzilla movie, with Dr. Yamane saying that Godzilla wasn't the last one of "them".
Why did he use that, as opposed to "一頭{...
- 16.2k
22
votes
6
answers
7k
views
Why is the correct counter for rabbits 羽（わ）
Why is the correct counter for rabbits 羽（わ）, the counter that is used for birds.
I figured it is because they jump, cause fly and jump are the same verb in Japanese, but then frogs are 匹.
- 7,091
20
votes
1
answer
15k
views
Can you say "half hour" or must you say "30 minutes"?
I know that to say an hour and a half you can say 一時間半, but is it possible to express simply half an hour even though the counter comes before 半? Or would you just have to say 三十分?
If both ways are ...
- 3,457
18
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Are there native Japanese numbers greater than 10? What use are they?
Most people who've taken a Japanese 101 class know the 10 native Japanese numbers (一つ、二つ・・・十). It's always seemed odd that a system would stop at 10 when so many things in life need larger numbers. ...
- 5,250
18
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Is it okay to use つ counting for everything?
Instead of using the proper counter for each thing, is it okay to just use the つ counter?
Like in:
彼女は子猫２匹を持っている。
Use つ instead of 匹:
彼女は子猫２つを持っている。
Are there situations when this is ...
- 615
16
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Temperature abbreviations?
A certain dialog in my book has a man describing the symptoms of his cold to the doctor. It reads thus:
医者：熱はありますか。
患者：はい、きのうから。夕べはぞくぞく寒気がしたので、高熱が出るんじゃないかとひやひやしたんですが、今のところ７度８分【なな・ど・はち・ぶ】...
- 44.4k
16
votes
2
answers
857
views
What are the rules for reading numbers before a foreign counter-word?
Is there a rule of thumb for knowing the reading of a number when it is written in western numerals, and is followed by a loaned counter-word?
For example, how would you pronounce the "1" in １セット? My ...
- 7,315
15
votes
1
answer
5k
views
How to list numbers of things
Where do you place the counter in Japanese when you want to specify how many of something there are, especially if you're listing multiple things?
I believe the counter usually goes after the particle ...
- 379
15
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Why is 間{かん} used to denote some amounts of time but not others?
I've been thinking about how to express a duration of time and how in the past I have added 間{かん} in situations where I found that I shouldn't have.
Take the following sentences as examples.
○： ...
- 18.5k
14
votes
1
answer
263
views
How do you express time duration when mixing time units?
When you want to express a passage of time mixing time units like days, hours, and minutes is it best to use for example 間 once at the end to show duration, or should words showing duration be used ...
- 368
14
votes
1
answer
764
views
What counter words are used by animals for humans?
In Happy Feet 2, I noticed that the penguins used the hitori, futari, ... counter words for themselves, rather than 羽.
In fiction involving talking animals where the humans are regarded as somewhat "...
- 16.2k
14
votes
2
answers
6k
views
第 [dai-] vs 目 [-me] in forming ordinal numbers
As I understand fo now 第 [dai-] and 目 [-me] both turn 5 to fifth.
五匹の犬 [go-hiki no inu] five dogs
五匹目の犬 [go-hiki-me no inu] the fifth dog
Here everything is clear.
Articles and books say you ...
- 677
13
votes
4
answers
10k
views
Counter for chopsticks
Just curious about this one. I'm never sure what to say when I ask for chopsticks in Japanese. I know that "by-the-book", you can count them with ～そろい （揃い) or ～ぜん （膳）. So I always say 「お箸を 一揃い（...
- 44.4k
13
votes
1
answer
699
views
Looking for a kanji/symbol used for counting noodles
Just to add some context: I was with a Japanese friend at a うどん and そば restaurant in 浅草 where they had a small sign by the counter to buy their fresh noodles. However, the size of the portion was not ...
- 2,736