Chapter 7 — Numbers, Prices, and Counters

Japanese has a complete number system that can express any quantity. You already know the kanji for one through ten from Chapter 4. This chapter builds on that foundation: first the full number system up to tens of thousands, then prices, and finally the counter system — the grammatical mechanism Japanese uses to count anything at all.

The counter system is not a list of random vocabulary to memorize. It is a structured system with predictable sound changes. Learn the patterns, and the individual forms follow.

7.1 Sino-Japanese Numbers 1 -- 10,000+

Review: 一 through 十

You learned these in Chapter 4. Here they are as a quick reference:

Building Numbers Beyond 10

Japanese numbers above ten follow a transparent multiplication-and-addition logic. There is no equivalent of "eleven" or "twelve" — words that in English bear no obvious relationship to "one" and "two." Instead:

• 11 = じゅういち (ten-one)
• 12 = じゅうに (ten-two)
• 13 = じゅうさん (ten-three)
• 19 = じゅうきゅう (ten-nine)
• 20 = にじゅう (two-ten)
• 21 = にじゅういち (two-ten-one)
• 30 = さんじゅう (three-ten)
• 45 = よんじゅうご (four-ten-five)
• 99 = きゅうじゅうきゅう (nine-ten-nine)

The pattern is: [multiplier] + じゅう + [remainder]. When the multiplier is one, it is dropped — you say じゅういち, not いちじゅういち.

Hundreds: ひゃく

Again, 100 is simply ひゃく, not いちひゃく. For numbers like 350, combine as expected: さんびゃくごじゅう.

Thousands: せん

1,000 is せん, not いちせん. A number like 4,782 is よんせん ななひゃく はちじゅう に.

Ten Thousands: まん

Here is where Japanese diverges from English. English groups numbers by thousands: one thousand, ten thousand, one hundred thousand, one million. Japanese groups by ten-thousands. The unit 万（まん）means 10,000, and everything builds from there:

Note that unlike ひゃく and せん, you do say いちまん for 10,000 — the いち is not dropped.

The key mental shift: 100,000 is not "one hundred thousand" but じゅうまん — "ten ten-thousands." 1,000,000 is ひゃくまん — "one hundred ten-thousands." This grouping by 万 is so fundamental that prices, salaries, and population figures in Japanese are always expressed in terms of 万. A salary of 3,000,000 yen is さんびゃくまんえん, not "three million yen" in concept.

7.2 Sound Changes in Hundreds and Thousands

You noticed irregular forms in the tables above. These are not random. They result from phonological rules that have been operating in Japanese for centuries. When certain consonants meet, one assimilates to the other — the same phenomenon that produces っ in words like いっぱい from いち + はい.

Hundreds (ひゃく) — Irregular Forms

Three numbers cause changes: 3, 6, and 8. The pattern:

• After ん (さん), the ひ voices to び → さんびゃく
• After く (ろく) or ち (はち), the final consonant becomes っ and ひ hardens to ぴ → ろっぴゃく, はっぴゃく

Thousands (せん) — Irregular Forms

Only two changes here: さんぜん (voicing after ん) and はっせん (っ doubling from はち).

These patterns are not unique to hundreds and thousands. The same phonological forces produce the sound changes in counters — which is why understanding the pattern here will pay off throughout this chapter.

7.3 Prices — いくらですか, ～えん

With numbers in hand, you can now ask and answer the most common transactional question: how much does it cost?

The Question

いくらですか。 = How much is it?

This is a complete sentence. いくら means "how much" (in terms of price), and ですか makes it a polite question.

To ask about a specific item, use the こそあど words from Chapter 6:

• これは いくらですか。 = How much is this?
• それは いくらですか。 = How much is that?
• あの かばんは いくらですか。 = How much is that bag (over there)?

The Answer

State the price with the number followed by えん (yen):

• ひゃくえんです。 = It is 100 yen.
• さんびゃくえんです。 = It is 300 yen.
• にせん ごひゃくえんです。 = It is 2,500 yen.
• いちまん にせんえんです。 = It is 12,000 yen.

Practice — Read These Prices

Read each price aloud. The answers are below.

