助数詞

Japanese

Etymology

Kanji in this term
助	数	詞
じょ Grade: 3	すう Grade: 2	し Grade: 6
on'yomi

Alternative spelling
助數詞 (kyūjitai)

助 (jo, “help”) +‎ 数詞 (sūshi, “numeral”)

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) じょすうし [jòsúꜜùshì] (Nakadaka – [2])^[1]^[2]^[3]
IPA^(key): [d͡ʑo̞sɨːɕi]

Noun

助(じょ)数(すう)詞(し) • (josūshi)

(grammar) counter word, a Japanese part of speech

Usage notes

In Japanese, numerals cannot quantify nouns by themselves, except in certain cases for the numbers from one to ten (and then only using the forms ending in -tsu, such as hitotsu or futatsu). Instead, 助数詞 (“counter words”) are used after the number to count objects and events.

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

犬二(いぬに)匹(ひき)
inu nihiki
"two dogs" (literally "dog two-small-animal")

References

^ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
^ NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN
^ Kindaichi, Kyōsuke et al., editors (1997), 新明解国語辞典 [Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten] (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

2002, Ineko Kondō; Fumi Takano; Mary E Althaus; et. al., Shogakukan Progressive Japanese-English Dictionary, Third Edition, Tokyo: Shōgakukan, →ISBN.

[DJR-1] Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[NHK-2] NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN

[SMK5-3] Kindaichi, Kyōsuke et al., editors (1997), 新明解国語辞典 [Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten] (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

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