So you think you can count?
Vocab hacks!
Kanji breakdown:
Do you see a pattern with the kanji? That's right! Every counter has a number and the character 人 (にん). This character means person or people!
So: number + 人 = number of people! For example:
三人 (さんにん)can be broken down into:
三(さん) = 3
人(にん) = people
Therefore:
三(さん)+ 人(にん)= 三人 (さんにん)= 3 people!
Irregular vocab:
Notice how the first two counters are different to all the others. Why? Why not! Japanese, like all languages, has its own little quirks and irregularities and this is just one of them. Try to remember that 一人 (ひとり) and 二人 (ふたり) are pronounced a little different to what their more numerous neighbours suggest.
Kanji breakdown:
Do you see a pattern with the kanji? That's right! Every counter has a number and the character 人 (にん). This character means person or people!
So: number + 人 = number of people! For example:
三人 (さんにん)can be broken down into:
三(さん) = 3
人(にん) = people
Therefore:
三(さん)+ 人(にん)= 三人 (さんにん)= 3 people!
Irregular vocab:
Notice how the first two counters are different to all the others. Why? Why not! Japanese, like all languages, has its own little quirks and irregularities and this is just one of them. Try to remember that 一人 (ひとり) and 二人 (ふたり) are pronounced a little different to what their more numerous neighbours suggest.
Activity
Watch, listen, and sing along to this super fun video. Bonus points if you add some creative dance moves!
In your notebooks, complete the following questions.
Translate the following into English:
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Translate the following into Japanese:
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Things to remember!
*** Please write this down in your notebook ***
Counting people in Japanese
- General rule: number + 人 (にん) = number of people
- Remember the two irregular counters!
- 一人 (ひとり) = one person
- 二人 (ふたり) = two people
Got that vocabulary down?
Great job! Move on to Module 2.2.