18 Aug
Counters | Minna no Nihongo | Lesson 11
### Understanding Counters in "Minna no Nihongo" | Lesson 11
In Lesson 11 of "Minna no Nihongo," you'll learn about counters, which are used in Japanese to count different types of objects, people, and actions. Japanese counters are essential for expressing quantities accurately and are used with numbers to count various items. Let’s explore how counters work and see some examples.
### 1. **Basic Structure of Counters**
- **Number + Counter**: This is the general structure for using counters.
- **Example**: **三冊の本** (San-satsu no hon) — three books.
### 2. **Common Counters and Their Uses**
Here are some common counters you’ll encounter:
#### **1. つ (tsu)**
- **Used for**: General counting of objects, often used with small or indefinite items.
- **Structure**: Number + つ
- **Examples**:
- **一つ** (hitotsu) — one thing
- **二つ** (futatsu) — two things
- **三つ** (mittsu) — three things
#### **2. 人 (にん, nin)**
- **Used for**: Counting people.
- **Structure**: Number + 人
- **Examples**:
- **一人** (hitori) — one person
- **二人** (futari) — two people
- **三人** (sannin) — three people
#### **3. 本 (ほん, hon)**
- **Used for**: Counting long, cylindrical objects like bottles or books.
- **Structure**: Number + 本
- **Examples**:
- **一本** (ippon) — one bottle/book
- **二本** (nihon) — two bottles/books
- **三本** (sanbon) — three bottles/books
#### **4. 冊 (さつ, satsu)**
- **Used for**: Counting books or bound volumes.
- **Structure**: Number + 冊
- **Examples**:
- **一冊** (issatsu) — one book
- **二冊** (nisatsu) — two books
- **三冊** (sansatsu) — three books
#### **5. 枚 (まい, mai)**
- **Used for**: Counting flat objects like paper, plates, or tickets.
- **Structure**: Number + 枚
- **Examples**:
- **一枚** (ichimai) — one sheet/ticket
- **二枚** (nimai) — two sheets/tickets
- **三枚** (sanmai) — three sheets/tickets
#### **6. 台 (だい, dai)**
- **Used for**: Counting machines and vehicles.
- **Structure**: Number + 台
- **Examples**:
- **一台** (ichidai) — one machine/vehicle
- **二台** (nidai) — two machines/vehicles
- **三台** (sandai) — three machines/vehicles
#### **7. つ (tsu)**
- **Used for**: General counting of objects or actions.
- **Structure**: Number + つ
- **Examples**:
- **一つ** (hitotsu) — one item
- **二つ** (futatsu) — two items
- **三つ** (mittsu) — three items
### Tips for Using Counters
1. **Learn Specific Counters**: Different types of objects require different counters. Practice using each counter with appropriate items to get comfortable with them.
2. **Counter Variations**: Some counters have variations depending on the number, especially for 1, 2, and 3. For instance:
- **一人** (hitori) — one person
- **二人** (futari) — two people
- **三人** (sannin) — three people
3. **Practice with Context**: Use counters in sentences to practice. For example:
- **私は三冊の本を持っています。** (Watashi wa sansatsu no hon o motteimasu.) — I have three books.
- **ここに二人の学生がいます。** (Koko ni futari no gakusei ga imasu.) — There are two students here.
### Summary
Counters are crucial for expressing quantities and require specific usage based on the type of object or person being counted. By familiarizing yourself with common counters and their applications, you’ll improve your ability to count and describe quantities in Japanese effectively. Practice using different counters with various items to become more comfortable with their usage. Happy studying!
