Counting people
Word sets, Stage 1chunk 3 of 15Counting people
Lets you say and ask how many people, as at a restaurant door.
- hitorione person; alone
- futaritwo people; the two of them; a couple
- sanninthree people (and from three up: number + -nin)
- yoninfour people
- nanninhow many people
Mix-ups One and two people are hitori and futari, not ichinin and ninin; four is yonin.
hitori
one person; alone
Counts one person, and with de means on your own: hitori de.
Not ichinin. Hitorikko is an only child; hitorigurashi is living alone.
kyou wa hitori de iku yo.
I'm going on my own today.
今日は一人で行くよ。
kyou wa hitori de ikimasu.
I'm going alone today.
今日は一人で行きます。
Written 一人 · ひとりRank #618 in 3,030 TV dramas
futari
two people; the two of them; a couple
Futari de means just the two of us or them.
Not ninin. Often means a couple: futari no jikan = time for the two of them.
futari de nomi ni ikanai?
Want to grab a drink, just the two of us?
二人で飲みに行かない？
futari de nomi ni ikimasen ka.
Shall the two of us go for a drink?
二人で飲みに行きませんか。
Written 二人 · ふたりRank #947 in 3,030 TV dramas
sannin
three people (and from three up: number + -nin)
Regular from three on, except yonin for four.
Seven is nananin or shichinin; nine is kyuunin, rarely kunin.
sannin de gohan tabeta.
The three of us ate together.
三人でご飯食べた。
sannin de gohan o tabemashita.
The three of us had a meal together.
三人でご飯を食べました。
Written 三人 · さんにんRank #6659 in 3,030 TV dramas
yonin
four people
The one irregular count of people from three up.
One n only: not yonnin, and never shinin.
uchi wa yonin kazoku da yo.
We're a family of four.
うちは四人家族だよ。
uchi wa yonin kazoku desu.
We are a family of four.
うちは四人家族です。
Written 四人 · よにんRank #21180 in 3,030 TV dramas
nannin
how many people
Asks how many people; restaurant staff ask the same thing as nanmei sama desu ka.
The same kanji read nanijin asks someone's nationality.
kyou nannin kuru?
How many people are coming today?
今日何人来る？
kyou wa nannin kimasu ka.
How many people are coming today?
今日は何人来ますか。
Written 何人 · なんにんRank #1565 in 3,030 TV dramas