HomeJapaneseIs it important to learn the numerals? Im will stay in Japan for 1 year and when im going to a Cafe im asking myself is it not ok to just use 一つ? Sounds it that weird to Japanese people, when i use the つ version on animals, or cars?
Is it important to learn the numerals? Im will stay in Japan for 1 year and when im going to a Cafe im asking myself is it not ok to just use 一つ? Sounds it that weird to Japanese people, when i use the つ version on animals, or cars?
Is it important to learn the numerals? Im will stay in Japan for 1 year and when im going to a Cafe im asking myself is it not ok to just use 一つ? Sounds it that weird to Japanese people, when i use the つ version on animals, or cars?
Not a Japanese speaker, but Chinese also use counters so here’s my take on it: it depends I don’t think anyone will fault you if you don’t know the proper counter, but it will be a bit weird to not use them. Sorta like not using “der” or “die” in German
I am afraid those counters are important. For most small things つ or こ is ok in that that can understand what is meant, but for animals? No. For cars and appliances, marginally acceptable. For sheets of paper and pieces of clothing, No.
I’ve been in Japan since March and mostly I just use つ and コ/個 counters in my day to day getting food and drink. However in a lot of instances there are counters that are more correct and sound better.
With that attitude, just give up
On a day to day basis:
I use 一つ in a cafe or bar – native speakers do too. At least in my experience.
Plastic bags in convenience stores and tickets, I use 一枚.
And obviously 一人, 二人, etc for entering sit down restaurants.
Apart from that, I don’t really use any other counters because the opportunity doesn’t really arise that often.
You can use 〜つ counters for just about anything as long as the count is of something ten or less. People will probably know what your talking about, but it might sound a little weird if you don’t use correct counters for certain things. For sheets of paper and clothes use 〜まい/〜枚, for animals use 〜ひき/〜匹(there’s specific counters for birds, fish, and large animals, but most people will understand what you mean), for small objects use 〜こ/〜個(this includes luggage and chairs), for long cylindrical objects like pencils or bottles use 〜ほん/〜本(this includes streets and rivers for some reason), for people use 〜にん/〜人(remember that “one person” is ひとり/一人 and “two people” is ふたり/二人, while anything else after follows the 〜にん pattern), and yen is 〜えん/〜円. If I’m forgetting any big ones please let me know.
Edit: added 〜人 and 〜円.
Learn how to read them, you’ll learn how to use them with time, I’d say if you’re going to Japan soon just start by learning specific common use sentences and responses, and continue learning in Japan, the environment should expedite your progress. You absolutely need counters, but since they’re so important you’re bound to learn them eventually
Wie lernst du Japanisch auf Deutsch? Ich habe nie gute Sachen dafür gefunden
つfor animals and cars is weird. つ is for relatively small objects.
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Not a Japanese speaker, but Chinese also use counters so here’s my take on it: it depends
I don’t think anyone will fault you if you don’t know the proper counter, but it will be a bit weird to not use them. Sorta like not using “der” or “die” in German
I am afraid those counters are important. For most small things つ or こ is ok in that that can understand what is meant, but for animals? No.
For cars and appliances, marginally acceptable. For sheets of paper and pieces of clothing, No.
which app is this?
序数って日本人でも難しいよ。
大抵の寛容な人は
人 → にん
無機物 → こ
動物 → たい
で使い分けするだけで許してくれると思う。
I’ve been in Japan since March and mostly I just use つ and コ/個 counters in my day to day getting food and drink. However in a lot of instances there are counters that are more correct and sound better.
With that attitude, just give up
On a day to day basis:
I use 一つ in a cafe or bar – native speakers do too. At least in my experience.
Plastic bags in convenience stores and tickets, I use 一枚.
And obviously 一人, 二人, etc for entering sit down restaurants.
Apart from that, I don’t really use any other counters because the opportunity doesn’t really arise that often.
You can use 〜つ counters for just about anything as long as the count is of something ten or less. People will probably know what your talking about, but it might sound a little weird if you don’t use correct counters for certain things. For sheets of paper and clothes use 〜まい/〜枚, for animals use 〜ひき/〜匹(there’s specific counters for birds, fish, and large animals, but most people will understand what you mean), for small objects use 〜こ/〜個(this includes luggage and chairs), for long cylindrical objects like pencils or bottles use 〜ほん/〜本(this includes streets and rivers for some reason), for people use 〜にん/〜人(remember that “one person” is ひとり/一人 and “two people” is ふたり/二人, while anything else after follows the 〜にん pattern), and yen is 〜えん/〜円. If I’m forgetting any big ones please let me know.
Edit: added 〜人 and 〜円.
Learn how to read them, you’ll learn how to use them with time, I’d say if you’re going to Japan soon just start by learning specific common use sentences and responses, and continue learning in Japan, the environment should expedite your progress. You absolutely need counters, but since they’re so important you’re bound to learn them eventually
Wie lernst du Japanisch auf Deutsch? Ich habe nie gute Sachen dafür gefunden
つfor animals and cars is weird. つ is for relatively small objects.