N5 · Unit 4
Lesson 13How many, how many people, and how long
Choose common counters and express quantity, duration, and frequency within a period.
What you learn
Choose common counters and express quantity, duration, and frequency within a period.
Learning points
- Counters
- Duration
- Period and frequency
Why this lesson comes now
This lesson connects what you can already say to a new way of expressing it. Hear the key sentences, understand the structure, then use it in a real situation.
Your next step
Listen to the key sentences, understand the pattern, finish the examples and vocabulary, then continue to the next lesson.
Open the interactive lessonCore pattern
名詞を 数量 + 動詞 ・ 時間 + 動詞 ・ 期間に 回数 + 動詞Beginner explanation
A counter normally comes after the object and before the verb, as in りんごを三つ買います. A duration normally does not take に. To say how many times something happens within a period, use 期間に 回数.
Understand these sentences first
- りんごを 三つ 買いました。ringo o mittsu kaimashita
I bought three apples.
- 教室に 学生が 五人 います。kyōshitsu ni gakusei ga go-nin imasu
There are five students in the classroom.
- 毎日 2時間 日本語を 勉強します。mainichi ni-jikan Nihongo o benkyō shimasu
I study Japanese for two hours every day.
- 1週間に 3回 ジムへ 行きます。isshūkan ni san-kai jimu e ikimasu
I go to the gym three times a week.
Core vocabulary
- 一つひとつone item
- 二つふたつtwo items
- 三つみっつthree items
- 一人ひとりone person
- 二人ふたりtwo people
- 時間じかんhours; time
- 週間しゅうかんweeks
- 回かいtimes
Grammar, one point at a time
A quantity expression normally comes before the verb
N を／が quantity VChoose the counter for the item and place the complete quantity before the verb. Use 本が3冊あります in an existence sentence and 本を2冊買いました in an action sentence. For a quantity question, place 何 before the counter, normally read なん.
Examples
- 机の 上に 本が 3冊 あります。There are three books on the desk.
- 切手を 何枚 買いましたか。How many stamps did you buy?
A duration goes directly before the verb without に
duration VA duration directly modifies the verb, as in 7時間働きます. A specific clock time often takes に. Do not treat seven o'clock and seven hours as the same type of time expression.
Examples
- 毎日 7時間 働きます。I work seven hours every day.
- 昼 1時間 休みます。I rest for one hour at noon.
Period + に + frequency states how often
period に number 回 V1週間に2回 means twice a week. When the base period is one unit, 1 or 間 is often omitted: 週に2回, 日に3回, 月に1回. Keep frequency 回 separate from duration.
Examples
- 週に 2回 プールへ 行きます。I go to the pool twice a week.
- この 花は 2年に 1回 咲きます。This flower blooms once every two years.
Remove ます from the masu-form to get the stem
Vます → V-stem働きます becomes 働き, 休みます becomes 休み, 起きます becomes 起き, and 寝ます becomes 寝. This stem appears in purpose-of-movement and later patterns. Derive it from the full masu-form rather than guessing from kanji.
Examples
- 泳ぎます → 泳ぎThe stem of 泳ぎます is 泳ぎ.
- 遊びます → 遊びThe stem of 遊びます is 遊び.
Place へ + verb stem に行く states the purpose of going
place へ object を V-stem に 行きます／来ますMark the destination with へ, place に after the purpose verb stem, and finish with 行きます or 来ます. If the purpose action has an object, keep its を.
Examples
- 郵便局へ 荷物を 出しに 行きます。I am going to the post office to send a parcel.
- プールへ 泳ぎに 行きます。I am going to the pool to swim.
- 友達が 遊びに 来ました。A friend came to visit.
Quantity + で marks the total price for a group
quantity で price ですFor goods priced as a group, connect the quantity to the total with で, as in 3個で500円. For one item, normally say 1個200円 without で. This is not the action-location use of で.
Examples
- 焼き鳥は 5本で 600円です。Five yakitori skewers cost 600 yen.
- この ケーキは 1個 200円です。This cake is 200 yen each.
Expressions and situations
Counter readings change through gemination, voicing, or p-sounds
Examples include 1本 いっぽん, 3本 さんぼん, 6本 ろっぽん and 1杯 いっぱい, 3杯 さんばい, 6杯 ろっぱい. Learn these as fixed sound combinations rather than character by character.
〜つ counts many small items or abstract things, but only through ten
ひとつ, ふたつ, みっつ through とお are useful for orders and small items without a specialized counter. Above ten, use an appropriate counter or another counting system.
- 生ビールを 3つ お願いします。Three draft beers, please.
くらい or ぐらい marks an approximate quantity
Add くらい or ぐらい after a quantity for approximation, optionally with だいたい. Ask about extent, distance, time, or cost with どのぐらい or どれぐらい.
- 駅まで 1キロメートルぐらいです。It is about one kilometre to the station.
- だいたい 2万円ぐらいです。It is about 20,000 yen.
かかります can describe time or money required
Context determines whether どのぐらいかかりますか asks about time or cost. Give a clear unit in the answer, such as 1時間ぐらい or 2万円ぐらい.
- 会社まで どのぐらい かかりますか。How long does it take to the office?
- 修理は どのぐらい かかりますか。How much will the repair cost?
飲みに行く without a named drink often means go out for alcoholic drinks
お茶を飲みに行く explicitly means go for tea. In adult social contexts, bare 飲みに行く often means go out for alcoholic drinks. Minors and non-drinkers can say 食事に行く or お茶を飲みに行く.
- これから 同僚と 飲みに 行きます。I am going out for drinks with colleagues.
- 友達と お茶を 飲みに 行きます。I am going for tea with a friend.
とりあえず means taking the first decision for now
At a restaurant it can mean ordering drinks first while considering the menu. At work it can mark a temporary first step. It implies a later decision and is unsuitable when a final commitment is required.
- とりあえず ウーロン茶を 2つ お願いします。Two oolong teas for now, please.
One is often omitted in per-period frequency expressions
1週間に2回 can shorten to 週に2回, and 1か月に1回 to 月に1回. Keep the number when the period is not one unit or when contrast requires it.
- 日に 3回 薬を 飲みます。I take the medicine three times a day.
What you should be able to do
- Choose the correct counter for books, flat items, vehicles, drinks, animals, and clothes.
- Read the sound changes for one, three, and six long items and cups as complete units.
- Distinguish a specific time with に from a duration without に.
- Use period + に + frequency for daily, weekly, and monthly schedules.
- Derive a masu-stem and form purpose sentences for mailing, watching, and getting a haircut.
- Complete an original ordering and payment task using quantities, grouped prices, approximate costs, and non-alcoholic choices.
Culture and real use
An izakaya is casual shared dining, not an obligation to drink alcohol
JNTO describes an izakaya as casual dining with drinks and shared dishes such as fried food, grilled food, noodles, and hot pot, and soft drinks are usually available. A bōnenkai is a year-end gathering, while nijikai is an optional second gathering. Nomihōdai is an all-you-can-drink plan limited by time, menu, and house rules and is not offered everywhere. This course does not encourage drinking: people below the local legal age must not drink, anyone may choose non-alcoholic beverages, never drive after drinking, and follow professional medical advice when unwell or taking medication.
- とりあえず ウーロン茶を お願いします。Oolong tea for now, please.
- 飲み放題は 何分ですか。How many minutes is the all-you-can-drink plan?
- お酒は 飲みません。I do not drink alcohol.