匹 counts small animals such as cats, dogs, fish and insects.
The idea
Put a number before 匹: 一匹 is いっぴき, 二匹 にひき and 三匹 さんびき. Six is ろっぴき, eight はっぴき, and ten じゅっぴき or じっぴき. Ask 何匹（なんびき）. The quantity can follow the object, as in 犬を二匹飼っています.
| Form | Reading |
|---|---|
| 一匹 | いっぴき |
| 二匹 | にひき |
| 三匹 | さんびき |
| 四匹 | よんひき |
| 五匹 | ごひき |
| 六匹 | ろっぴき |
| 七匹 | ななひき |
| 八匹 | はっぴき |
| 九匹 | きゅうひき |
| 十匹 | じゅっぴき／じっぴき |
| 何匹 | なんびき |
Examples
- 庭に猫が一匹います。There is one cat in the garden.
- 犬を二匹飼っています。I have two dogs.
- 池で魚を三匹見ました。I saw three fish in the pond.
- 箱の中に虫が六匹います。There are six insects in the box.
- 公園で猫を八匹数えました。I counted eight cats in the park.
- 魚を何匹釣りましたか。How many fish did you catch?
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Watch out
The initial sound of 匹 changes: 三匹 is さんびき, not さんひき. Large animals are often counted with 頭, so 匹 is not the only animal counter.
Try it yourself
「一匹」の読み方をひらがなで書いてください。
Show answer or example answer
いっぴき
一匹 is いっぴき: いち contracts and a small っ comes before ぴ.
「三匹」の読み方をひらがなで書いてください。
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さんびき
三匹 is さんびき: ひ changes to び after さん.
「六匹」の読み方をひらがなで書いてください。
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ろっぴき
六匹 is ろっぴき: ろく contracts and ひ becomes ぴ.
「何匹」の読み方をひらがなで書いてください。
Show answer or example answer
なんびき
何匹 is なんびき: use it to ask how many animals.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
「一匹」の読み方をひらがなで書いてください。
「三匹」の読み方をひらがなで書いてください。
「六匹」の読み方をひらがなで書いてください。
「何匹」の読み方をひらがなで書いてください。
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 animals in a picture with 匹, then ask how many fish someone caught.