助数詞

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 Japanese 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Noun 1.2.1 Usage notes 1.2.2 See also

[edit] Japanese

Kanji in this term
助	数	詞

[edit] Etymology

助 (jo), “‘help’”) +数 (sū), “‘number’”) +詞 (shi), “‘word’”)

[edit] Noun

助数詞 (hiragana じょすうし, romaji josūshi)

1. counter word, a Japanese part of speech

[edit] Usage notes

In Japanese, numerals cannot quantify nouns by themselves, except, in certain cases for the numbers from one to ten. Instead, 助数詞 (“‘counter words’”) follow a number to count objects and events.

For example, 匹 (hiki) is the counter for small animals:

• 犬二匹

  いぬにひき

  inu nihiki

  "two dogs" (literally "dog two-small-animal")

[edit] See also

• 類別詞 (ruibetsushi, るいべつし)