Counting letters and messages with 通

The idea

Put a number before 通: 一通 is いっつう, 二通 is につう and 三通 is さんつう. Eight is はっつう; ten is じゅっつう or じっつう. Ask 何通（なんつう）. The quantity can follow the object, as in 手紙を一通送りました.

Examples

• 友達ともだちに手紙てがみを一通いっつう送おくりました。I sent a letter to a friend.
• 今日きょうはメールを二通につう受うけ取とりました。I received two emails today.
• 先生せんせいから三通さんつうのメールが届とどきました。Three emails arrived from the teacher.
• 祖母そぼに葉書はがきを一通いっつう書かきました。I wrote a postcard to my grandmother.
• 昨日きのう、応募おうぼメールを十通じゅっつう送おくりました。Yesterday I sent ten application emails.
• 手紙てがみは何通なんつう来きましたか。How many letters arrived?

Watch out

通 counts messages as units, not the sheets of paper they contain. Use 枚 to count the individual sheets instead.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading in hiragana: 一通

   Show answer or example answer

   いっつう

   一通 is いっつう: いち contracts and a small っ precedes つう.

2. Write the reading in hiragana: 十通

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   じゅっつう / じっつう

   十通 is じゅっつう or じっつう: both readings contain a small っ.

3. Write the reading in hiragana: 何通

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   なんつう

   何通 is なんつう, used to ask how many messages or letters.

Use it today

Count some emails or letters with 通, then ask how many arrived.