How many? How long? Lesson 11 is the counting lesson. You'll learn the counter words for people, flat objects, and general items, plus time-duration expressions. This is the vocabulary that makes your Japanese precise.

Lesson 10 let you say what exists somewhere — this lesson adds the numbers and counters to say how many.

These words come from Minna no Nihongo, one of the most widely used Japanese textbooks for beginners. Each word here includes furigana readings, English meanings, example sentences, and native audio to help you review and practice alongside the textbook.

How to use this page

Every kanji in the word column is tappable — it opens a page showing every word that shares that character, so you can start noticing patterns across lessons. Tap a word's romaji or meaning to see example sentences where related vocabulary is linked for easy cross-reference.

You can switch between four Japanese voices (two male, two female) using the speaker button at the bottom of the screen, and change the Japanese font from the navigation bar to get comfortable reading different typefaces.

WordRomajiMeaningAudio
います[()どもが~]imasu [kodomoga~]have [a child]
います[(にほ)()に~]imasu [nihonni~]stay, be [in Japan]
かかりますkakarimasutake, cost (referring to time or money)
(やす)みます[(かい)(しゃ)を~]yasumimasu [kaishawo~]take a day off [work]
1つhitotsuone (used when counting things)
2つfutatsutwo
3つmittsuthree
4つyottsufour
5つitsutsufive
6つmuttsusix
7つnanatsuseven
8つyattsueight
9つkokonotsunine
10tooten
いくつikutsuhow many
(とり)hitorione person
(たり)futaritwo people
(にん)-nin- people
(だい)-dai(counter for machines, cars, etc.)
(まい)-mai(counter for paper, stamps, etc.)
(かい)-kai- times
りんごringoapple
みかんmikanmandarin orange
サンドイッチsandoitchisandwich
カレー[ライス]karē [raisu]curry [with rice]
アイスクリームaisukuriimuice cream
(きっ)()kittepostage stamp
はがきhagakipostcard
(ふう)(とう)fūtōenvelope
(りょう)(しん)ryōshinparents
(きょう)(だい)kyōdaibrothers and sisters
(あに)ani(my) elder brother
(にい)さんoniisan(someone else's) elder brother
(あね)ane(my) elder sister
(ねえ)さんonēsan(someone else's) elder sister
(おとうと)otōto(my) younger brother
(おとうと)さんotōtosan(someone else's) younger brother
(いもうと)imōto(my) younger sister
(いもうと)さんimōtosan(someone else's) younger sister
(がい)(こく)gaikokuforeign country
(りゅう)(がく)(せい)ryūgakuseiforeign student
クラスkurasuclass
(じか)()-jikan- hour(s)
(しゅう)(かん)-shūkan- week(s)
-か(げつ)-kagetsu- month(s)
(ねん)-nen- year(s)
~ぐらい~guraiabout ~
どのくらいdonokuraihow long
(ぜん)()zenbudein total
みんなminnaall, everything, everyone
~だけ~dakeonly ~
かしこまりました。kashikomarimashita.Certainly, (Sir/Madam)
いい[お](てん)()ですね。ii [o] tenkidesune.Nice weather, isn't it?
()かけですか。odekakedesuka.Are you going out?
ちょっと ~まで。chotto ~made.I'm just going to ~.
()ってらっしゃい。itterasshai.See you later./So long. (lit. Go and come back.)
()って きます。itte kimasu.See you later./So long. (lit. I'm going and coming back.)
(ふな)便(びん)funabinsea mail
(こう)(くう)便(びん)(エアメール)kōkūbin (eamēru)airmail
(ねが)いします。onegaishimasu.Please. (lit. ask for a favour)
オーストラリアōsutorariaAustralia