1.
counter word, counter suffix, numerical classifier
A grammatical term for the suffixes attached to numbers when counting things in Japanese. Different counters are used depending on what is being counted — flat things, long things, people, animals, etc. Also called 数え方 informally.
A linguistic term that learners of Japanese encounter frequently. Common counters include 枚 (flat things), 本 (long things), 匹 (small animals), 冊 (books), 台 (machines/vehicles), and 杯 (cups/glasses). Knowing which counter to use with which object is one of the distinctive challenges of Japanese.