Counting objects and the flat object counter 枚

The counter 枚

The counter 枚まい is used to count flat, thin objects like paper, photographs and plates. Note in the table below that when using the counter 枚まい 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.

JapaneseHiragana reading
one flat, thin object
一いち枚まいichimai
two flat, thin objects
二に枚まいnimai
three flat, thin objects
三さん枚まいsanmai
four flat, thin objects
四よん枚まいyonmai
five flat, thin objects
五ご枚まいgomai
six flat, thin objects
六ろく枚まいrokumai
seven flat, thin objects
七なな枚まいnanamai
eight flat, thin objects
八はち枚まいhachimai
nine flat, thin objects
九きゅう枚まいkyuumai
ten flat, thin objects
十じゅう枚まいjuumai

Using counters to count objects

When counting objects we can place the counter after the object we are counting.

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