counters

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: How do you count that in Japanese?

Topics Discussed

• The counter system used in Japanese
• Japanese counter suffixes
• The sometimes confusing nature of Japanese counters
• The correct suffix for counting chopsticks in Japanese
• Various counters used with different kinds of chopsticks
• How to properly count squid in Japanese
• How the shape of a fish can affect what counter you use to count it
• The correct way to count gods (kami) in Japanese
• Counters in Chinese and English
• The various ways to count robots in Japanese
• How the speaker's intent can influence what counter they use to count something
• Using the counter -hiki as a way to insult someone or for comedic effect
• How you count UFOs in Japanese
• The many different things the counter -tai can be used for
• What counter you should use when counting centaurs and minotaurs in Japanese
• Counters used for counting fictional beings in Japanese
• Some of the factors that go into whether a fantastical creature should be counted using the counter suffix for humans or not
• What counter suffix should be used to count Doraemon
• Counting Pokemon
• And much more!

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• Support on Patreon

Sources, Links, Videos, Etc.

Here are some of the English-language sources used for this episode.

• 350 JAPANESE COUNTERS GROUPED BY USEFULNESS DIVIDED INTO 2 ABSOLUTELY MUST-KNOW, 17 MUST-KNOW, 47 COMMON, AND SO ON
• The Japanese love to play number games
• Japanese counter word (Wikipedia)

Here are some of the Japanese-language sources used for this episode.

• イカの数え方わかりますか？状態によって数え方が変わる！
• 「神」の数え方を教えてください。
• ことばと文化のミニ講座
• ロボット
• UFOの数え方の単位はなんですか？
• 鬼は1人？ 人魚は1匹？ ドラえもんは1体？ 想像上の生き物の数え方、知ってる？
• ポケモンの単位って何？１体？１匹？ふと気になって質問してみました。
• 助数詞「匹」と「頭」の用法考察
  • This is the Ritsumeikan article mentioned during the episode.

Here are some of the other Ichimon Japan episodes that were mentioned on this one.

• Was Momotarō a thief? (All About Peach Bob) | Ichimon Japan 09
• How do you create fake kanji? (From Ghost Kanji to Kokuji) | Ichimon Japan 22
• Are rabbits counted as birds because eating meat was taboo in japan? (About the History of Meat “Bans” & the Counter -wa) | Ichimon Japan 41

Check out the latest episode of Japan Station via the link below.

• Maiko Masquerade: Crafting Geisha Girlhood in Japan (Dr. Jan Bardsley) | Japan Station 65

Support the show by picking up a t-shirt at KimitoDesigns.com.

• Check out Kimito Designs

Japanese Vocabulary List

Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here’s some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC.

