Japanese - Classifiers
Japanese does have classifiers (or counters) that function similarly to the classifier system in Chinese, though they are not used as broadly or as frequently in everyday speech as they are in Mandarin Chinese.
The Japanese term for these classifiers is 助数詞 (josūshi), which literally means "auxiliary counter words."
The Japanese Classifier System
The core concept is the same as in Chinese: you cannot simply say "three apples" by putting the number before the noun. Instead, you must insert a specific classifier word appropriate for the object being counted.
The general structure is:
Noun (Optional) + Number + Classifier + Particle
Key Features and Examples
1. General Counters (Most Common)
For many everyday items, two counter systems are used, which are often the first to be learned:
- Native Japanese Counters (1-10): These are used for generic counting when the specific object is unknown, or for counting a few simple, unspecified items. They are also used for a few common items like apples or small, round things.
- ひとつ (hitotsu - one), ふたつ (futatsu - two), みっつ (mittsu - three), etc.
- The General Item Counter 個 (ko): Used for small, generic, or cubic items (e.g., fruit, soap, boxes). This is often the default choice when a speaker forgets the specific counter.
- みかんを 五個 (mikan o go ko - five oranges)
2. Specific Classifiers
The specific classifier you choose depends on the physical characteristics of the object being counted.
| Classifier | Pronunciation | Used For | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 本 | -hon (with sound changes) | Long, thin, cylindrical objects (pens, bottles, trees, umbrellas, roads, phone calls). | ペンを 三本 (pen o san-bon - three pens) |
| 枚 | -mai | Thin, flat objects (paper, stamps, shirts, tickets, plates). | 切手を 二枚 (kitte o ni mai - two stamps) |
| 匹 | -hiki (with sound changes) | Small animals, insects, and fish. | 猫を 一匹 (neko o ippiki - one cat) |
| 頭 | -tō | Large animals (cows, elephants, horses). | 象を 一頭 (zō o ittō - one elephant) |
| 台 | -dai | Machinery, vehicles, and appliances (cars, TVs, bicycles, computers). | 車を 四台 (kuruma o yon dai - four cars) |
| 階 | -kai | Floors of a building. | 三階 (san kai - third floor) |
| 冊 | -satsu | Bound volumes (books, magazines, notebooks). | 本を 五冊 (hon o go satsu - five books) |
Sound Changes (The Complication)
The most difficult part of the Japanese classifier system is the complex set of euphonic sound changes (rendaku) that occur when the number combines with the classifier.
- The h sound often changes to p or b.
- 一 (ichi - 1) + 本 (hon) → いっぽん (ippon)
- 三 (san - 3) + 本 (hon) → さんぼん (sanbon)
- 六 (roku - 6) + 本 (hon) → ろっぽん (roppon)
These sound changes must be memorized for each counter word.
Conclusion
While the concept of classifiers is shared with Chinese, the Japanese system is characterized by the following:
- Sound Changes: The mandatory phonetic changes based on the preceding number.
- Native Counters: The use of the native Japanese ひと-/ふた- system (1-10) for general counting.
- Frequency of Omission: In casual speech, the entire counting expression is sometimes omitted if the number is clear from the context (e.g., in a restaurant, a single item is ordered without saying "one item").