Chapter 11: Counting, Quantities and Time
Learn how to count objects, describe quantities, and express time durations
In this chapter, you will learn Japanese counting systems, how to use various counters for different objects, describe family relationships in detail, and express time durations and quantities. You
Key topics:
- ・Japanese counting systems (Native and Sino-Japanese)
- ・Using counters for different objects (つ, 個, 枚, 人, etc.)
- ・Expressing time durations (時間, 週間, か月, 年)
- ・Extended family vocabulary
- ・Shopping and postal vocabulary
- ・Asking about quantities and durations
Vocabulary
1
います
imasu
-
exist, be (with children/family context)
Example
こどもがいます.
Kodomo ga imasu.
I have children.
2
います
imasu
-
exist, be (in Japan context)
Example
にほんにいます.
Nihon ni imasu.
I am in Japan.
3
かかります
kakarimasu
-
take (time), cost
Example
その仕事は三日かかります.
Sono shigoto wa mikka kakarimasu.
That work takes three days.
4
やすみます
yasumimasu
-
take a day off, rest
Example
明日かいしゃをやすみます.
Ashita kaisha o yasumimasu.
I will take a day off from work tomorrow.
5
ひとつ
hitotsu
-
one thing
Example
りんごをひとつください.
Ringo o hitotsu kudasai.
Please give me one apple.
6
ふたつ
futatsu
-
two things
Example
みかんがふたつあります.
Mikan ga futatsu arimasu.
There are two oranges.
7
みっつ
mittsu
-
three things
Example
卵をみっつ買いました.
Tamago o mittsu kaimashita.
I bought three eggs.
8
よっつ
yottsu
-
four things
Example
本をよっつ読みました.
Hon o yottsu yomimashita.
I read four books.
9
いつつ
itsutsu
-
five things
Example
チケットがいつつ必要です.
Chiketto ga itsutsu hitsuyō desu.
I need five tickets.
10
むっつ
muttsu
-
six things
Example
鉛筆をむっつ持っています.
Enpitsu o muttsu motte imasu.
I have six pencils.
11
ななつ
nanatsu
-
seven things
Example
子供がななついます.
Kodomo ga nanatsu imasu.
I have seven children.
12
やっつ
yattsu
-
eight things
Example
りんごをやっつ食べました.
Ringo o yattsu tabemashita.
I ate eight apples.
13
ここのつ
kokonotsu
-
nine things
Example
お菓子をここのつ作りました.
Okashi o kokonotsu tsukurimashita.
I made nine sweets.
14
とお
tō
-
ten things
Example
生徒がとおいます.
Seito ga tō imasu.
There are ten students.
15
いくつ
ikutsu
-
how many, how old
Example
いくつほしいですか.
Ikutsu hoshii desu ka?
How many do you want?
16
ひとり
hitori
-
one person
Example
おひとりさま ですか.
Ohitorisama desu ka.
Is it for one person?
17
ふたり
futari
-
two people
Example
姉妹がふたりいます.
Shimai ga futari imasu.
I have two sisters.
18
〜にん
nin
〜人
counter for people (3 and above)
Example
学生が三にんいます.
Gakusei ga san-nin imasu.
There are three students.
19
〜だい
dai
〜台
counter for machines, vehicles
Example
車が二だいあります.
Kuruma ga ni-dai arimasu.
There are two cars.
20
〜まい
mai
〜枚
counter for flat objects (paper, stamps)
Example
切手を五まい買いました.
Kitte o go-mai kaimashita.
I bought five stamps.
21
〜かい
kai
〜回
counter for times, occurrences
Example
日本に二かい行きました.
Nihon ni ni-kai ikimashita.
I went to Japan twice.
22
りんご
ringo
林檎
apple
Example
りんごが好きです.
Ringo ga suki desu.
I like apples.
23
みかん
mikan
蜜柑
mandarin orange, tangerine
Example
冬にみかんを食べます.
