JLPT N5 Grammar: Counters
〜つ / 〜人 / 〜枚 / 〜本 / 〜杯 — full 1–10 tables
JLPT N5 文法 助数詞 (つ・人・枚・本・杯)
⏱️ Study time: 10–14 minutes
Japanese uses counter words (助数詞) to count different types of objects. You can't just say "three" — you must say "three small things" (三つ), "three people" (三人), or "three flat objects" (三枚). This lesson gives you the complete 1–10 tables for the five essential N5 counters.
⚡ 〜つ — General Counter (1–10)
The 〜つ counter is the native Japanese counting system. It's used for small, general items that don't have a specific counter — apples, plates, problems, ideas. It only goes up to 10.
💡 Note: 10 is just とお — it does not take つ. These are the original Japanese numbers and must be memorised individually.
⚡ 〜人 — People Counter (1–10)
The counter for people is 人, but "one person" and "two people" use the native Japanese readings ひとり and ふたり. From 3 onwards, the Chinese readings are used.
⚡ 〜枚 — Flat Objects (1–10)
Use 枚 for thin, flat objects: paper, tickets, shirts, plates, CDs, photographs. This counter is completely regular — no sound changes.
⚡ 〜本 — Long Objects (1–10)
Use 本 for long, cylindrical objects: bottles, pens, pencils, umbrellas, trees, roads, rivers. The reading changes with the number (ほん → ぼん → ぽん).
💡 Sound change pattern: After 1 (いち), 6 (ろく), 8 (はち), 10 (じゅう) → ぽん. After 3 (さん) → ぼん. After 2, 4, 5, 7, 9 → ほん.
⚡ 〜杯 — Cups / Glasses (1–10)
Use 杯 for cups, glasses, bowls, and anything you drink or eat from. Follows the same sound change pattern as 本 (はい → ばい → ぱい).
Examples & Mini Dialogue
りんごを三つください。りんごをみっつください。Ringo o mittsu kudasai.
Please give me three apples.
✅ General counter 〜つ for small objects.
コーヒーを二杯お願いします。こーひーをにはいおねがいします。Kōhī o nihai onegai shimasu.
Two cups of coffee, please.
A: 何人で来ますか。なんにんできますか。Nannin de kimasu ka.
B: 四人です。よにんです。Yonin desu.
Common Mistakes (and Fixes)
JLPT N5 Practice Questions
1. How do you count "two people"?
2. How do you read 三つ (three items)?
3. How do you read 一本 (one long object)?
4. Which counter is used for flat objects like paper?
Test yourself with a free mock exam →
About the Instructor
Taught by Anup Sensei at Gogaku Language & Training Center in Pokhara. With real Japan experience and a focus on exam essentials, he helps students pass the JLPT with confidence.
⚡ Vocabulary Used in This Lesson
Related Grammar
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are 一人 and 二人 different?
They use the native Japanese number readings (ひと, ふた) instead of the Chinese‑derived readings (いち, に). This is a remnant of older Japanese. For 3 and above, the Chinese readings are used (さんにん, よにん…).
What's the difference between 〜つ and 〜個 (こ)?
〜つ is the native Japanese counter (1–10). 〜個 is the Chinese‑derived counter and can be used for numbers above 10. Both mean the same thing for small numbers: 三つ = 三個 (さんこ) = three items.
How do I ask "how many"?
Use 何 + counter: 何人 (なんにん) = how many people?, 何枚 (なんまい) = how many sheets?, 何本 (なんぼん) = how many long objects?, 何杯 (なんばい) = how many cups?, いくつ = how many? (general).
Continue Learning
Next: Numbers (1–100) — the foundation for all counters.
Learn Numbers →→ Explore the JLPT N5 Grammar Hub
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