• (O)hashi
  • 箸 【はし】 (n) chopsticks
• Hitosoroi
  • 一揃い : 一揃い; 一そろい; ひと揃い 【ひとそろい】 (n) a set; a suit
• Ichigu
  • 一具 【いちぐ】 (n) one set
• Hitokumi
  • 一組 : 一組; １組; ひと組 【ひとくみ; いちくみ(一組,１組)】 (n) one class; one set; a pair; a suite; a series
• Ika
  • イカ : 烏賊(P); 鰞 【いか(P); イカ】 (n) (uk) cuttlefish; squid
• Tokkuri/Tokuri
  • 徳利 【とっくり; とくり】 (n) (1) sake bottle; tall and slender bottle with a narrow mouth made from ceramic, metal or glass that can be used for sake, shoyu or rice vinegar; (n) (2) turtleneck (sweater); (n) (3) non-swimmer; person who cannot swim
• Hai
  • 杯; 盃 【はい】 ; (n) (1) (See 杯・さかずき) sake cup; cup for alcoholic beverages; (ctr) (2) counter for cupfuls, bowlfuls, spoonfuls, etc.; (ctr) (3) counter for boats; (ctr) (4) counter for octopuses and squid; (n-suf) (5) (See アジア杯) cup (in sports); championship; : 坏; 杯
• Kami
  • 神 【かみ】 (n) (1) god; deity; divinity; spirit; kami; (n-pref,adj-na) (2) (sl) (See 神対応) incredible; fantastic; amazing; (n) (3) (hon) (arch) Emperor (of Japan); (n) (4) (arch) thunder; (P); : 神; 霊 【み】 ; (n) (arch) soul; spirit; divine spirit; 【かむ; かん】 ; (n-pref) (See 神主・かんぬし・1) divine; godly; 【しん; じん】 ; (n) (1) spirit; psyche; (n) (2) (See 神・かみ・1) god; deity; divinity; kami
• Za
  • 座 【ざ】 (n) (1) seat; place; (n) (2) position; status; (n) (3) gathering; party; company; atmosphere (of a gathering); (n) (4) stand; pedestal; platform; (n) (5) (historical) trade guild; (suf) (6) attaches to the names of constellations; (suf) (7) attaches to the names of theatres, cinemas and theatrical troupes; (suf,ctr) (8) (See 里神楽) counter for theatres, deities, Buddhist images, tall mountains, and satokagura songs
• Hashira
  • 柱 【はしら】 (n) (1) pillar; post; (n) (2) support; prop; mainstay; (suf,ctr) (3) counter for buddhas, gods, nobles, etc.; (P); 【じゅう】 ; (n) fret (of a biwa); 【ちゅう; じ】 ; (n,n-suf) (1) bridge (of a koto, etc.); (n,n-suf) (2) (ちゅう only) cylinder; prism
• Hitobashira
  • 人柱 【ひとばしら】 (n) human pillar; human sacrifice
• Dai
  • 台 【だい】 (n,n-suf) (1) stand; rack; table; bench; podium; pedestal; platform; stage; (n,n-suf) (2) support; holder; rack; (ctr) (3) counter for machines, incl. vehicles; (n) (4) setting (e.g. in jewellery); (n,n-suf,ctr) (5) (See 代・だい・2,代・だい・6) level (e.g. price level); range (e.g. after physical units); period (of time, e.g. a decade of one's life); (n) (6) elevated area; (n) (7) viewing platform; (n) (8) (See 台盤・1) dish tray; (n) (9) (arch) meal; (n) (10) (arch) (See 高殿) tall building; tower
• Ki
  • 機 【き】 (n) (1) chance; opportunity; (n,n-suf) (2) machine; (n,n-suf) (3) aircraft; (ctr) (4) counter for aircraft; (ctr) (5) counter for remaining lives (in video games)
• Tai
  • 体 : 体(P); 身体; 躰; 躯 【からだ】 (n) (1) (からだ is a gikun reading of 身体) (See 身体・しんたい) body; (n) (2) torso; trunk; (n) (3) build; physique; frame; figure; (n) (4) health; constitution; (n) (5) (arch) corpse; dead body; (P); : 体; 態 【てい】 ; (n) appearance; air; condition; state; form; 【たい】 ; (n,n-suf) (1) body; physique; posture; (n,n-suf) (2) shape; form; style; (n,n-suf) (3) substance; identity; reality; (n,n-suf) (4) {math} field; (ctr) (5) counter for humanoid forms (e.g. dolls, statues, corpses, etc.); (n,n-suf) (6) typeface; type
• Hiki
  • 匹 : 匹(P); 疋 【ひき(P); き】 (ctr) (1) (ひき only) counter for small animals; (ctr) (2) counter for rolls of cloth (two han in size); (ctr) (3) (き only) (arch) counter for horses; (n) (4) roll of cloth
• Tō
  • 頭【とう】 ; (ctr) counter for large animals (e.g. head of cattle); counter for insects in a collection; counter for helmets, masks, etc.

We Want Your Questions

Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com.

Special Thanks

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Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R.

