Counting Small Objects in Japanese with 個

How to Count in Japanese – Part Eleven – Review Notes

There are many ways to count things in Japanese depending on the type of object being counted! In these review notes, we will look at how to count small compact objects using the Japanese counter 個 (ko).

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Today’s Counter is: 個 (こ – ko)

★　You can use the Japanese counter 個 (こ – ko) to count a wide variety of things such as apples, eggs, and other small compact objects.

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Number 1:

★　The Japanese word for the one (small compact object) is １個 (いっこ – ikko).

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Number 2:

★　The Japanese word for two (small compact objects) is ２個 (にこ – niko).

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Number 3:

★　The Japanese word for three (small compact objects) is ３個 (さんこ – sanko).

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Number 4:

★　The Japanese word for four (small compact objects) is ４個 (よんこ – yonko).

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Number 5:

★　The Japanese word for five (small compact objects) is ５個 (ごこ – goko).

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Number 6:

★　The Japanese word for six (small compact objects) is ６個 (ろっこ – rokko).

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Number 7:

★　The Japanese word for seven (small compact objects) is ７個 (ななこ – nanako).

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Number 8:

★　The Japanese word for eight (small compact objects) is ８個 (はっこ – hakko).

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Number 9:

★　The Japanese word for nine (small compact objects) is ９個 (きゅうこ – kyuuko).

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Number 10:

★　The Japanese word for ten (small compact objects) is １０個 (じゅっこ – jukko).

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Counting Past 10:

★　To count more than 10 small compact objects, refer to the numbers below. Try to notice the pattern! (11 is 10 and 1, 12 is 10 and 2, etc.)

　　　十一個　　　　11個 　　　jūikko

　　　十二個　　　　12個 　　　jūniko

　　　十三個　　　　13個 　　　jūsanko

　　　十四個　　　　14個　 　　jūyonko

　　　十五個　　　　15個　 　　jūgoko

　　　十六個　　　　16個　　 　jūrokko

　　　十七個　　　　17個　　 　jūnanako

　　　十八個　　　　18個　　　 jūhakko

　　　十九個　　　　19個　　 　jūkyūko

　　　二十個　　　　20個　　 　nijukko

　　　二十一個　　　21個　　 　 nijūikko

　　　二十二個　　　22個　　 　nijūniko

　　　二十三個　　　23個　　 　nijūsanko

　　　二十四個　　　24個　　 　nijūyonko

　　　二十五個　　　25個　　 　nijūgoko

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Example Sentence 1:

みかんを３個買いました。

Mikan o sanko kaimashita.

I bought three oranges.

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Example Sentence 2:

卵を２個使いました。

Tamago o niko tsukaimashita.

I used two eggs.

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Example Sentence 3:

りんごを４個ください。

Ringo o yonko kudasai.

Please give me four apples.

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Conclusion:

Today we learned how to count small compact objects in Japanese! Next time we will learn about a similar counter, the native Japanese numbers (hitotsu, futatsu, etc.)

Check out more lessons on counting in Japanese below!

How to count flat, thin objects

How to count long, cylindrical objects

How to count people

How to count small animals

How to count large animals

How to count birds and rabbits

How to count cars and other machines

How to count liquid in cups, glasses and bowls

How to count the floors of a building

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