JLPT N5 Grammar: The Japanese counters list you need for the exam

2025/07/18

Japanese counters are fundamental JLPT N5 grammar components that appear throughout the exam’s listening, reading, and vocabulary sections. Understanding which counters you need to know for JLPT N5 can make the difference between confusion and confidence on test day. 

This guide covers all the essential Japanese counters you’ll encounter, explaining when to use each one and how to avoid the common pronunciation mistakes that trip up many test-takers.

JLPT N5 grammar test: Quick reminder

The JLPT N5 is the beginner level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, designed for learners who have studied Japanese for about 150 hours. The grammar section tests your understanding of basic Japanese sentence structures, particles, and counting systems. Japanese counters appear frequently in both the vocabulary and grammar sections, making them essential for achieving a passing score of 80/180 points.

Which counters do you need to know for JLPT N5?

For the JLPT N5 exam, you need to master approximately 10 essential Japanese counters. These include generic counters (つ), people counters (人), time-related counters for hours and dates, and specific counters for common objects like books, animals, and flat items. Focus on the most frequently used counters rather than trying to memorize every possible variation.

Why are Japanese counters important for the N5 test ? 

Japanese counters are important for the JLPT N5 because they appear in multiple test sections and reflect how native speakers actually count objects in daily life. Understanding counters helps you comprehend listening passages, read basic texts correctly, and demonstrate proper Japanese grammar usage. Without mastering these counting systems, you’ll struggle with questions involving quantities, ages, time expressions, and object descriptions.

JLPT N5 Japanese counters full list

How to Count in Japanese: Basic Number System Review

Before learning Japanese counters, you need to understand how Japanese numbers work. Don’t worry, once you learn 1-10, the rest follows logical patterns!

Number	Romaji	Hiragana	Alternative
0	rei	れい
1	ichi	いち
2	ni	に
3	san	さん
4	yon	よん	shi (し)
5	go	ご
6	roku	ろく
7	nana	なな	shichi (しち)
8	hachi	はち
9	kyuu	きゅう	ku (く)
10	juu	じゅう

The numbers 4, 7 and 9 have two ways to say them. Use よん, なな, きゅう most of the time、 especially with counters. The alternatives (し, しち, く) are used in special cases like months or telling time.

Japanese numbers are like building blocks. To build bigger numbers, take the basic numbers above and add special endings:

• 20, 30, 40… = Add じゅう after the number (にじゅう, さんじゅう, よんじゅう)
• 100, 200, 300… = Add ひゃく after the number (ひゃく, にひゃく, さんひゃく)
• 1000, 2000, 3000… = Add せん after the number (せん, にせん, さんせん)

Generic counters in Japanese (つ – tsu)

つ is perfect for counting small, tangible objects regardless of their shape. You can use it for everyday items like apples, oranges, glasses, bags, candies, or even abstract concepts like ideas. It’s especially useful at restaurants when ordering multiple items. つ only goes from 1 to 10, then you must switch to other counting methods for larger numbers. 

Memory tips: Numbers 3, 4, 6, and 8 share similar sounds (みっつ, よっつ, むっつ, やっつ). Number 9 (ここのつ) sounds like “coconuts,” and 10 (とお) sounds like “toe.”

Number	Romaji	Hiragana
One (thing)	hitotsu	ひとつ
Two (things)	futatsu	ふたつ
Three (things)	mittsu	みっつ
Four (things)	yottsu	よっつ
Five (things)	itsutsu	いつつ
Six (things)	muttsu	むっつ
Seven (things)	nanatsu	ななつ
Eight (things)	yattsu	やっつ
Nine (things)	kokonotsu	ここのつ
Ten (things)	tou	とう

Example sentences:

• りんごをななつかいました。 (I bought seven apples)
• いもうとにきゃんでぃーをふたつあげました。(I gave two candies to my younger sister)
• こーひーをいつつください。 (Can I have five cups of coffee please)

Japanese counters for people (人 – nin/jin)

Counting people in Japanese requires the 人 (nin) counter, which is exclusively used for human beings : men, women, children, and elderly people alike. 

The 人 counter follows a simple pattern: number + にん (nin), but there are two exceptions you must memorize. One person and two people use completely different words that don’t follow the standard rule.

For one person, you say ひとり (hitori), not いちにん. For two people, you say ふたり (futari), not ににん. These irregular forms are used consistently, even in larger numbers – so 21 people is にじゅういちにん, not にじゅうひとり. 

From three people onwards, the pattern becomes predictable: simply attach にん to the number. However, be careful with the pronunciation of four people – it’s よにん (yo nin), never しにん, as し can sound like the word for death.

Number	Romaji	Hiragana
One person	hitori	ひとり
Two people	futari	ふたり
Three people	san nin	さんにん
Four people	yo nin	よにん
Five people	go nin	ごにん
Six people	roku nin	ろくにん
Seven people	nana nin	ななにん
Eight people	hachi nin	はちにん
Nine people	kyuu nin	きゅうにん
Ten people	juu nin	じゅうにん

Example sentences:

• わたしのかぞくはよにんです。 (My family has four people)
• お客さんが十人来ました (Ten customers came)
• 何人家族ですか？(How many people are in your family?)

