The native-number series with つ is a useful general way to count things.

The idea

From one to nine the forms are ひとつ, ふたつ, みっつ, よっつ, いつつ, むっつ, ななつ, やっつ and ここのつ. Ten is とお, without つ. Ask いくつ for “how many?”

Patterns to compare
FormReading
一つひとつ
二つふたつ
三つみっつ
四つよっつ
五ついつつ
六つむっつ
七つななつ
八つやっつ
九つここのつ
十とお
いくついくつ

Examples

  • りんごを一ひとつください。One apple, please.
  • パンが二ふたつありますよ。There are two rolls.
  • ケーキを三みっつ買かいます。I will buy three cakes.
  • 卵たまごを四よっつ使つかいます。I use four eggs.
  • 質問しつもんが五いつつありますよ。I have five questions.
  • 荷物にもつは九ここのつですね。There are nine pieces of luggage, right?

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not add つ to the ordinary numbers いち, に and さん. The series is mainly used up to ten; people normally take the counter 人 instead.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct form: One apple, please. 「一つ」の読よみ方かたは？（ひとつ／いつつ）

    Show answer or example answer

    ひとつ

    一つ is ひとつ, the native form for one thing.

  2. Choose the correct form: I will buy three cakes. 「三つ」の読よみ方かたは？（みっつ／みつ）

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    みっつ

    三つ is みっつ, with a small っ before つ.

  3. Choose the correct form: I use four eggs. 「四つ」の読よみ方かたは？（よっつ／よんつ）

    Show answer or example answer

    よっつ

    四つ is よっつ, also with a small っ.

Use it today

Count a few pieces of fruit, then ask a partner how many they have.