助数詞 · counters
How to count small objects in Japanese
個 (こ)
Small, compact objects take 個 (こ): eggs, apples, balls, erasers, sweets. 1, 6, 8 and 10 shrink: いっこ, ろっこ, はっこ, じゅっこ.
Small objects: 個
| 1 | 1個 | いっこ |
| 2 | 2個 | にこ |
| 3 | 3個 | さんこ |
| 4 | 4個 | よんこ |
| 5 | 5個 | ごこ |
| 6 | 6個 | ろっこ |
| 7 | 7個 | ななこ |
| 8 | 8個 | はっこ |
| 9 | 9個 | きゅうこ |
| 10 | 10個 | じゅっこ |
Highlighted readings are the irregular ones.
How many?
Ask with 何個 (なんこ).
個 overlaps with 〜つ: りんご三個 and りんご三つ are both fine. 個 works past ten (十五個); つ does not.
Six is the one that catches people: ろっこ, because 6 shrinks before k.
Examples
Tap a kanji for its reading.
- 卵を六個買ってきてください。Please go and buy six eggs.
- りんごを何個食べましたか。How many apples did you eat?
- 箱にボールが十個入っています。There are ten balls in the box.
- あめを一個どうぞ。Have a sweet.
Common mistakes
- ✗ ろくこ✓ ろっこSix shrinks before k.