Fuyu ni mikan o tabemasu.
I eat oranges in winter.
24
サンドイッチ
sandoitchi
-
sandwich
Example
昼ごはんにサンドイッチを作ります.
Hirugohan ni sandoitchi o tsukurimasu.
I make sandwiches for lunch.
25
カレー
karē
-
curry
Example
かれーがすきです.
Karee ga suki desu.
I like curry.
26
アイスクリーム
aisukurīmu
-
ice cream
Example
あいすくりーむを下さい.
Aisukuriimu o kudasai.
Ice cream, please.
27
きって
kitte
切手
stamp
Example
手紙にきってを貼ります.
Tegami ni kitte o harimasu.
I put a stamp on the letter.
28
はがき
hagaki
葉書
postcard
Example
友達にはがきを送ります.
Tomodachi ni hagaki o okurimasu.
I send postcards to friends.
29
ふうとう
fūtō
封筒
envelope
Example
手紙をふうとうに入れます.
Tegami o fūtō ni iremasu.
I put the letter in an envelope.
30
そくたつ
sokutatsu
速達
express mail
Example
この手紙をそくたつでお願いします.
Kono tegami o sokutatsu de onegaishimasu.
Please send this letter by express mail.
31
かきとめ
kakitome
書留
registered mail
Example
重要な書類はかきとめで送ります.
Jūyō na shorui wa kakitome de okurimasu.
I send important documents by registered mail.
32
エアメール
eamēru
-
airmail
Example
外国にエアメールを送ります.
Gaikoku ni eamēru o okurimasu.
I send airmail to foreign countries.
33
こうくうびん
kōkūbin
航空便
airmail service
Example
アメリカにこうくうびんで送ります.
Amerika ni kōkūbin de okurimasu.
I send it to America by airmail.
34
ふなびん
funabin
船便
sea mail
Example
ふなびんは安いですが、時間がかかります.
Funabin wa yasui desu ga, jikan ga kakarimasu.
Sea mail is cheap but takes time.
35
りょうしん
ryōshin
両親
parents
Example
りょうしんは田舎に住んでいます.
Ryōshin wa inaka ni sunde imasu.
My parents live in the countryside.
36
きょうだい
kyōdai
兄弟
siblings
Example
きょうだいが三人います.
Kyōdai ga sannin imasu.
I have three siblings.
37
あに
ani
兄
my older brother
Example
あには医者です.
Ani wa isha desu.
My older brother is a doctor.
38
おにいさん
oniisan
お兄さん
someone else
Example
田中さんのおにいさんは先生です.
Tanaka-san no oniisan wa sensei desu.
Tanaka
39
あね
ane
姉
my older sister
Example
あねは看護師です.
Ane wa kangoshi desu.
My older sister is a nurse.
40
おねえさん
onēsan
お姉さん
someone else
Example
鈴木さんのおねえさんは大学生です.
Suzuki-san no onēsan wa daigakusei desu.
Suzuki
41
おとうと
otōto
弟
my younger brother
Example
おとうとは高校生です.
Otōto wa kōkōsei desu.
My younger brother is a high school student.
42
おとうとさん
otōtosan
弟さん
someone else
Example
山田さんのおとうとさんは中学生です.
Yamada-san no otōtosan wa chūgakusei desu.
Yamada
43
いもうと
imōto
妹
my younger sister
Example
いもうとは小学生です.
Imōto wa shōgakusei desu.
My younger sister is an elementary school student.
44
いもうとさん
imōtosan
妹さん
someone else
Example
佐藤さんのいもうとさんはとてもかわいいです.
Satō-san no imōtosan wa totemo kawaii desu.
Sato
45
〜じかん
jikan
〜時間
counter for hours
Example
日本語を二じかん勉強しました.
Nihongo o ni-jikan benkyō shimashita.
I studied Japanese for two hours.
