Counting Things in Japanese using 本 hon

How to Count in Japanese – Part Five – Review Notes

There are many ways to count things in Japanese depending on the type of object being counted! In these review notes, we will look at how to count long, cylindrical objects using the Japanese counter 本 (hon).

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Today’s Counter is:

★　You can use the Japanese counter 本 (ほん – hon) to count long, cylindrical objects. For example, pens, bottles, umbrellas, neckties and trees are all counted using 本 (ほん – hon).

★　You might already know that the word 本 (ほん – hon) can mean “book.” However, when used as a counter, it does not mean “book.”

★　In fact, books are not counted using the counter 本 (ほん – hon); they are counted using the counter 冊 (satsu) which is used for counting bound objects.

★　When counting long, cylindrical obejects, all of the numbers end in -hon except the number 3 (which ends in -bon) and the numbers 1, 6, 8, and 10 (which end in -pon)

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Number 1:

★　The Japanese word for one (long, cylindrical object) is 一本 (いっぽん – ippon).

★　Be careful! The ending sound changes to a p-sound in the number one; 一本 is not spoken as (いちほん – ichihon)!

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Number 2:

★　The Japanese word for two (long, cylindrical objects) is 二本 (にほん – nihon).

★　Some of you might have noticed that this word looks similar to the word for Japan which is also nihon. However, the kanji is different! Japan is written 日本 (nihon) and two (long cylindrical objects) is written 二本 (nihon).

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Number 3:

★　The Japanese word for three (long, cylindrical objects) is 三本 (さんぼん – sanbon).

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Number 4:

★　The Japanese word for four (long, cylindrical objects) is 四本 (よんほん – yonhon).

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Number 5:

★　The Japanese word for five (long, cylindrical objects) is 五本 (ごほん – gohon).

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Number 6:

★　The Japanese word for six (long, cylindrical objects) is 六本 (ろっぽん – roppon).

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Number 7:

★　The Japanese word for seven (long, cylindrical objects) is 七本 (ななほん – nanahon).

★　Another way to say it is: 七本 (しちほん – shichihon).

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Number 8:

★　The Japanese word for eight (long, cylindrical objects) is 八本 (はっぽん – happon).

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Number 9:

★　The Japanese word for nine (long, cylindrical objects) is 九本 (きゅうほん – kyuuhon).

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Number 10:

★　The Japanese word for ten (long, cylindrical objects) is 十本 (じゅっぽん – juppon).

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Counting Past 10:

★　To count more than 10 long, cylindrical objects, refer to the numbers below. Try to notice the pattern! (11 is 10 and 1, 12 is 10 and 2, etc.)

　　　十一本　　　　11本 　　　jūippon

　　　十二本　　　　12本 　　　jūnihon

　　　十三本　　　　13本 　　　jūsanbon

　　　十四本　　　　14本　 　　jūyonhon

　　　十五本　　　　15本　 　　jūgohon

　　　十六本　　　　16本　　 　jūroppon

　　　十七本　　　　17本　　 　jūnanahon

　　　十八本　　　　18本　　　jūhappon

　　　十九本　　　　19本　　 　jūkyūhon

　　　二十本　　　　20本　　 　nijuppon

　　　二十一本　　　21本　　 　 nijūippon

　　　二十二本　　　22本　　 　nijūnihon

　　　二十三本　　　23本　　 　nijūsanbon

　　　二十四本　　　24本　　    nijūyonhon

　　　二十五本　　　25本　　 　nijūgohon

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Example Sentence 1:

ネクタイを二本買いました。

Nekutai o nihon kaimashita.

I bought two neckties.

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Example Sentence 2:

机にペンが三本あります

Tsukue ni pen ga sanbon arimasu.

There are three pens on the desk.

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Example Sentence 3:

ビールを六本飲みました。

Bīru o roppon nomimashita.

I drank six beers (in bottles).

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お箸は”本”と数えません！”膳”（ぜん-zen）と数えます \(◕ω◕)/☆

Conclusion:

Today we learned how to count long, cylindrical objects in Japanese! Check out more lessons on counting in Japanese below!

How to count flat, thin objects

How to count people

How to count small animals

How to count cars and other machines

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