Counter Words

JLPT N5 Japanese self-study　·　~12 min　·　個・本・枚・冊・台・匹 — Japanese quantity counters

In Japanese, you don't say '3 books' — you say '3 冊 of books.' Every category of object has its own counter word, and learning the 6 most common ones covers 80% of daily situations.

What you'll learn

• Use 個 for small objects, 本 for long things
• Use 枚 for flat things, 冊 for books
• Use 台 for machines, 匹 for small animals

How to study “Counter Words”

“Counter Words” (個・本・枚・冊・台・匹 — Japanese quantity counters) is a JLPT N5 chapter of our free Japanese self-study course, about 12 min. You learn by doing — flashcard drills and fill-in-the-blank quizzes graded on the spot — completely free, with no sign-up and no ad wall. Once it clicks, read the matching in-depth explainer over in Grammar.