Heads, Wings, Tails, and More: Discover How Animals Are Counted in Japanese

When studying Japanese, you’ll probably come across counters like “1つ (hitotsu)”, “2個 (niko)”, or “3人 (san-nin)”, and realize that there are various words used to count different types of things. Japanese counters follow specific rules—especially when it comes to animals. The counter you use depends on the type of animal you’re counting, such as “1匹 (ippiki)” for a dog, “1頭 (ittō)” for a horse, “1羽 (ichiwa)” for a bird, and “1尾 (ichibi)” for a fish.

Japanese counters can be one of the most confusing parts of learning the language, especially for non-native speakers. However, by understanding their differences, you’ll start to discover some fascinating aspects of the Japanese language—and even get a glimpse into how native speakers see the world.

Today, we will explore some of the representative counters for animals—such as “匹 (hiki)”, “頭 (tō)”, “羽 (wa)”, and “尾 (bi)”—in a clear and accessible way. Let us enjoy learning together as we visualize these concepts. By the end of this article, you may find yourself inspired to count animals on your own.

In Japanese, there are counters, called 助数詞 (josūshi), which are units used when counting things, people, animals, and more, and are placed after the number.

Unlike English and many other languages—where nouns are often counted simply by changing the form of the word or by using numerals directly—in Japanese, the counter you use depends on what is being counted. This system can be a bit challenging for learners, as different types of objects require different counters.

For example, when counting dogs, you would say “1匹 (ippiki)” for one dog and “2匹 (nihiki)” for two. However, when counting cows, the counter changes to “1頭 (ittō)” and “2頭 (nitō).” Birds are counted with “羽 (wa),” and fish with “尾 (bi).”
Even within the same general category of animals, the counters can vary depending on the kind or size of the animal. This is one of the most unique and fascinating aspects of the Japanese language.

In this section, we will provide an overview of four commonly used counters for animals in Japanese—“匹 (hiki)”, “頭 (tō)”, “羽 (wa)”, and “尾 (bi)”—and explain how they are used in a clear and accessible way.

“匹 (hiki)” is the counter used for counting small animals, particularly mammals such as dogs, cats, mice, rabbits, and hamsters.

Examples:
・犬が3匹 (Inu ga sanbiki) – three dogs
・猫が1匹 (Neko ga ippiki) – one cat

An important aspect to note is that the pronunciation of the counter changes depending on the number. For instance, instead of saying “ichi-hiki,” the correct pronunciation is “ippiki.” As demonstrated below, the reading varies slightly with different numbers.

Number  Pronunciation  　 Romanization
　　　　  (Japanese Reading)  (Rōmaji)
1　　　　いっぴき　　　  　　　ippiki

2　　　　にひき　　　　  　　　nihiki

3　　　　さんびき　　　  　　　sanbiki

4　　　　よんひき　　　  　　　yonhiki

6　　　　ろっぴき　　　  　　　roppiki

8　　　　はっぴき　　　  　　　happiki

10　　　  じゅっぴき　　　　　  juppiki
　　　  　 /じっぴき　　　　　   / jippiki

As shown here, memorizing the pronunciation changes such as gemination (促音化, sokuon-ka) and voicing (濁音化, dakuon-ka) makes it easier to use the counters more naturally. However, it is worth noting that, specifically for rabbits, the counter “羽 (wa)” is sometimes used in certain regions or at shrines. Nonetheless, in everyday life, “匹 (hiki)” is the counter most commonly employed.

“頭 (tō)”—a kanji that means “head”—is the counter used for counting larger mammals, particularly livestock and zoo animals.

Examples:
・馬が1頭 (uma ga ittō) – one horse
・牛が2頭 (ushi ga nitō) – two cows
・ゾウが3頭 (zō ga santō) – three elephants

There are also pronunciation changes with this counter. For example, instead of saying “ichi-tō,” the correct pronunciation is “ittō,” and instead of “roku-tō,” it becomes “rottō.” Please pay attention to these phonetic changes.

This counter has traditionally been used since the time when animals such as cows and horses were essential for agriculture. It is especially associated with animals commonly regarded as livestock. Therefore, using this counter for pets like dogs may sound overly formal or official. However, in formal contexts—such as at veterinary clinics or in official reports—“頭 (tō)” may still be used.

“羽 (wa)” is the counter used for counting birds. The kanji originally means “feather” (羽根, hane), which evokes the image of flying animals.

Examples:
・スズメが3羽 (suzume ga sanwa) – three sparrows
・鳩が5羽 (hato ga gowa) – five pigeons
・にわとりが1羽 (niwatori ga ichiwa) – one chicken

The key point regarding pronunciation is that although the kanji 羽 is typically read as “hane,” when used as a counter it is pronounced “wa.” For example, “一羽” is read as ichiwa, “二羽” as niwa, and “三羽” as sanwa. This shift in pronunciation can be a bit confusing for beginners.

The counter 羽 (wa) is generally used for birds, including smaller species such as parakeets, Java sparrows, and even bats. While some people may use 匹 (hiki), the counter for small animals, to count these creatures, the correct and more precise counter is 羽 (wa).