46
〜しゅうかん
shūkan
〜週間
counter for weeks
Example
日本に三しゅうかんいます.
Nihon ni san-shūkan imasu.
I will be in Japan for three weeks.
47
〜かげつ
kagetsu
〜か月
counter for months
Example
日本語を六かげつ勉強しています.
Nihongo o roku-kagetsu benkyō shite imasu.
I have been studying Japanese for six months.
48
ねん
nen
年
year
Example
なんねんですか.
Nannen desu ka.
What year is it?
49
〜ぐらい
gurai
-
about, approximately
Example
一時間ぐらいかかります.
Ichijikan gurai kakarimasu.
It takes about one hour.
50
どのくらい
donokurai
-
how long, how much
Example
日本にどのくらいいますか.
Nihon ni donokurai imasu ka?
How long will you be in Japan?
51
ぜんぶで
zenbu de
全部で
in total, altogether
Example
ぜんぶで千円です.
Zenbu de sen-en desu.
It
52
みんな
minna
-
everyone, all
Example
みんなで行きましょう.
Minna de ikimashō.
Let
53
〜だけ
dake
-
only, just
Example
私だけが知っています.
Watashi dake ga shitte imasu.
Only I know.
54
がいこく
gaikoku
外国
foreign country
Example
がいこくに行きたいです.
Gaikoku ni ikitai desu.
I want to go to a foreign country.
55
いらっしゃいませ
irasshaimase
-
welcome (to a store)
Example
店員: いらっしゃいませ.
Ten'in: irasshaimase.
Shop clerk: Welcome!
Conversation
1
いらっしゃいませ
irasshaimase
Welcome (used by staff in shops/restaurants)
Example Usage
いらっしゃいませ、なんめいさまですか.
Irasshaimase, nan-mei sama desu ka.
Welcome, how many people?
2
いい[お]てんきですね
ii [o]tenki desu ne
Nice weather, isn
Example Usage
きょうはいてんきですね.
Kyou wa ii tenki desu ne.
Nice weather today, isn
3
おでかけですか
odekake desu ka
Are you going out?
Example Usage
おでかけですか.
Odekake desu ka.
Are you going out?
4
ちょっと __ まで
chotto __ made
Just to __ (a place)
Example Usage
ちょっとゆうびんきょくまで.
Chotto yuubinkyoku made.
Just to the post office.
5
いっていらっしゃい
itte irasshai
Have a good day / See you later
Example Usage
きをつけていっていらっしゃい.
Ki o tsukete itte irasshai.
Be careful and have a good day.
6
いってまいります
itte mairimasu
I
Example Usage
では、いってまいります.
Dewa, itte mairimasu.
Well then, I
7
それから
sore kara
And then / After that
Example Usage
がっこうへいきます.それからとしょかんへいきます.
Gakkou e ikimasu. Sore kara toshokan e ikimasu.
I
Grammar Rules
Rule 1: Using counters with numbers
Structure: [Number] + [Counter] + (の + [Noun])
Japanese uses specific counters depending on the shape, size, or category of an object (e.g., つ for general small items, 本 for long cylindrical objects, 人 for people). The counter always follows the number directly. Use の to connect the counted item to a noun when specifying exactly what you
How to use: First, choose the correct counter for the object. Then say the number followed immediately by the counter. If you need to specify the noun being counted, add の + noun. Example: りんご を みっつ かいました (I bought three apples). For counting people: 三人の学生 (three students). Note that some numbers have special pronunciations with counters (e.g., 1つ = ひとつ, not いちつ).
💡 Pro Tip: The universal counter つ is safe for general items up to 9 (ひとつ, ふたつ, みっつ, よっつ, いつつ, むっつ, ななつ, やっつ, ここのつ). For 10 and above, use regular numbers + counter. Don
Examples
りんごを三つ買いました.
Ringo o mittsu kaimashita.
→ I bought three apples.
犬が二匹庭にいます.
