(きゃく)

きゃく
counter
counter for chairs and legged furniture
furniturenumber
1. counter for chairs, desks, and other legged furniture
Used to count furniture that stands on legs, above all chairs, and also desks, benches, and stepladders. In everyday speech many people use () or (だい) instead, but (きゃく) is the correct counter in shops, catalogs, and inventories.
椅子(いす)二脚(にきゃく)()った
I bought two chairs.
Thirty desks are lined up in the classroom.
I brought several more chairs from the next room to make up the shortage.

Written with the kanji for "leg," so it goes with furniture that has legs.

Counting patterns

  • 一脚(いっきゃく): one
  • 二脚(にきゃく): two
  • 三脚(さんきゃく): three
  • 六脚(ろっきゃく): six
  • 何脚(なんきゃく): how many

Similar words

  • (だい): counter for machines and large equipment — used for tables and furniture in casual speech
  • (): general counter for objects — often substituted for (きゃく) in conversation

Note that 三脚(さんきゃく) is also a noun in its own right, meaning a camera tripod.