1. 150えん
2. 320えん
3. 680えん
4. 1,200えん
5. 3,500えん
6. 8,800えん
7. 10,000えん
8. 25,400えん

Answers:

1. ひゃくごじゅうえん
2. さんびゃくにじゅうえん
3. ろっぴゃくはちじゅうえん
4. せん にひゃくえん
5. さんぜん ごひゃくえん
6. はっせん はっぴゃくえん
7. いちまんえん
8. にまん ごせん よんひゃくえん

Mini Dialogues

Ａ：これは いくらですか。 Ｂ：それは ごひゃくえんです。

Ａ：あの 本ほんは いくらですか。 Ｂ：あの 本は せん はっぴゃくえんです。

Ａ：この 傘かさは いくらですか。 Ｂ：にせん にひゃくえんです。

7.4 The Counter System — Why It Exists, How It Works

English has a hidden version of counters. You say "three sheets of paper," not "three papers." You say "two loaves of bread," not "two breads." You say "a pair of scissors," not "a scissors." These are classifier constructions — the word between the number and the noun specifies what kind of unit you are counting.

Japanese does this for everything. You cannot say "three books" by putting a number next to the word for book. You must say "three [bound-object-units] of book" — and the word for "bound-object-unit" is さつ (冊). The number and the counter fuse into a single phonological unit: さんさつ, not さん さつ.

These counters are called 助数詞（じょすうし）— literally "helping-number words." There are dozens in the language, but a core set of about ten covers the vast majority of daily situations.

The Structure

Number + Counter = one counting unit

• さん + にん → さんにん (3 people)
• に + ほん → にほん (2 long things)
• いち + まい → いちまい (1 flat thing)

The counter is selected based on the physical properties of the thing being counted — its shape, size, or category. Long thin objects get ～本. Flat objects get ～枚. Small animals get ～匹. This is the logic, not arbitrary assignment.

7.5 Essential Counters

Nine counters are presented below. For each one, a complete table of forms from 1 to 10 is given, with all sound changes marked. Learn these tables. The sound changes are not optional — using the wrong form marks your speech as unnatural.

～つ — General Counter (Native Japanese)

This is the most versatile counter. It uses the native Japanese number system (やまとことば), not the Sino-Japanese system. It works for objects that do not have a specific counter, for abstract things, and as a safe fallback when you are unsure which counter to use. It only goes up to 10 — beyond that, use Sino-Japanese numbers with an appropriate counter.

Note: 10 is とお, not とおつ. There is no つ.

These must be memorized as a set. They do not follow the Sino-Japanese number patterns, and each form is a distinct word.

Uses: general objects, abstract concepts, age (for young children), items on a menu, anything without a specific counter.

• りんごを みっつ ください。 = Three apples, please.
• 問題もんだいが ふたつ あります。 = There are two problems.

～人（にん）— People

The first two are completely irregular: ひとり and ふたり use native Japanese forms. From 3 onward, the Sino-Japanese system takes over. 4 is よにん (not しにん, which sounds like 死人 — dead person).

• 学生がくせいが さんにん います。 = There are three students.
• ここに 人ひとが ごにん います。 = There are five people here.

～本（ほん）— Long, Thin Objects

This counter is used for pens, bottles, umbrellas, trees, roads, rivers, telephone calls, films, and anything cylindrical or elongated.

Sound changes: 1, 6, 8, 10 → っ doubling + ほん becomes ぽん. 3 → ほん becomes ぼん.

• 鉛筆えんぴつが にほん あります。 = There are two pencils.
• ビールを さんぼん 買かいました。 = I bought three beers.

～枚（まい）— Flat Objects

Used for paper, plates, shirts, tickets, photos, slices, CDs, blankets — anything flat and thin.

No sound changes at all. まい begins with m, which does not interact with the preceding consonants. This is the easiest counter to remember.

• 紙かみを ごまい ください。 = Five sheets of paper, please.
• 皿さらが はちまい あります。 = There are eight plates.

～台（だい）— Machines and Vehicles

Used for cars, bicycles, computers, TVs, washing machines, and other mechanical or electronic devices.

No sound changes. だい begins with d, which remains stable across all numbers.

• 車くるまが にだい あります。 = There are two cars.
• パソコンを いちだい 買いました。 = I bought one computer.

～匹（ひき）— Small Animals

Used for dogs, cats, fish, insects, and small-to-medium animals. Large animals (horses, elephants) use ～頭（とう）, and birds use ～羽（わ）, but those are less common at this level.

