How to Count Food, Dishes and Drinks in Japanese

食べ物や 飲み物の 数え方
(たべものや のみものの かぞえかた)

In Japanese, most nouns don’t have plural forms. Instead, there are different counters depending on what you are counting. Learn how to count food and drinks in Japanese.

一品、二品
いっぴん、にひん (ippin, nihin)
品: counter for dishes (ex: oden)
一人前、二人前
いちにんまえ、ににんまえ (ichininmae, nininmae)
人前: counter for the same dishes (一人前 = a portion for one)
一枚、二枚
いちまい、にまい (ichimai, nimai)
枚: counter for thin items (ex: plate)
一膳、二膳
いちぜん、にぜん (ichizen, nizen)
善: counter for chopsticks
一膳、二膳
いちぜん、にぜん (ichizen, nizen)
膳: counter for bowls of rice
一個、二個
いっこ、にこ (ikko, niko)
個: counter for small items (ex: riceball)
一貫、二貫
いっかん、にかん (ikkan, nikan)
貫: counter for sushi
一枚、二枚
いちまい、にまい (ichimai, nimai)
枚: counter for thin items (ex: dried seaweed)
一杯、二杯
いっぱい、にはい (ippai, nihai)
杯: counter for drinks
一合、二合
いちごう、にごう (ichigō, nigō)
合: counter for sake bottles
一杯、二杯
いっぱい、にはい (ippai, nihai)
杯: counter for bowls of ramen (or any soup)
一玉、二玉
ひとたま、ふたたま (hitotama, futatama)
玉: counter for noodle servings
一本、二本
いっぽん、にほん (ippon, nihon)
本: counter for long, cylindrical items (ex: dango on a stick)

That was 13 flashcards!

Listen to how the sounds of the counters change from one to ten in the video:

 

Review Quiz

Q: How do you count bowls of rice?

(A: Scroll back to the rice flashcard and flip for the answer.)


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  1. […] Nihongo Flashcards: Learn a few more great counters with these interactive flashcards! […]

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