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Full Show Notes

• https:///www.japankyo.com/ichimonjapan

Rehabbing distressed properties into rentals is a balancing act... You must watch your budget, because every dollar spent on the rehab lowers your ROI - and depending on how you choose to fund your rehabs, it can also lower your cash-flow (at least initially). And you want the resulting property to be nice, plus you also want everything to be durable - so that you're not likely having to replace everything all over again at each tenant turn.

Finding that right balance between price / cost, appearance and durability is critical to a successful outcome. And if you're like me, you want prospective tenants to think "WOW" (or even say it out-loud) - when they first see pictures or have a tour of your rental properties.

In this episode of the [... and Landlord!] Rental Real Estate Investing Podcast, I relate some of my thoughts on achieving this outcome and balance - so I ask the question "How Nice Is Too Nice?"

Here I relate that I cannot prove it, but anecdotally, I feel that the quality of my rental rehabs both make my properties more desirable (I definitely get that "WOW" effect); and results in an increased durability. But it does come at the price of an increased rehab cost. I put a bit extra into making my properties really nice (but "How Nice Is Too Nice?") - so at the same time, I must be careful not to take it too far.

Because at a certain point, things are durable enough and look good enough - so to go further or spend more gains little to nothing in return from increased rent or reduced vacancy. While I feel you can certainly attract a better tenant who may stay longer if you put a little extra into the rehab (like upgrading to Stainless Steel Appliances, LVP Flooring, Granite Counters, etc...) - creating a home they really love and have pride of residency... It has a limit beyond which you get drastically diminishing returns. And since measuring those returns are almost purely anecdotal anyway - you really must be careful when increasing rehab expenses to make a property nice. You can quickly end up with a property that is far nicer than it needs to be to get the same tenant at the same rent you'd have gotten anyway with a lower cost rehab to rental.

So where to draw the line? How nice is too nice?

This week's interview is jam packed with information and inspiration.  I'm talking with Steve Schrenk, a sculptor and media director for Polycor, the largest natural stone quarrier in North America.  We cover a lot of ground, starting with Steve's training as a sculptor and then he teaches us about the different kinds of stone you might want to consider using in your own home, how to use stone as a design element, where to find it, what kinds of quarries it comes from and the environmental impact of extraction.  I'm pretty sure that at least half of you are going to want to start a kitchen renovation after this.  We wrap up with two of his favorite sources of inspiration, one of whom is an interior designer and the other is an installation you can  visit when in you're in New York City.  

The Style Matters podcast is now Slow Style Home! Click here for the latest episode.

The ladder of success is best climbed by stepping on the rungs of opportunity. Sometimes those rungs have splinters, though. Or dry rot. Or termites. Listen, maybe just get one of those little robot claw grabber things and stay away from ladders.

Patrick chats with Sasha Shtern, founder of multiple countertop-related businesses, including Lazy Granite and vanitycounters.com.

In this episode DIY PETE goes over the basics of how to build concrete tables and counters. Learn about the materials required and techniques involved in creating the concrete masterpieces. Pete will go over how to build the molds and methods for finishing the concrete using a polisher or trowel.

Particle Detectors! Tia Miceli! Ken Clark! I summon you! Explain geiger counters, scintilators, cloud chambers, bubble chambers, photomultipliers, CCD's, and CERN's mighty ATLAS detector to our guest Gareth L. Powell, author of Ack-Ack Macaque! this episode is a little long, but it's a lot great. 

Today Margaret and Damian will share our tips on stopping your dog from jumping on counters, tables, and furniture.

A lot of this topic centers around teaching respect, so you hear that a lot. But we will give tips on using Goalie here, teaching a command to get on stuff can easily help you teach a command get off, revisiting the basics, and using a mirror to help keep an eye on an out of sight dog!

We also revisit the subject of using booby traps, just always remember when using booby traps your dogs safety ALWAYS comes first.

Enjoy, and if you have questions or comments, please visit us and post a question on our message board at www.creativedogtraining.com