XはYです

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Here are the key points of this lesson: Omission of the subject (Xは) Using 'は' for clarity Nouns in Japanese” Omission of the subject (Xは) In Japanese, sentences often omit subjects when the context makes them clear, unlike in English where subjects like "I" or "it" are typically included.  For example, "I am a student," "My major is Japanese language," and "It is 12:30" translate into Japanese as "がくせいです," "にほんごです," and "12じはんです," respectively, without direct subjects. Using 'は' for clarity If the context doesn't provide clarity, Japanese sentences can start with a topic marked by "wa" (は in hiragana), indicating "As for X, it is Y.” For example,  “わたしは がくせいです" (As for me, I am a student), “せんこうは にほんごです" (As for my major, it is Japanese language), and "じかんは12じはんです" (As for the current time, it is 12:30). The particle "wa" (は), used to denote ...
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24. Can you say "how many apple are there in the box?" in Japanese?

 24. Counting Objects and People in Japanese


Counting objects and people is an essential skill in Japanese. This article will explore the structure pattern of "Number+Counter あります(arimasu)/います(imasu)” used to inquire about quantities and provide answers accordingly.

To ask how many things or people/animals are in a certain place, we use the pattern “Introgative+Counter ありますか(arimasuka)/いますか(imasuka)” Let's look at some examples:

A: 箱の中にりんごがいくつありますか。 Hako no naka ni ringo ga ikutsu arimasuka? 
How many apples are there in the box?
B: (箱の中にりんごが) ８つあります。  (Hako no naka ni ringo ga) 8 tsu arimasu.
There are 8 apples (in the box).

A: 机の上に本が何冊ありますか。 Tsukue n oue ni hon ga nan satsu arimasuka?  How many books are there on the desk?
B: (机の上に) ７冊あります。(Tsukue n oue ni) hon ga nana satsu arimasu.  There are 7 books on the desk.

A: 教室に学生が何人いますか。Kyōshitsu ni gakusē ga nan nin imasuka?
How many students are there in the classroom?
B:  (教室に) ６人います。(kyōshitsu ni gakusē ga) roku nin imasu. 
There are 6 students (in the classroom).

A: 箱の中に虫が何匹いますか。Hako no naka ni mushi ga nan biki imasuka?
How many bugs are there in the box?
B: (箱の中に虫が) ５匹います。(Hako no naka ni mushi ga） go hiki imasu. 
There are 5 bugs (in the box).


It's important to note the order of words. The counter comes after particles. For example:

Wrong: 机の上に本三冊があります。Tsukueno ueni hon san satsu ga arimasu.
Correct: 机の上に本が三冊あります。tsukue no ue ni hon ga san satsu arimasu.


Japanese has various counters, and the specific counter used depends on what is being counted. Here are some examples:

For general objects: -つ (-tsu) e.g., いくつ(ikutsu), ななつ(nanatsu)
For books: -冊/さつ(-satsu) e.g., ななさつ(nanasatsu)
For people: -人/にん(-nin) e.g., ろくにん (rokunin)
For animals: -匹/ひき(-hiki) e.g., ごひき (gohiki)
Note that the counter words (冊, 人, 匹) are normally written in kanji.

Keep in mind that sometimes the pronunciation of the counter may change depending on the number preceding it. For example, the pronunciation of the counter -にん changes to -り when the preceding number is 1 and 2. 1にん→ひとり、2にん→ふたり

Refer to the following list for more details on counters and their pronunciations:



Mastering counting with counters will enhance your communication skills in various situations. Practice using these patterns to convey quantities in Japanese conversations accurately.

Location: Japan

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