Learn JapaneseLesson 110: Counting objects and the flat object counter 枚
The counter 枚
The counter 枚 is used to count flat, thin objects like paper, photographs and plates. Note in the table below that when using the counter 枚 after a numeral, no phonetic change occurs. In fact, for all counters starting with an m sound, no phonetic change occurs when they are preceded by a numeral.
| Japanese | Hiragana reading |
|---|---|
| one flat, thin object |
一枚 itimai |
| two flat, thin objects |
二枚 nimai |
| three flat, thin objects |
三枚 sanmai |
| four flat, thin objects |
四枚 yonmai |
| five flat, thin objects |
五枚 gomai |
| six flat, thin objects |
六枚 rokumai |
| seven flat, thin objects |
七枚 nanamai |
| eight flat, thin objects |
八枚 hatimai |
| nine flat, thin objects |
九枚 kyuumai |
| ten flat, thin objects |
十枚 zyuumai |
Using counters to count objects
When counting objects we can place the counter after the object we are counting.
| I want three photos. |
写真三枚がほしいです。 syasin sanmai ga hosii desu. |
| There are four plates. |
皿四枚があります。 sara yonmai ga arimasu. |
Lesson contributors
Erik