Learn Japanese counters through conversations between foreigners and Japanese people!

First, let me give a quick self-introduction!!

> Self-introduction

I'm an Indian who loves Japan.
I work in Japan as an engineer in the Systems Solutions Department.
My motto: Never Give Up (Try Your Best)
Favorite foods: Sushi, ramen!!
Favorite anime: One Piece
Languages ​​I speak: Japanese (Kansai dialect), English, Hindi!!

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Japanese counters are really difficult to learn, aren't they?
The pronunciation of "一 (ichi, hito, itsu)" is particularly tricky, and I myself struggled with it a lot when I was studying Japanese.
So, this time, I've put together a guide to help you easily learn how to use and pronounce "一" through natural conversations between foreigners and Japanese people
. By listening to the conversations, you'll naturally understand, "Ah, this is the pronunciation to use in this situation!"

When foreigners study Japanese, if there was a role-playing session between foreigners and Japanese people, I think it would probably be something like this!!

Things

Roberts: Hey Tanaka, how do you say "one" in Japanese?
Tanaka: It's easy. It's "ichi".

Roberts: OK! Then how do you say "one person"?
Tanaka: Hitori. In Japanese, there are unique ways of counting people: "hitori" and "futari." They are used frequently in conversation, so it's important to get used to them first.

Roberts: Got it. Then one dog?
Tanaka: One. "Hiki" is a counter word used to count small animals. It is used for cats, dogs, fish, insects, etc. Fish can also be expressed as "ichibi".

Roberts: One cat?
Tanaka: Likewise, one cat. Note that the word changes to "two cats" (nihiki) or "three cats" (sanbiki) through phonetic changes.

Roberts: So... one elephant is also one animal?
Tanaka: No no no 😂 Elephants are big so you count them as "one head". It's common to count large animals with "head". It's the same for cows and horses.

Roberts: So, one rabbit?
Tanaka: One rabbit.
Roberts: What!? But rabbit is not a bird!!
Tanaka: That's right, but in Japanese, rabbits are counted with the same counter as birds, "wa". This is because in old Japan, rabbits were treated as birds.

Roberts: OK... then, one pencil?
Tanaka: One.
Roberts: One umbrella?
Tanaka: That's one too.
Roberts: Wait... pencil, umbrella, banana, beer bottle... all one?
Tanaka: That's right! Long, thin things are usually counted with "hon" (本).

Roberts: Do I have to learn Japanese to the point of knowing bananas...? 🍌😂

Roberts: So, one book?
Tanaka: One book. It's used when counting booklets, magazines, notebooks, and other bound items.

Roberts: One photo?
Tanaka: One. It's a counter word used to count thin, flat things like paper, plates, photographs, and T-shirts.

Roberts: One car?
Tanaka: One car. It's a counter word used for machines and vehicles. It can also be used for TVs and computers.

Roberts: One house?
Tanaka: One house. A counter word used to count houses and shops.

Roberts: I can't remember any more!
Tanaka: It's okay, it'll come naturally once you get used to it 😉

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Conclusion of the Mono section

Tanaka: Rather than trying to memorize them, you'll naturally pick them up if you use them a lot in your daily life 😉
Roberts: Okay, I'll try to pay attention to them when I count from today!

Japanese counter words are truly a "word puzzle."
They may seem complex at first, but they become fascinating once you understand the rules and rhythms.

Next time, let's have even more fun learning about time and number of times

Time and Number of Times

Roberts: Tanaka, so what's "one time" in Japanese?
Tanaka: Ikkai (one time).

Roberts: So, "one day"?
Tanaka: That's one day (ichinichi/tsuitachi). The pronunciation changes depending on the context.

Roberts: Huh!? Same kanji but different reading!? 🤯
Tanaka: That's right. You use them differently, like "I studied all day today" or "Today is the first day, that is, the date of the 1st."

Roberts: Japanese is not a language... it's a puzzle game!! 🧩😂

Roberts: Then, one year?
Tanaka: One year.
Roberts: Easy! Finally something simple! 😌
Tanaka: But you know... "Once" can mean "one time," but it can also be used with the nuance of "once in a lifetime."

