回(かい)

かい
counter
times (frequency)
1. times, occurrences
A counter for number of times or frequency of events. Used to count how many times something happens or has happened.
一(いち)日(にち)に三(さん)回(かい)薬(くすり)を飲(の)んでください。
Please take the medicine three times a day.
日本(にほん)には何(なん)回(かい)行(い)きましたか。
How many times have you been to Japan?
もう一(いっ)回(かい)言(い)ってください。
Please say it one more time.
Note: いっかい with small っ
今(いま)週(しゅう)はもう二(に)回(かい)映画(えいが)を見(み)ました。
I've already seen two movies this week.
一(いっ)回(かい)しか会(あ)ったことがないのに、友達(ともだち)になりました。
We became friends even though we only met once.

回(かい) is the standard counter for occurrences, repetitions, or frequency.

COUNTING:

  • 一(いっ)回(かい): once (note: いっかい with small っ)
  • 二(に)回(かい): twice
  • 三(さん)回(かい): three times
  • 何(なん)回(かい): how many times?

PRONUNCIATION NOTE:
一回(いっかい) uses gemination (small っ). It is NOT read いちかい.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • もう一(いっ)回(かい): one more time
  • 毎回(まいかい): every time
  • 初回(しょかい): first time/round
  • 今回(こんかい): this time
  • 次回(じかい): next time

USAGE:
Often used with 〜に(に) to show frequency: 週(しゅう)に三(さん)回(かい) (three times a week).

basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:25 · Revised 2026.2.21 10:10
00500/00957_kai