There are various ways to count things in Japanese, which can be a little difficult. So today, we'll introduce some common ways to count things that are used in everyday life, along with example sentences. It might be a good idea to review them when ordering at a restaurant or if you suddenly forget how to count things at work.
1.Counting people: "nin" and "mei"
"Nin" is used after a number when counting people. Basically, you can express the number of people just by adding "nin" to a number, but be careful because the pronunciation is different when saying one person and when saying two people.
1 person (hitori): 1 person
2 people (futari): 2 people
3 people (san-nin): 3 people
4 people (yo-nin): 4 people
5 people (go-nin): 5 people
6 people (roku-nin): 6 people
7 people (nana-nin / shichi-nin): 7 people
8 people (hachi-nin): 8 people
9 people (kyū-nin): 9 people
10 people (jū-nin): 10 people
11 people (jūichi-nin): 11 people
12 people (jūni-nin): 12 people
When counting the number of people, you can also use "names (mei)." "Names (mei)" are used when the number of people is specific or when expressing politeness in formal situations. Therefore, "names (mei)" are mainly used by service providers when speaking to customers. When a waiter at a restaurant checks the number of people, or when a hotel concierge checks the number of people making a reservation, "names (mei)" are used.
Example sentences
Our hotel is fully booked today and is unable to accept reservations for more than two people.
Tō hoteru wa, honjitsu manshitsu no tame 2-mei sama de no go yoyaku wo uketamawaru koto ga dekimasen.
Our hotel is fully booked today and cannot accept reservations for 2 people.
Example sentences
Welcome. Mr. Tanaka, you have a lunch reservation for three people.
Irasshaimase. 3-mei de ranchi wo go yoyaku no Tanaka-sama desu ne.
May I help you? Mr. Tanaka, you have a reservation for lunch for 3 people.
When telling a customer in business how many people there are, it is appropriate to be polite, so you should use "names (mei)" when talking or contacting customers, or even in conversations within the company.
Example sentences
At tomorrow's meeting, three staff members from our company will be attending in addition to myself.
Ashita no kaigi desuga, heisha kara wa watashi ni kuwaete 3-mei no sutaffu wo dōseki sa sete itadakimasu.
For tomorrow's meeting, three staff members will be joining me from our company.
2. Counting documents and paper sheets: "mai" and "bu"
When you work in a company, you exchange documents frequently, but in fact, in Japanese, there are different ways to count depending on the type of document. Unlike the number of people, the pronunciation does not change depending on the number, so it is easy to use. When counting one piece of paper, you use "mai". In the case of letters, you use "tsu" to count a single piece of paper like a postcard, or everything in an envelope.
Example sentences
Make a copy of one document.
Shorui wo 1-mai kopī suru.
I make a copy of the document.
Example sentences
Three invoices addressed to the department head arrived by express mail.
Buchō-ate no seikyū-sho ga sokutatsu de 3-tsū todoita.
I received three invoices addressed to the director by express delivery.
For bound documents such as documents and pamphlets, the word "bu" is used. Furthermore, for thick documents such as books, the word "satsu" is used.
Example sentences
Please distribute copies of the materials.
Shiryō wo ichibu zutsu kubatte oite kudasai.
Please hand out one set of materials.
Example sentences
We will give you a catalogue introducing over 100 different products.
100 shurui ijō no seihin wo shōkai shite iru katarogu wo 1-satsu sashiagemasu.
We will give you one catalog that introduces more than 100 kinds of products.
You can communicate the number of items to others without being careful to distinguish between each method. However, if you make a mistake in counting, such as using one item versus one part, it can affect your work, so be careful.
3."Sha" (company name)
When counting the number of companies you do business with, or when mentioning the number of companies in a job interview, you can add "社 (sha)" after the number. If the company you do business with is a bank, you can also say "行 (kou)."
Example sentences
More than 500 companies use our services.
Waga sha no sābisu wo riyō shite iru kigyō wa 500-sha ijō ni noborimasu.
There are more than 500 companies using our services.
Example sentences
Please find five potential companies to outsource the work to by tomorrow.
Gyōmu itaku no kōho kigyō wo 5-sha, ashita made ni sagashite oite kudasai.
Find 5 candidate companies for outsourcing by tomorrow.
4."Ken" is useful for counting the number of projects or projects
When counting the number of items you are in charge of or the number of agenda items in a meeting, use "件(ken)". "件(ken)" allows you to count matters or cases.
Example sentences
I'm busy today because I have three meetings in a row.
Kyō wa kaigi ga 3-ken renzoku de aru kara isogashī.
I'm busy today because there are 3 meetings in a row.
"Ken" means things, so for example, the number of inquiries can be counted using "ken".
Example sentences
There have been two reported issues with this product.
Shōhin ni kansuru fuguai ga, 2-ken hōkoku sa rete imasu.
Two product defects have been reported.
5."冊(satsu)" and "巻(kan)" used to count books
When counting books, it is common to use "冊 (satsu)". For paperbacks, you should generally use "冊 (satsu)".
Example sentences
My goal this year is to read two books each month.
Kotoshi no mokuhyō wa hon wo maitsuki 2-satsu yomu koto desu.
This year's goal is to read two books each month.
Example sentences
I went to the library and borrowed four books.
Toshokan ni itte hon wo 4-satsu karita.
I went to the library and borrowed four books.
When counting the number of volumes of a popular manga in Japan, in addition to "satsu" (books), "kan" (volumes) are also used. Using "kan" lets the other person know that the book is not complete in one volume, but that the story continues.
Example sentences
I read up to volume 13 of my favorite adventure manga.
Daisukina bōken monogatari no manga wo 13-kan made yonda.
I read up to 13 volumes of my favorite adventure story manga.
Example sentences
The second volume of this story is so moving that it will bring you to tears.
Kono monogatari no gekan wa kandō no amari namida wo nagasazu ni wa ira renai.
The second volume of this story is so moving that I cannot help but shed tears.
This time, we introduced counting expressions that are often used in the workplace, such as the number of people, number of sheets, and number of books. By the way, did you know that there are more than 500 ways to count things in Japanese? Your Japanese friends will be amazed when you learn how to count things that even Japanese people don't know! If you're even slightly interested in Japanese, Experienced teachers will teach you practical Japanese Human Academy Japanese Language Learning Plus Register for free We are currently looking for participants for a free trial class!