New here? This is lesson 21 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Tickets, books, people, pets in Japanese
Leo and Goro stop at Nippori for two tickets, then walk Yanaka Ginza. Haruka is already at Kenta's stand, and a cat sits on a shop step.
Kenta counts Leo, Haruka, and Masako as three people, then notes that there is one cat. Goro is nearby but is not part of their group.
You will ask for tickets and a book, then count people, a cat, and a bicycle.
By the end, you can use the right little counting word for each thing.
By the end of this lesson
Count tickets, books, people, a cat, and a bicycle.
- 切符を二枚ください。Two tickets, please.
- 本を一冊ください。One book, please.
- 三人です。Three people.
- 猫が一匹います。There's one cat.
- 自転車が一台あります。There's one bicycle.
- 何人ですか。How many people?
Scene — a cat on the step
A ticket window at Nippori. Leo and Goro buy two tickets, then walk the lane to Yanaka Ginza.
Haruka and Masako are at Kenta's croquette stand. A cat sits on a step, and a bicycle leans on the wall. Kenta counts his three customers: Leo, Haruka, and Masako.
Learn — tickets, books, and counts
Six short lines cover tickets, books, people, a cat, and a bicycle.
You'll also get the question for how many people, so you can ask and answer.
切符を二枚ください。
Two tickets, please.
When to use it: Ask for two tickets at a station window.
Learn it as one piece when you want two tickets.
本を一冊ください。
One book, please.
When to use it: Ask for one book at a shop or a stall.
Learn it as one piece when you want one book.
Say it: The small っ in 一冊 is a clipped pause.
三人です。
Three people.
When to use it: Say this when someone asks how many people.
Learn it as one piece for three people.
Say it: 三人 holds an ん sound in the middle.
猫が一匹います。
There's one cat.
When to use it: Say this when you see one cat.
Learn it as one piece for one small animal.
Say it: 一匹 has a small っ, then a p sound.
自転車が一台あります。
There's one bicycle.
When to use it: Say this when you see one bicycle.
Learn it as one piece for one bicycle.
何人ですか。
How many people?
When to use it: Ask this when you need the number of people.
Learn it as one piece to ask how many people.
Story — three on the street
Watch Leo and Goro at Nippori, then on Yanaka Ginza. Haruka and Masako meet them there. Kenta counts his three human customers, then notices the cat nearby.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.
- A ticket window at Nippori. Leo and Goro step up to the counter.
Leo切符を二枚ください。Two tickets, please.- Clerkはい。Yes.
- On Yanaka Ginza, Goro stops at a small book stall.
Goro本を一冊ください。One book, please.- Clerkどうぞ。Here you go.
- Haruka and Masako are at Kenta's stand. Leo joins them; Goro waits nearby.
Harukaこんにちは。Hello.- Leoこんにちは。Hello.
Kenta何人ですか。How many people?- Leo三人です。Three people.
- Kenta counts Leo, Haruka, and Masako as his three customers. Goro is nearby, outside their group.
- Kenta猫が一匹います。There's one cat.
- Goro looks from the cat to a bicycle leaning by the wall.
- Goro自転車が一台あります。There's one bicycle.
Practice — which counting word
Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.
They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
Japanese
切符を二枚ください。Drop the English here本を一冊ください。Drop the English here何人ですか。Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
At a small book stall on Yanaka Ginza, you want one book.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
There's one cat.
猫が____います。
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
何人ですか。
Build the line
Build the line
There's one bicycle.
。
Tap the words in order.
Pick the reply
Kenta says:
Pick the reply
何人ですか。
How many people?
And you reply with:
Swap the word
Swap the word
You asked for one ticket. You need two. Fix the count.
切符を____ください。
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
Which one doesn’t belong?
Which one doesn’t belong?
What do you say?
What do you say?
You meet Kenta on Yanaka Ginza in the afternoon.
Say it — say the count
Now you're Leo at Nippori, then on Yanaka Ginza with Haruka and Masako. Kenta asks about the three human customers; Goro is nearby, not in their group.
When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line. Tap play first if you want to hear it.
- Clerkいらっしゃいませ。Welcome.
- Leo (you)Ask for two tickets.
Ask for two tickets.
切符を二枚ください。
Two tickets, please.
0 of 4 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 切符を二枚ください。 | Two tickets, please. | |
| 本を一冊ください。 | One book, please. | |
| 三人です。 | Three people. | |
| 猫が一匹います。 | There's one cat. | |
| 自転車が一台あります。 | There's one bicycle. | |
| 何人ですか。 | How many people? |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these counts handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your counts ready for the street.
Open Yak Cards