Furthermore, 羽 (wa) is also used to count badminton shuttlecocks, such as “1羽 (ichiwa), 2羽 (niwa),” rather than using general counters like “1つ (hitotsu)” or “2つ (futatsu).” This is another fascinating aspect of how uniquely Japanese handles different types of objects through specific counters.

The counter “尾 (bi)” is used when counting fish. Although it is rarely used in casual conversation, it is commonly seen at fish markets, in restaurants, and on menus.

Examples:
・鯛が1尾 (tai ga ichibi) – one sea bream
・アジが2尾 (aji ga nibi) – two horse mackerels
・サバが3尾 (saba ga sanbi) – three mackerels

The counter uses the kanji “尾,” which means “tail” or “fin.” While fish can also be counted using 匹 (hiki), 尾 (bi) is more commonly used in contexts related to cooking and selling fish. For example, at a supermarket, you might see a label that says “サンマ2尾入り” (two Pacific sauries included), or at a traditional Japanese restaurant, the menu might read “鯛一尾を丸ごと煮つけにしました” (a whole sea bream simmered in soy-based sauce).

It is also important to pay close attention to pronunciation. The correct reading of “1尾” is ichibi, not ichio. Although this may be somewhat difficult to remember at first, it is worth mastering, as this reading frequently appears in culinary contexts.

Japanese counters are a unique feature not commonly found in English or many other languages. Even just for counting animals, there are various counters such as “匹 (hiki),” “頭 (tō),” “羽 (wa),” and “尾 (bi),” each requiring appropriate usage. However, understanding these differences enriches your appreciation of the richness of the Japanese language and culture.

This aspect can be quite challenging for Japanese learners; however, you can gradually master these counters by becoming accustomed to hearing them in daily conversations, news broadcasts, or while shopping. Making mistakes is perfectly natural—actively using them is the most effective way to learn.

Starting today, try counting the animals around you using expressions like “何匹 (nanbiki)?” (how many small animals?) or “何羽 (nanwa)?” (how many birds?) to become more familiar with Japanese counters.

Finally, here are  some quizzes on counters. Challenge yourself and enjoy the learning process!

Question 1
ねこが2＿＿います。
There are two cats.
A. 人 (nin)  B. 羽 (wa)  C. 匹 (hiki)  D. 頭 (tō)

Question 2
牛が3＿＿います。
There are three cows.
A. 匹 (hiki) B. 羽 (wa) C. 頭 (tō) D. 尾 (bi)

Question 3
インコが5＿＿います。
There are five parakeets.
A. 羽 (wa) B. 匹 (hiki) C. 尾 (bi) D. 頭 (tō)

Question 4
さかなを2＿＿買いました。
I bought two fish.
A. 匹 (hiki) B. 羽 (wa) C. 尾 (bi) D. 頭 (tō)

Question 5
きりんが1＿＿立っています。
One giraffe is standing.
A. 匹 (hiki) B. 羽 (wa) C. 尾 (bi) D. 頭 (tō)

Question 6
スズメが6＿＿とんでいます。
Six sparrows are flying.
A. 羽 (wa) B. 匹 (hiki) C. 尾 (bi) D. 人 (nin)

Question 7
犬を3＿＿かっています。
I have three dogs.
A. 人 (nin) B. 匹 (hiki) C. 頭 (tō) D. 羽 (wa)

Question 8
馬が4＿＿走っています。
Four horses are running.
A. 匹 (hiki) B. 羽 (wa) C. 頭 (tō) D. 尾 (bi)

Question 9
ハムスターが2＿＿います。
There are two hamsters.
A. 頭 (tō) B. 羽 (wa) C. 尾 (bi) D. 匹 (hiki)

Question 10
にわとりが1＿＿います。
There is one chicken.
A. 羽 (wa) B. 匹 (hiki) C. 尾 (bi) D. 頭 (tō)

Answers are provided at the end of this article.

Today, we explored some Japanese counters—how did you find it?
Did they seem confusing, or did you find them surprisingly interesting?

To conclude, here’s a helpful tip for remembering how to count animals in Japanese: the counter often corresponds to the part of the animal that typically remains after it dies. For example, 頭 (atama) is used for cows and pigs, whose heads are usually not eaten. 羽 (hane) is used for birds, referring to their feathers, and 尾 (o) is used for fish, referring to their tails or fins.

Knowing this might make counting animals more meaningful—and even more enjoyable!
Why not share this tip with your fellow Japanese learners?

At TCJ, we offer group classes and private lessons where you can ask questions directly to native Japanese teachers and fellow learners. This environment helps you gain a wide range of knowledge and perspectives.

We warmly invite you to study together with us at TCJ!

Answers
Question 1: C. 匹 (hiki)
Question 2: C. 頭 (tō)
Question 3: A. 羽 (wa)
Question 4: C. 尾 (bi) (“hiki” is also commonly used in daily life)
Question 5: D. 頭 (tō)
Question 6: A. 羽 (wa)
Question 7: B. 匹 (hiki) (“tō” is sometimes used in veterinary contexts)
Question 8: C. 頭 (tō)
Question 9: D. 匹 (hiki)
Question 10: A. 羽 (wa)

Your Score
9–10 correct: You’re a counters master! Amazing job!
7–8 correct: Great work! You’re almost perfect!
5–6 correct: Not bad at all! Just a bit more practice!
0–4 correct: Don’t worry! Let’s keep learning together from here!