We all know the easy way to count in Japanese even if we're not, ichi ni san yon go roku... etc.

But there's the other way, and I want to know what the purpose of this other way is?? Is it to enumerate?

By the other way I mean like hitotsu, futatsu, mittsu, etc

There are different ways to count different things, just like in the Chinese language.

Ikko, niko, sanko, yonko....
Hitotu, futatu, mittu, yottu....
Ippon, nihon, sanbon, yonhon....
Ichidai, nidai, sandai, yondai....
Issao, nisao, sansao, yonsao....
Ichimai, nimai, sanmai, yonmai....
Ippatu, nihatu, sanpatu, yonhatu....
Ichidan, nidan, sandan, yondan......
Ikkyuu, nikyuu, sankyuu, yonkyuu....

The list is almost infinite.

Can you please explain the more common ones and what they mean?

What those all meants about?? Please translation to English !!! Thanks...



RockHeart,




:genius:

this is what i think:
hitotsu, futatsu, etc - counting
itsupiki, nihiki, etc - animals
ichimai, nimai, etc - counting flat objects(paper, etc)
itsupon, etc - pencil, pen, needle, etc
itsusatsu, etc - books
ichidai, etc - automobile
itsuko, etc - vegies + fruits

or atleast thats wut i was taught by my teacher

I thank you so much guy!!! I will ask you again next time...



RockHeart,



:genius:

Close, but not exactly.

hitotu, futatu, mittu AND ikko, niko, sanko are commonly used when you don't know what the appropriate counting method is or when there is no counting method for that object.

ichidai, nidai, sandai is used for counting big electronic things like cars, computers, and television

ippon, nihon, sanbon ---> cylindrical objects
ippiki, nihiki, sanbiki ----> certain animals like dogs and cats
ichiwa, niwa, sanwa -----> birds
ichimai, nimai, sanmai ----> sheets, like paper and window panes
ikkyuu, nikyuu, sankyuu AND ichidan, nidan, sandan ----> used to count ranks