Japanese counters for animals, fish and insects (ひき – hiki)

The ひき (hiki) counter is used for counting small animals, fish, and insects. This counter applies to creatures like cats, dogs, mice, fish, butterflies, and other small living beings. However, there are exceptions : birds and rabbits use different counters, and large animals like elephants or whales use とう (tou) instead.

What makes ひき particularly tricky is that it undergoes sound changes depending on the number. The counter can transform into びき (biki) or ぴき (piki) based on Japanese phonetic rules. 

Number	Romaji	Hiragana	Sound Change
One animal	ippiki	いっぴき	ひき → ぴき
Two animal	ni hiki	にひき
Three animal	san biki	さんびき	ひき → びき
Four animal	yon hiki	よんひき
Five animal	go hiki	ごひき
Six animal	roppiki	ろっぴき	ひき → ぴき
Seven animal	nana hiki	ななひき
Eight animal	happiki	はっぴき	ひき → ぴき
Nine animal	kyuu hiki	きゅうひき
Ten animal	juppiki	じゅっぴき	ひき → ぴき

Example sentences:

• いぬがいっぴきいます。 (There is one dog)
• ねこがさんびきいます。 (There are three cats)
• さかなをごひきかいました。 (I bought five fish)

Japanese counters for cups and glasses of liquid (はい – hai)

The はい (hai) counter is specifically used for counting cups, glasses, or bowls containing liquids. This counter applies to drinks like tea, coffee, water, juice, or any beverage served in a container. 

Like many Japanese counters, はい undergoes sound changes depending on the number. The counter can transform into ばい (bai) or ぱい (pai) following Japanese phonetic rules. 

Number	Romaji	Hiragana	Sound Change
One cup	ippai	いっぱい	はい → ぱい
Two cups	ni hai	にはい
Three cups	san bai	さんばい	はい → ばい
Four cups	yon hai	よんはい
Five cups	go hai	ごはい
Six cups	roppai	ろっぱい	はい → ぱい
Seven cups	nana hai	ななはい
Eight cups	happai	はっぱい	はい → ぱい
Nine cups	kyuu hai	きゅうはい
Ten cups	juppai	じゅっぱい	はい → ぱい

Example sentences:

• こーひーをいっぱいのみました。 (I drank one cup of coffee)
• おちゃをさんばいください。 (Please give me three cups of tea)
• みずをなんばいのみましたか？(How many glasses of water did you drink?)

Japanese counters for long and thin objects (ほん – hon)

The ほん (hon) counter is used for counting long, slender objects regardless of their material or size. The key characteristic is the elongated, cylindrical shape rather than the specific material.

The ほん counter follows the familiar Japanese pattern of sound changes, transforming into ぼん (bon) or ぽん (pon) depending on the number. A helpful memory trick is to visualize the pattern: odd numbers on the left (1, 3) and even numbers on the right (6, 8, 10) generally change, with 3 being the exception that uses ぼん instead of ぽん.

Number	Romaji	Hiragana	Sound Change
One (long object)	ippon	いっぽん	ほん → ぽん
Two (long object)	ni hon	にほん
Three (long object)	san bon	さんぼん	ほん → ぼん
Four (long object)	yon hon	よんほん
Five (long object)	go hon	ごほん
Six (long object)	roppon	ろっぽん	ほん → ぽん
Seven (long object)	nana hon	ななほん
Eight (long object)	happon	はっぽん	ほん → ぽん
Nine (long object)	kyuu hon	きゅうほん
Ten (long object)	juppon	じゅっぽん	ほん → ぽん

Example sentences:

• ぺんをさんぼんかいました。 (I bought three pens)
• わいんのぼとるをごほんください。 (Please give me five bottles of wine)
• こうえんにきがはっぽんあります。 (There are eight trees in the park)

Japanese counters for books (さつ – satsu)

The さつ (satsu) counter is used for counting books, notebooks, magazines, dictionaries, and any bound printed materials. This counter applies to both physical and digital books, making it essential for academic, professional, and leisure reading contexts.

Unlike many other Japanese counters, さつ has relatively simple sound changes. Only numbers 1, 8, and 10 undergo pronunciation shifts, making this counter easier to master than others. TNumber 1 becomes いっさつ (issatsu) with a double consonant, number 8 changes to はっさつ (hassatsu), and number 10 becomes じゅっさつ (jussatsu). All other numbers maintain the standard さつ pronunciation.

