頭(とう)

とう
counter
counter for large animals
1. counter for large animals
A counter used to count large animals such as cattle, horses, elephants, whales, and other sizable creatures. Generally used for animals larger than a person's arms can hold.
牛(うし)が3頭(とう)いる。
There are three cows.
動物園(どうぶつえん)に象(ぞう)が2頭(とう)いる。
There are two elephants at the zoo.
この牧場(ぼくじょう)では馬(うま)を50頭(とう)ほど飼(か)っている。
This ranch keeps about fifty horses.

COUNTING:
1頭(とう) (いっとう), 2頭(とう) (にとう), 3頭(とう) (さんとう), 4頭(とう) (よんとう), 5頭(とう) (ごとう), 6頭(とう) (ろくとう), 7頭(とう) (ななとう), 8頭(とう) (はっとう), 9頭(とう) (きゅうとう), 10頭(とう) (じゅっとう)

USAGE:
Used for large animals: cattle, horses, elephants, whales, gorillas, etc. For smaller animals like dogs, cats, and rabbits, use 匹(ひき). For birds, use 羽(わ). The dividing line between 頭(とう) and 匹(ひき) is roughly whether the animal is bigger than a person can carry. Insects and butterflies counted with 頭(とう) in scientific contexts.

SIMILAR COUNTERS:

  • 匹(ひき): for small and medium animals
  • 羽(わ): for birds
  • 尾(び): for fish (formal/technical)

Related Words

Related: 頭(あたま) (different reading)

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Added 2026.3.20 10:07
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