Welcome to Day 26 of our 100-Day Japanese Challenge, designed for adult English speakers aiming to conquer JLPT N5 prep!
Today, we’re zooming in on a fun and specific aspect of learn Japanese for beginners: counting animals. Whether it’s cats, dogs, or even elephants, Japanese has unique counters for animals that’ll make your speech sound natural and polished.
Counting animals in Japanese isn’t just about numbers—it’s about using the right counter to match the animal’s size or type.
Let’s make counting critters as fun as a visit to a Japanese zoo!
Why Animal Counters Matter
In Japanese, counters (josūshi) are essential for specifying what you’re counting, and animals have their own set of rules. Using the wrong counter, like saying ねこ いちにん (neko ichi-nin) for “one cat,” sounds unnatural because にん is for people, not pets!
On the JLPT N5, you’ll need to recognize and use counters in reading and listening sections, especially in everyday scenarios like talking about pets or wildlife.
The ひき (Hiki) Counter: Small Animals
The ひき counter is used for small animals like cats, dogs, fish, and insects.
It’s a staple for JLPT N5 and one of the most versatile counters for animals. Here’s how numbers 1–10 pair with ひき, including pronunciation changes:
| Number | Standard Reading | ひき Counter Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | いち (ichi) | いっぴき (ippiki) |
| 2 | に (ni) | にひき (nihiki) |
| 3 | さん (san) | さんびき (sanbiki) |
| 4 | よん (yon) | よんひき (yonhiki) |
| 5 | ご (go) | ごひき (gohiki) |
| 6 | ろく (roku) | ろっぴき (roppiki) |
| 7 | なな (nana) | ななひき (nanahiki) |
| 8 | はち (hachi) | はっぴき (happiki) |
| 9 | きゅう (kyuu) | きゅうひき (kyuuhiki) |
| 10 | じゅう (juu) | じゅっぴき (juppiki) |
Key Notes:
- Pronunciation shifts like いち → いっぴき or ろく → ろっぴき are common with ひき due to sound changes that make speech flow naturally.
- Use ひき for small animals you’d typically see in daily life, like ねこ (neko, cat) or いぬ (inu, dog).
Other Animal Counters: とう, わ, and More
While ひき covers small animals, larger animals or specific contexts use different counters:
とう (tou): For large animals like elephants, tigers, or cows.
Example: ぞう いっとう (zou ittou, “one elephant”).
わ (wa): For birds and sometimes rabbits, reflecting the sound of wings.
Example: とり いちわ (tori ichiwa, “one bird”).
For JLPT N5 prep, focus on ひき, as it’s the most tested animal counter. We’ll touch on とう and わ in later days for advanced scenarios.
Vocabulary: Animals to Count
Here’s a JLPT N5-friendly list of animals to practice counting:
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ねこ | neko | Cat |
| いぬ | inu | Dog |
| とり | tori | Bird |
| さかな | sakana | Fish |
| むし | mushi | Insect |
| ぞう | zou | Elephant |
| うさぎ | usagi | Rabbit |
Try pairing these with counters: ねこ いっぴき (neko ippiki, “one cat”), とり にわ (tori niwa, “two birds”).
Grammar Point: How to Use Animal Counters
As discussed on Day 24, the verbs います (imasu) is used for living things, such as people or animals, to indicate their presence in a particular place.
Basic Structure:
[Animal] が [Number + Counter] います。
Examples:
- いぬ が さんびき います (inu ga sanbiki imasu) – “There are three dogs.”
- さかな が ごひき います (sakana ga gohiki imasu) – “There are five fish.”
- ぞう が いっとう います (zou ga ittou imasu) – “There is one elephant.”
Asking “How Many?”
To inquire about the number of animals, use なん (nan, “what/how”) .
Examples:
- ねこ は なんびき いますか？ (neko wa nanbiki imasu ka?) – “How many cats are there?”
- とり は なんわ いますか？ (tori wa nanwa imasu ka?) – “How many birds are there?”
The か (ka) particle makes it a question, and います adds politeness.
Practice: Correct Counter Combinations
Let’s practice with the interactive exercise for JLPT N5 prep.
Day 26 Quiz: Counting Animals with Counters and います
1. ねこ が ____ います。 (There is one cat.)
2. Translate to Japanese: “There are two dogs.”
3. さかな が ____ いますか？ (How many fish are there?)
4. Translate to English: とり が さんわ います。
5. ぞう が ____ います。 (There is one elephant.)
6. Translate to Japanese: “How many birds are there?”
7. むし が ____ います。 (There are eight insects.)
8. Translate to English: うさぎ が にわ います。
9. いぬ は ____ いますか？ (How many dogs are there?)
10. Translate to Japanese: “There are four fish.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Here are pitfalls to watch out for in learn Japanese for beginners:
- Wrong Counter for Animal Size:
- Mistake: ぞう いっぴき (zou ippiki, “one elephant”).
- Correction: ぞう いっとう (zou ittou). Use とう for large animals.
- Using にん for Animals:
- Mistake: ねこ さんにん (neko sannin, “three cats”).
- Correction: ねこ さんびき (neko sanbiki). にん is only for people.
- Mixing General and Specific Counters:
- Mistake: さかな みっつ (sakana mittsu, “three fish”).
- Correction: さかな さんびき (sakana sanbiki). Use ひき for animals in formal or JLPT contexts.
Conclusion and Call-to-Action
You’re now a pro at counting animals with ひき, とう, and わ! These counters are your ticket to sounding natural and acing JLPT N5 prep. Try counting animals around you: your pet (ねこ にひき, “two cats”), birds outside (とり よんわ, “four birds”), or even fish in an aquarium (さかな ろっぴき, “six fish”).
For extra practice, watch a Japanese animal documentary or anime (like Chi’s Sweet Home) and listen for counters. Tomorrow, we’ll build on this with more advanced counters for objects. Keep up the momentum in your learn Japanese for beginners journey!
Loved this lesson? Subscribe to our newsletter for daily JLPT N5 tips, exclusive worksheets, and progress trackers. Share this article with your study buddies to build a community of Japanese learners. What’s your favorite animal to count in Japanese? Comment below in hiragana (e.g., ねこ いっぴき)!
See you on Day 27!