Number	Romaji	Hiragana	Sound Change
One book	issatsu	いっさつ	double consonant
Two books	ni satsu	にさつ
Three books	san satsu	さんさつ
Four books	yon satsu	よんさつ
Five books	go satsu	ごさつ
Six books	roku satsu	ろくさつ
Seven books	nana satsu	ななさつ
Eight books	hassatsu	はっさつ	double consonant
Nine books	kyuu satsu	きゅうさつ
Ten books	jussatsu	じゅっさつ	double consonant

Example sentences:

• きのうほんをにさつかいました。 (I bought two books yesterday)
• のーとをごさつもってきてください。 (Please bring five notebooks)
• としょかんでさんさつかりました。(I borrowed three books from the library)

Japanese counters for age (さい – sai)

The さい (sai) counter is used exclusively for expressing the age of living beings, people and animals. The counter さい follows the basic rule of number + さい, but three ages have special irregular pronunciations.

One year old becomes いっさい instead of いちさい, using a double consonant. Eight years old transforms to はっさい (hassai) rather than はちさい. Ten years old becomes じゅっさい (jussai) instead of じゅうさい, completing the three main exceptions.

A unique feature of age counting is that twenty years old uses a completely different word: はたち (hatachi). This traditional term replaces にじゅうさい entirely and stands alone without the さい counter. Once you reach 21, the pattern returns to normal with にじゅういっさい.

Number	Romaji	Hiragana	Sound Change
1 year old	issai	いっさい	irregular
2 years old	ni sai	にさい
3 years old	san sai	さんさい
4 years old	yon sai	よんさい
5 years old	go sai	ごさい
6 years old	roku sai	ろくさい
7 years old	nana sai	ななさい
8 years old	hassai	はっさい	irregular
9 years old	kyuu sai	きゅうさい
10 years old	jussai	じゅっさい	irregular
20 years old	hatachi	はたち	special word
21 years old	nijuu issai	にじゅういっさい	returns to pattern

Example sentences:

• わたしはにじゅうごさいです。(I am 25 years old)
• むすこははっさいです。(My son is 8 years old)
• おかあさんはなんさいですか？(How old is your mother?)

Japanese counters for small objects (こ – ko)

The こ (ko) counter is used for counting small, round, or compact objects regardless of their exact shape. You don’t need objects to be perfectly round : eggs, popcorn, apples, oranges, onions, tomatoes all use this counter. The key characteristic is that objects should be relatively compact and three-dimensional.

Unlike the つ counter which only goes up to 10, こ can count to infinity, making it much more useful for larger quantities. The こ counter follows familiar Japanese sound change patterns. Numbers 1, 6, 8, and 10 transform こ into っこ (kko) with a double consonant, making pronunciation smoother. 

Number	Romaji	Hiragana	Sound Change
One (small object)	ikko	いっこ	こ → っこ
Two (small object)	ni ko	にこ
Three (small object)	san ko	さんこ
Four (small object)	yon ko	よんこ
Five (small object)	go ko	ごこ
Six (small object)	rokko	ろっこ	こ → っこ
Seven (small object)	nana ko	ななこ
Eight (small object)	hakko	はっこ	こ → っこ
Nine (small object)	kyuu ko	きゅうこ
Ten (small object)	jukko	じゅっこ	こ → っこ

Example sentences:

• けーきをじゅっこかいました。(I bought ten cakes)
• りんごがなんこありますか？(How many apples are there?)
• とまとをさんこください。 (Can I have three tomatoes please)

Japanese counters for fine and flat objects (まい – mai)

The まい (mai) counter is used for thin, flat objects. This versatile counter applies to a wide range of flat items including paper, cards, plates, dishes, towels, scarves, CDs, DVDs, slices of bread, ham, cheese, and even tickets. The key characteristic is thinness rather than perfect flatness, objects just need to be relatively thin compared to their length and width. まい remains exactly the same in pronunciation from 1 to infinity. 

Number	Romaji	Hiragana
One (flat object)	ichi mai	いちまい
Two (flat object)	ni mai	にまい
Three (flat object)	san mai	さんまい
Four (flat object)	yon mai	よんまい
Five (flat object)	go mai	ごまい
Six (flat object)	roku mai	ろくまい
Seven (flat object)	nana mai	ななまい
Eight (flat object)	hachi mai	はちまい
Nine (flat object)	kyuu mai	きゅうまい
Ten (flat object)	juu mai	じゅうまい

Example sentences : 

• CDをじゅうまいかいました。 (I bought ten CDs)
• てーぶるにさらがごまいあります。 (There are five dishes on the table)
• まいあさぱんをにまいたべます。 (I eat two slices of bread every morning)

Preparing for JLPT N5 efficiently

These japanese counting patterns appear frequently throughout the JLPT N5 exam and mastering them builds confidence for the grammar and vocabulary sections. 

However, effective JLPT N5 preparation requires coverage of all exam components. Our JLPT N5 Mastery Kit provides a structured PDF covering grammar points and essential vocabulary for your preparation. For those beginning their Japanese journey, our 150-Hour Online Japanese Course at Nihongo Online School offers systematic progression from basic concepts through N5-level proficiency.

Successful candidates typically underestimate the breadth of N5 content, but systematic preparation with quality resources makes passing achievable within a realistic timeframe.