The same pattern as ～本: 1, 6, 8, 10 → っ + ぴ. 3 → び. This is because ひき begins with h, just like ほん. Whenever a counter starts with h, expect this pattern.

• 猫ねこが さんびき います。 = There are three cats.
• 魚さかなを ろっぴき 買いました。 = I bought six fish.

～杯（はい）— Cups, Glasses, Bowls

Used for drinks in cups or glasses, bowls of rice or soup, and spoonfuls.

Again, h-initial counter: 1, 6, 8, 10 → っ + ぱ. 3 → ば.

• コーヒーを にはい 飲のみました。 = I drank two cups of coffee.
• ごはんを さんばい 食たべました。 = I ate three bowls of rice.

～冊（さつ）— Books and Bound Objects

Used for books, notebooks, magazines, dictionaries — anything with a binding.

さつ begins with s. The changes are fewer: 1 → いっさつ (っ doubling from いち), 8 → はっさつ (っ doubling from はち), 10 → じゅっさつ.

• 本ほんを にさつ 買かいました。 = I bought two books.
• 雑誌ざっしが ごさつ あります。 = There are five magazines.

～階（かい）— Floors of a Building

かい begins with k. The changes: 1 → いっかい (っ doubling), 3 → さんがい (voicing after ん), 6 → ろっかい (っ doubling), 8 → はっかい (っ doubling), 10 → じゅっかい.

Note: さんがい for the third floor is a frequent point of confusion. It is さんがい, not さんかい.

• トイレは にかいに あります。 = The bathroom is on the second floor.
• レストランは さんがいに あります。 = The restaurant is on the third floor.

7.6 Sound Changes in Counters — The General Pattern

If you studied the nine counter tables carefully, you noticed the same numbers causing changes over and over. This is not coincidence. There is a system.

Which Numbers Cause Changes

Numbers 2, 4, 5, 7, and 9 almost never cause changes.

Which Counter-Initial Consonants Are Affected

Counters starting with h (ほん, ひき, はい): The most dramatic changes. After っ, h becomes p. After ん (from さん), h becomes b.

Counters starting with k (かい, こ): After っ, k remains k. After ん, k voices to g.

Counters starting with s (さつ, そく): After っ, s remains s. After ん, s sometimes voices to z (as in さんぜん from せん).

Counters starting with m, n, d, w, t: Generally no sound changes. These consonants are resistant to the assimilation process. This is why ～枚（まい）and ～台（だい）have perfectly regular tables.

Summary Rule

When you encounter a new counter, ask two questions:

1. What consonant does it start with?
2. Is it h, k, or s?

If yes, expect changes at 1, 3, 6, 8, and 10. If no, the table is likely regular. This rule covers the majority of cases and will serve you well as you learn additional counters in later chapters.

7.7 Counter Placement in Sentences

Counters are not free-floating numbers. They occupy a specific position in the sentence.

Pattern 1: After the Noun (Most Common)

The counter phrase goes after the noun it counts, typically right before the verb.

[noun]を [counter] [verb]

• 本ほんを 二冊（にさつ） 買かいました。 = I bought two books.
• りんごを 三つ（みっつ） 食たべました。 = I ate three apples.
• ビールを 二本（にほん） 飲のみました。 = I drank two bottles of beer.

[noun]が [counter] [verb]

• 学生がくせいが 五人（ごにん） います。 = There are five students.
• 猫ねこが 三匹（さんびき） います。 = There are three cats.
• 車くるまが 四台（よんだい） あります。 = There are four cars.

Pattern 2: Before the Noun with の

You can also place the counter before the noun using の:

[counter]の [noun]

• 二冊（にさつ）の 本 = two books
• 三人（さんにん）の 学生 = three students
• 五枚（ごまい）の 切符きっぷ = five tickets

Both patterns are grammatically correct. Pattern 1 is more common in everyday conversation. Pattern 2 is useful when the quantity is the focus — "I want the TWO books, not the three."

Pattern 3: With Location

When counting things that exist in a place, the counter fits naturally with the いる/ある sentences from Chapter 6.

• 部屋へやに 人ひとが 三人（さんにん） います。 = There are three people in the room.
• 机つくえの 上うえに 本が 四冊（よんさつ） あります。 = There are four books on the desk.
• 庭にわに 猫が 二匹（にひき） います。 = There are two cats in the garden.

