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〜枚

counter for flat things

一枚, 二枚, 三枚 … (まい)

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枚 counts flat, thin things: sheets of paper, tickets, photos, shirts, plates, stamps.

Unlike 本, it has no sound changes: いちまい, にまい, さんまい, よんまい, ごまい… and 何枚 is なんまい.

The choice of counter comes from the shape, not the category, so a shirt is 一枚 (it's flat when folded) while trousers are often 一本 (long). When you don't know the counter, つ is almost always understood, but the right counter sounds natural and is worth picking up as you go.

Examples

  • 切符きっぷを二枚にまいください。

    Two tickets, please.

  • 紙かみを一枚いちまいください。

    Could I have a sheet of paper?

  • 写真しゃしんを五枚ごまい撮とりました。

    I took five photos.

  • シャツを三枚さんまい買かいました。

    I bought three shirts.

  • お皿さらは何枚なんまいいりますか。

    How many plates do you need?

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