足 counts pairs of shoes or socks; 組 counts groups and sets whose members belong together.
The idea
Put the quantity before the counter: 一足 is いっそく, 二足 にそく and 三足 さんぞく. Ask 何足（なんぞく）. For groups, 一組 is ひとくみ, 二組 ふたくみ and 三組 さんくみ. 二人一組 means a group of two people.
| Form | Reading |
|---|---|
| 一足 | いっそく |
| 二足 | にそく |
| 三足 | さんぞく |
| 何足 | なんぞく |
| 一組 | ひとくみ |
| 二組 | ふたくみ |
| 三組 | さんくみ |
| 四組 | よんくみ |
Examples
- 靴を一足買いました。I bought one pair of shoes.
- 玄関に靴が二足あります。There are two pairs of shoes at the entrance.
- 靴下を三足持っていきます。I will take three pairs of socks.
- 何足の靴が必要ですか。How many pairs of shoes do you need?
- 二人一組で話してください。Please talk in pairs.
- 茶碗と箸を一組用意しました。I prepared one set of a rice bowl and chopsticks.
- 参加者は四組に分かれました。The participants divided into four groups.
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Watch out
A pair of shoes is 一足, not two 足: count the pair as one unit. 一組 need not contain exactly two things; it can be a set or a larger group.
Try it yourself
「一足」の読み方をひらがなで書いてください。
Show answer or example answer
いっそく
一足 is いっそく: いち contracts before そく to produce a small っ.
「三足」の読み方をひらがなで書いてください。
Show answer or example answer
さんぞく
三足 is さんぞく: そく becomes voiced after さん.
二人＿で話してください。（一組）
Show answer or example answer
一組
一組 completes 二人一組, meaning one group of two people.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
「一足」の読み方をひらがなで書いてください。
「三足」の読み方をひらがなで書いてください。
二人＿で話してください。（一組）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Count your shoes in pairs, then describe a group or set using 組.