7.8 Question Forms

To ask "how many," use the question word that matches the counter.

いくつ — How Many? (General)

いくつ is the question form for the ～つ counter. It works as a general "how many" question.

• りんごは いくつ ありますか。 = How many apples are there?
• いくつ ほしいですか。 = How many do you want?

なん + Counter — How Many [specific counter]?

For specific counters, replace the number with なん:

Note: なん causes the same voicing as さん (both end in ん). So なんほん → なんぼん, なんひき → なんびき, なんはい → なんばい, なんかい → なんがい.

Example Dialogues

Ａ：学生がくせいは なんにん いますか。 Ｂ：じゅうにんいます。

(A: How many students are there? B: There are ten.)

Ａ：鉛筆えんぴつは なんぼん ありますか。 Ｂ：ごほん あります。

(A: How many pencils are there? B: There are five.)

Ａ：トイレは なんがいですか。 Ｂ：にかいです。

(A: What floor is the bathroom on? B: It is on the second floor.)

Ａ：猫ねこは なんびき いますか。 Ｂ：二匹（にひき） います。

(A: How many cats are there? B: There are two.)

Ａ：この ノートは いくらですか。 Ｂ：ひゃくごじゅうえんです。

(A: How much is this notebook? B: It is 150 yen.)

7.9 Reading Passage — コンビニで 買かい物もの

Read the following passage. It uses numbers, counters, and prices — all introduced in this chapter. Read it once without looking at the translation, then check your understanding.

今日きょう、コンビニに 行いきました。

おにぎりが たくさん あります。わたしは おにぎりを 二ふたつ 買かいます。一ひとつは しゃけです。一つは うめです。しゃけの おにぎりは 百五十えんです。うめの おにぎりは 百三十えんです。

お茶おちゃも 買います。お茶は 一本 百六十えんです。

友達ともだちに おかしを 買います。おかしは 三みっつ 買います。一つ 百えんです。三つで 三百えんです。

全部ぜんぶで いくらですか。おにぎり 二つは 二百八十えんです。お茶 一本は 百六十えんです。おかし 三つは 三百えんです。全部で 七百四十えんです。

千えんを 出だします。おつりは 二百六十えんです。

Translation

Today, I went to the convenience store.

There are many onigiri. I buy two onigiri. One is salmon. One is plum. The salmon onigiri is 150 yen. The plum onigiri is 130 yen.

I also buy tea. Tea is 160 yen for one bottle.

I buy snacks for my friend. I buy three snacks. One is 100 yen. Three are 300 yen.

How much is it in total? Two onigiri are 280 yen. One tea is 160 yen. Three snacks are 300 yen. In total, it is 740 yen.

I hand over 1,000 yen. The change is 260 yen.

Notes on the passage

コンビニ — short for コンビニエンスストア (convenience store). Konbini are ubiquitous in Japan and serve as a one-stop shop for food, drinks, tickets, bill payments, and more. The onigiri section alone often has dozens of varieties.

しゃけ / うめ — "salmon / plum." Two of the most classic onigiri fillings. しゃけ (also さけ) is salted salmon; うめ is pickled plum (umeboshi).

一本 — The counter 本 is used for long, thin objects, including bottles. お茶 一本 = one bottle of tea.

全部ぜんぶで — "in total." 全部 means "everything/all" and で here indicates scope.

出だします — "to hand over / put out." A verb in ます-form (Chapter 8 covers verbs formally). Here it means handing money to the cashier.

おつり — "change." The money returned after a purchase.

行いきました — Past tense of 行きます ("to go"). Past tense ます-form is covered in Chapter 8. For now, recognize ました as past tense.

Vocabulary List

All numbers and counter terms introduced in this chapter, with pitch accent notation.

Large Numbers

Prices

Counters — ～つ (General)

Counters — ～人 (People)

Counters — ～本 (Long, Thin Objects)

Counters — ～枚 (Flat Objects)

Counters — ～台 (Machines / Vehicles)

Counters — ～匹 (Small Animals)

Counters — ～杯 (Cups / Glasses / Bowls)

Counters — ～冊 (Books / Bound Objects)

Counters — ～階 (Floors)

Other Vocabulary