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

• On’yomi
• (Tokyo) じょす​うし [jòsúꜜùshì] (Nakadaka – [2])
• IPA^(key): [d͡ʑo̞sɨᵝːɕi]

Noun

助(じょ)数(すう)詞(し) • (josūshi) 

1. (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")

See also

• 類別詞(るいべつし) (ruibetsushi)

References

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