Inu ga nihiki niwa ni imasu.
→ There are two dogs in the yard.
Rule 2: Asking about quantities
Structure: [Noun] + は + いくつ + ですか (general) / [Noun] + は + 何[Counter] + ですか (specific counter)
Use いくつ to ask
How to use: To ask about a specific noun, make it the topic with は, then add the question word (いくつ or 何+Counter), then ですか. Example: きょうだい は なんにん ですか (How many siblings do you have?). For general items: りんごはいくつですか (How many apples?). For time: どのくらい (how long) is more common than いくつ.
💡 Pro Tip: いくつ is also used to ask a child
Examples
兄弟は何人ですか.
Kyōdai wa nan-nin desu ka?
→ How many siblings do you have?
りんごはいくつ買いましたか.
Ringo wa ikutsu kaimashita ka?
→ How many apples did you buy?
Rule 3: Expressing time duration
Structure: [Time duration] + [Verb]
To express how long an action takes or continues, place the time duration expression (e.g., 一時間 = one hour, 三十分 = thirty minutes) directly before the verb. No particle is needed between the duration and the verb. This works for past, present, and future actions.
How to use: Choose the correct time unit: 秒 (seconds), 分 (minutes), 時間 (hours), 日 (days), 週間 (weeks), ヶ月 (months), 年間 (years). Combine with a number (e.g., 五分 = 5 minutes, 二日間 = 2 days). Place this duration before the verb. Example: いちじかん べんきょう しました (I studied for one hour). For negative sentences, the duration stays the same: 一時間寝ませんでした (I didn
💡 Pro Tip: Do not confuse duration (how long an action lasts) with time point (when an action happens). Duration uses no particle before the verb; time point uses に (e.g., ３時に起きました = woke up at 3:00). For days, 三日間 means
Examples
一時間勉強しました.
Ichi-jikan benkyō shimashita.
→ I studied for one hour.
毎日三十分走ります.
Mainichi sanjuppun hashirimasu.
→ I run for thirty minutes every day.
Rule 4: Using ぐらい for approximate amounts
Structure: [Number] + [Counter] + ぐらい (or くらい)
Add ぐらい (or くらい) after a counter to indicate an approximate amount, number, or duration. It softens a precise number, meaning
How to use: Take a number + counter (e.g., 一週間 = one week), then add ぐらい after the counter. Place this approximate expression before the verb. Example: いっしゅうかん ぐらい かかります (It takes about one week). For approximate time of day (at around), use ごろ instead: 3時ごろ (at around 3:00). For quantities with ぐらい, you can also drop the counter with いくつ: いくつぐらい (about how many).
💡 Pro Tip: Do not confuse ぐらい (approximate amount) with ごろ (approximate point in time). 三時間ぐらい = about 3 hours (duration); 三時ごろ = at around 3:00 (time point). You can also use ぐらい with adjectives to mean
Examples
一週間ぐらいかかります.
Isshūkan gurai kakarimasu.
→ It takes about one week.
パーティーには十人ぐらい来ました.
Pātī ni wa jū-nin gurai kimashita.
→ About ten people came to the party.
Exercises
Question 1
Choose the correct way to say
りんごを ______ かいました.
Question 2
______ の がくせい が います.
Question 3
What does
Question 4
Complete the question meaning
りんごは ______ かいましたか.
Question 5
How do you ask
Question 6
______ べんきょう しました.
Question 7
How do you say
Question 8
______ ぐらい かかります.
Question 9
Which is correct for
Question 10
ビールを ______ かいました.
Question 11
What is the correct way to say
Question 12
かみを ______ ください.
Question 13
How do you politely ask a child
Question 14
いえに ねこが ______ います.
Question 15
What does
Question 16
パーティーには ______ ぐらい きました.
Question 17
Which means
Question 18
わたしは くるまを ______ もっています.
Question 19
Which question asks
Question 20
りんごを ______ ぐらい かいました.