31 Japanese Counters You Must Know (With Examples)

[Japanese] 石が2つあります。

[Romaji] ishi ga futatsu arimasu.

[Meaning] There are two stones.

[Japanese] この教室に入ったら、あなたを待っている先生が8人います。

[Romaji] kono kyoushitsu ni haittara, anata wo matteiru sensei ga hachinin imasu.

[Meaning] If you enter this classroom, eight teachers are waiting for you.

[Japanese] 今日、人数が多いから、2人1組で人を分けようと思った。合計で10組になるかな。どう思う？

[Romaji] kyou, ninzuu ga ooi kara, futari hitokumi de hito wo wakeyou to omotta. goukei de jukkumi ni naru kana. dou omou？

[Meaning] As there are lots of people today, I thought of separating them into pairs—ten groups in total. What do you think?

[Japanese] 今年は息子が二十歳になります。

[Romaji] kotoshi wa musuko ga hatachi ni narimasu.

[Meaning] My son will turn 20 this year.

[Japanese] メニューから3品までお選びいただけます。

[Romaji] menyū kara sanshina made o-erabi itadakemasu.

[Meaning] You can choose up to three dishes from the menu.

[Japanese] このミートソースのラベルに「３人前」と書いてあったのでちょうどいいね。

[Romaji] kono mīto sōsu no raberu ni “sanninmae” to kaite atta node chōdo ii ne.

[Meaning] The label said “for three people,” just what we need!

[Japanese] カレーライスを作るたびに、いつも四食分ぐらいの量で作っている。

[Romaji] karē raisu o tsukuru tabi ni, itsumo yonshokubun gurai no ryō de tsukutte iru.

[Meaning] Every time I make curry rice, I prepare about four portions.

[Japanese] 白ワインを2杯ください！

[Romaji] shiro wain o nihai kudasai!

[Meaning] Two glasses of white wine, please!

[Japanese] 車を2台持っています。

[Romaji] kuruma o nidai motteimasu.

[Meaning] I have two cars.

[Japanese] 2本目の電車に乗れば、間に合うかもしれない！

[Romaji] nihonme no densha ni noreba, ma ni au kamoshirenai!

[Meaning] If I catch the second train, I might make it!

[Japanese] 田中さんを連れていきたいお店は二丁目にあります。

[Romaji] Tanaka-san o tsurete ikitai omise wa nichōme ni arimasu.

[Meaning] The shop I want to take Mr. Tanaka to is on Street 2.

[Japanese] 今日雨だから、念のためTシャツを二着持ってきた。

[Romaji] kyō ame da kara, nen no tame T-shatsu o nichaku motte kita.

[Meaning] It’s raining today, so I brought two T-shirts just in case.

[Japanese] 靴下が三足のセットで売っていました。

[Romaji] kutsushita ga sansoku no setto de utte imashita.

[Meaning] Socks were sold in a set of three pairs.

[Japanese] 私の会社がこのビルの三階にあります。

[Romaji] watashi no kaisha ga kono biru no sankai ni arimasu.

[Meaning] My company is on the third floor of this building.

[Japanese] 私の部屋は1号室です。

[Romaji] watashi no heya wa ichigōshitsu desu.

[Meaning] My room is Room 1.

[Japanese] このアパートの面積は30平米ぐらいです。広いですね。

[Romaji] kono apāto no menseki wa sanjuhheibei gurai desu. hiroi desu ne.

[Meaning] This apartment is about 30 m². It’s spacious, isn’t it?

[Japanese] このアパートは６畳です。狭いですね。

[Romaji] kono apāto wa rokujō desu. semai desu ne.

[Meaning] This apartment is six tatami in size. It’s small, isn’t it?

[Japanese] 一軒目は楽しかったけど、その後行った二軒目の方が雰囲気がよかったと思う。

[Romaji] ikkenme wa tanoshikatta kedo, sono ato itta nikenme no hō ga funiki ga yokatta to omou.

[Meaning] The first spot was fun, but I think the second one had better vibes.

[Japanese] 鳥が2羽います。

[Romaji] tori ga niwa imasu.

[Meaning] There are two birds.

[Japanese] 犬を5匹飼っている。

[Romaji] inu o gohiki katte iru.

[Meaning] I have five dogs.

[Japanese] クジラを一頭でも発見できればラッキーだね。

[Romaji] kujira o ittō demo hakken dekireba rakkii da ne.

[Meaning] We’d be lucky to spot even one whale.

[Japanese] 飛行機に乗るのが2回目だからまだ慣れていない。

[Romaji] hikōki ni noru no ga nikai-me dakara mada narete inai.

[Meaning] It’s my second time on a plane, so I’m still not used to it.

[Japanese] 二度とやらないでください。

[Romaji] ni-do to yaranai de kudasai.

[Meaning] Please don’t do this twice.

[Japanese] 私は7番目です。

[Romaji] watashi wa nanaban-me desu.

[Meaning] I am seventh.

[Japanese] 2列でお並びください。

[Romaji] niretsu de onarabi kudasai.

[Meaning] Please line up in two rows.

[Japanese] テスト表を2枚もらったけど、一枚で十分じゃない？

[Romaji] tesuto hyō o nimai moratta kedo, ichimai de jūbun ja nai?

[Meaning] I got two test sheets, but isn’t one enough?

[Japanese] この本、明日までに読まないといけないけど、俺2ページしか読んでいない。やばくない？

[Romaji] kono hon, ashita made ni yomanai to ikenai kedo, ore ni-pēji shika yonde inai. yabakunai?

[Meaning] I have to read this book by tomorrow, but I’ve only read two pages. Isn’t that crazy?

[Japanese] 教科書を7冊持っているけど、要らない。

[Romaji] kyōkasho o nanasatsu motte iru kedo, iranai.

[Meaning] I have seven textbooks, but I don’t need them.

[Japanese] この資料を二通ご発行いただけますか？

[Romaji] kono shiryō o nitsū gohakkō itadakemasu ka?

[Meaning] Could you please issue two copies of this document?

[Japanese] この本は1万部売れた。

[Romaji] kono hon wa ichimanbu ureta.

[Meaning] This book sold ten thousand copies.