Counters for animals（匹、頭、羽）

Counter for small animals（匹）

The ～匹「～ひき」counter is used for any small or medium sized animals, except birds which use the 羽 counter.  Common animals that can use the ～匹 counter include cats, dogs, mice, fish, rabbits, deer, wolves, crabs and tortoises.

Note on pronunciation

• 一匹 is pronounced 「いっ・ぴき」
• 三匹 is pronounced 「さん・びき」
• 六匹 is pronounced 「ろっ・ぴき」
• 八匹 can be pronounced either 「はち・ひき」or「はっ・ぴき」
• 十匹 can be pronouned either 「じゅっ・ぴき」or「じっ・ぴき」
• 百匹 is pronounced「ひゃっ・ぴき」
• 千匹 is pronounced「せん・びき」

Counter for large animals（頭）

The ～頭「～とう」counter is used for any large sized animals.  Common animals that can use the ～頭 counter include elephants, horses, cows, sheep, lions, tigers, and whales.

Note on pronunciation

• 一頭 is pronounced 「いっ・とう」
• 八頭 can be pronounced either 「はっ・とう」or「はち・とう」
• 十頭 can be pronouned either 「じゅっ・とう」or「じっ・とう」

Counter for birds（羽）

The ～羽「～わ」counter is used for birds. It can also be used for bats and rabbits.

Note on pronunciation

• 三羽 can be pronounced either 「さん・わ」or「さん・ば」
• 四羽 can be pronounced either 「よん・わ」or「よん・ば」
• 六羽 can be pronounced either 「ろく・わ」or「ろっ・ぱ」
• 八羽 can be pronounced either 「はち・わ」or「はっ・ぱ」
• 十羽 can be pronounced either 「じゅう・わ」or「じゅっ・ぱ」or「じっ・ぱ」
• 百羽 can be pronounced either 「ひゃく・わ」or「ひゃっ・ぱ」
• 千羽 can be pronounced either 「せん・ば」or「せん・わ」
• 一万羽 can be pronounced either 「いち・まん・ば」or「いち・まん・わ」