〜個(こ)

Counting patterns

• 一個(いっこ) (1) - sound change
• 二個(にこ) (2)
• 三個(さんこ) (3)
• 四個(よんこ) (4)
• 五個(ごこ) (5)
• 六個(ろっこ) (6) - sound change
• 七個(ななこ) (7)
• 八個(はっこ) (8) - sound change
• 九個(きゅうこ) (9)
• 十個(じゅっこ) (10) - sound change
• 何個(なんこ): how many?

Usage

Typical things counted: りんご、卵(たまご)、ボール、箱(はこ)、お菓子(かし)、石(いし)
This is one of the most versatile counters in Japanese. When unsure which counter to use for small objects, 〜個(こ) is often acceptable.

Similar words

• ひとつ, ふたつ … (the native 〜つ series) count the same small objects up to ten and are more common in everyday speech for small numbers: りんごをふたつください. Above ten, 〜個(こ) is the usual choice.