羽(わ)

わ

counter

birds, rabbits

1. birds, rabbits

A counter for birds and rabbits. Historically, rabbits were counted with this counter because monks could eat rabbit meat if they called them 'birds.'

鳥(とり)が二(に)羽(わ)いる。

There are two birds.

庭(にわ)に鳥(とり)が五(ご)羽(わ)います。

There are five birds in the garden.

一(いち)羽(わ)のにわとりが卵(たまご)を産(う)みました。

One chicken laid an egg.

うさぎを三(さん)羽(ば)飼(か)っています。

I have three rabbits.

昨日(きのう)公園(こうえん)で白(しろ)い鳥(とり)を六(ろっ)羽(ぱ)見(み)ましたが、今日(きょう)は一(いち)羽(わ)もいませんでした。

Yesterday I saw six white birds in the park, but today there wasn't even one.

羽(わ) is specifically for birds and rabbits. Pronunciation varies: 一(いち)羽(わ), 二(に)羽(わ), 三(さん)羽(ば/わ), 六(ろっ)羽(ぱ), 八(はっ)羽(ぱ), 十(じゅっ)羽(ぱ). The origin of counting rabbits with this counter is said to come from Buddhist monks who wanted to eat meat; by calling rabbits 'birds,' they could justify eating them.

basic

Added 2026.1.7 21:57 · Revised 2026.2.21 23:01

01000/01007_wa