頭(とう)

とう
counter
counter for large animals
animal-general
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 patterns

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 words

Related Words

Related: 頭(あたま) (different reading)
Related: 匹(ひき) (counter for small animals)
Related: 羽(わ) (counter for birds and rabbits)
Compare: 尾(び) (for fish)

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general
Added 2026.3.20 10:07 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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