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〜つ

general counter (one, two, three things)

一つ, 二つ, 三つ … 九つ, 十

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Japanese doesn't count things with bare numbers; it adds a counter. The all-purpose one uses the old native numbers plus つ:

ひとつ, ふたつ, みっつ, よっつ, いつつ, むっつ, ななつ, やっつ, ここのつ, and とお for ten (no つ).

It works for most things that don't have a special counter, and it's the safe choice when ordering: コーヒーを二つください. Past ten, you switch to the ordinary numbers with 個 (じゅういっこ).

The counter usually goes after the thing and its particle, right before the verb: りんごを三つ買いました, "I bought three apples".

Examples

  • りんごを三みっつください。

    Three apples, please.

  • 部屋へやに椅子いすが四よっつあります。

    There are four chairs in the room.

  • 質問しつもんが一ひとつあります。

    I have one question.

  • コーヒーを二ふたつお願ねがいします。

    Two coffees, please.

  • 箱はこの中なかに卵たまごが六むっつあります。

    There are six eggs in the box.

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