Roberts: Stop it!! My brain is already full!! 🧠💥

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Conclusion of the time and number of times section

Tanaka: Don't worry! You'll naturally learn to distinguish between "this is for once" and "this is for once" as you use them 👍
Roberts: Really? 😂

You should all try it!
"One time" vs "Once"
"One day" vs "The first day"
You'll quickly get the hang of it if you actually try writing sentences.

Next time, let's have even more fun learning about food

Food

Roberts: So how do you count food? For example… one apple?
Tanaka: One. It's used when counting small three-dimensional objects.

Roberts: One rice ball?
Tanaka: Same here, one.

Roberts: OK, easy! What about one plate of curry?
Tanaka: One plate.

Roberts: One ramen?
Tanaka: One bowl. We use "hai" (杯) when counting liquids, soups, or drinks.

Roberts: Then… one portion of steak?
Tanaka: One portion.
Roberts: But I want two portions…!!
Tanaka: Then it'll be "two portions." Be careful not to overeat! 😂

Roberts: OK… I learned one person, one animal, one bird, one book, one book, one sheet, one machine, one house, once, one day, one year, one item, one plate, one cup, one serving…
Tanaka: Wow, you've memorized quite a lot! 👏
Roberts: But… tomorrow I will forget everything 😭
Tanaka: Don't worry. Even Japanese people make mistakes sometimes! 🤣

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Conclusion of the food section

In Japanese, the way we count food changes depending on the type and shape of the food. For example, an apple or rice ball is counted as "one," curry as "one plate," ramen as "one bowl," and portions of dishes like steak are counted as "one serving."

It may be difficult to remember at first, but if you gradually get used to the ones you use most often, you'll be fine. Don't worry if you make a mistake, just have fun learning!

Next time, let's have even more fun learning about vehicles and buildings

Vehicles and Buildings

Roberts: Tanaka, how do you say "one car"?
Tanaka: One car.

Roberts: One bicycle?
Tanaka: Yes, one bicycle.

Roberts: OK! Then one TV?
Tanaka: That's one unit too. Machines and vehicles are generally counted with the counter "dai" (台).

Roberts: So, one train?
Tanaka: We count them as "ippon" (one).
Roberts: Eh!? But train is not a pencil!! 🚃✏️
Tanaka: 🤣🤣 In Japanese, train cars are long so we count them as "hon".

Roberts: So, one airplane?
Tanaka: One plane.
Roberts: One rocket?
Tanaka: That's also one rocket.

Roberts: OK, what about buildings? One house?
Tanaka: One house.
Roberts: One shop?
Tanaka: Same, one shop.
Roberts: One building?
Tanaka: One building.
Roberts: Building!? New kanji again!! 😵
Roberts: Then… one bridge?
Tanaka: One bridge. We use "hon" for long things, "tou" for an entire building, and "ken" for houses and shops.

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Conclusion of the Vehicles and Buildings Edition

Tanaka: Well, you just have to get used to the Japanese way of counting.
Roberts: OK... I will buy 100 pencils, 100 umbrellas, and 100 trains... all one!
Tanaka: Then the trains will be in a huge traffic jam! 🚃🚃🚃💨

Now we have a complete set: "Things → Time → Food → Vehicles and Buildings"!
You'll naturally pick up the rules of counter words while enjoying conversations.

If you blog about it as a series, it will be a style where you can "learn while laughing."

Summary of how to count "one" in Japanese (Archival Edition)

This is a categorized list of the ways of counting "one" that appeared in Roberts and Tanaka's conversation.
It provides an easy-to-understand list of points that Japanese language learners often stumble over.

💡Key point:
Japanese counting methods change depending on the "shape," "size," and "use."
First, learn the commonly used expressions (person, animal, book, sheet, individual, unit) to be able to use them smoothly!

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*This is the culture shock I, an Indian foreigner, experienced when I came to Japan

This may vary from person to person, but please note that this is just my personal experience in Japan

I also have a blog I created previously, so please take a look if you'd like!

Why I, an Indian, came to Japan (Why foreigners are fascinated by Japan)

What I, an Indian, felt after working at a Japanese company (Beyond Inc.)

What I, a foreigner (Indian), have felt after working at a Japanese company for a year since graduating