Counting in Japanese isn’t as simple as 1, 2, 3 — because Japanese uses counters, special words that depend on what you’re counting.
Whether you’re ordering drinks, counting people, or talking about general objects, the counter changes. Let’s look at the most commonly used counting systems and how to use them naturally in real-life situations (like ordering at a restaurant in Japan!).

You may also like our post about the 1000 most commonly used Japanese words:

🥇 1. General Counting (Native Japanese Numbers)

This is the most flexible and beginner-friendly system, used when you don’t know the correct counter or are counting general objects.

🗣 Example:

• ビールを三つください。

• Bīru o mittsu kudasai.

• Beer (object marker) three please. → “Three beers, please.” (casual, but understood)

🍺 2. Long, Cylindrical Objects (本 hon)

Used for bottles, cans, pencils, umbrellas, and anything long and thin.

🗣 Example:

• ビールを二本ください。

• Bīru o nihon kudasai.

• Beer two (bottles) please. → “Two bottles of beer, please.”

🍶 3. Glasses or Cups (杯 hai)

Used for glasses, cups, and bowls of liquid (beer, tea, sake, soup, etc.).

🗣 Example:

• ワインを一杯ください。

• Wain o ippai kudasai.

• Wine one (glass) please. → “A glass of wine, please.”

👥 4. People (人 nin)

Used exclusively for counting people — but note the irregular forms!

🗣 Example:

• 四人です。

• Yonin desu.

• Four people (are in the party). → “There are four of us.”

🐱 5. Small Animals (匹 hiki)

Used for small animals like cats, dogs, fish, and insects.

🗣 Example:

• 猫が三匹います。

• Neko ga sanbiki imasu.

• Cats three (exist). → “There are three cats.”

🚗 6. Vehicles and Machines (台 dai)

Used for cars, TVs, computers, bicycles, etc.

🗣 Example:

• 車が二台あります。

• Kuruma ga nidai arimasu.

• Cars two (exist). → “There are two cars.”

🏠 7. Flat Objects (枚 mai)

Used for flat items like paper, plates, tickets, T-shirts, etc.

🗣 Example:

• チケットを二枚ください。

• Chiketto o nimai kudasai.

• Ticket two (flat items) please. → “Two tickets, please.”

📘 8. Books and Bound Items (冊 satsu)

Used for books, magazines, notebooks, etc.

🗣 Example:

• 本を一冊読みました。

• Hon o issatsu yomimashita.

• Book one (bound item) read. → “I read one book.”

🧠 Summary: Which Counter Should You Use?

🌸 Final Tip

Counters are one of the most charming—and tricky—parts of Japanese. Don’t worry if you forget the right one; most Japanese speakers will still understand you if you use hitotsu, futatsu, etc. But learning the most common counters (本, 杯, 人, 匹, 台, 枚, 冊) will make your Japanese sound much more natural.