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Fun with counters
During Wednesday's Japanese class we were going over counters, which are words that are added to number words to denote the sort of thing you're counting. For example, I can't just say that I have 2 DVDs; I have to say that I have 2 mai DVDs, where "mai" is the counter for thin, flat things (like DVDs, or pieces of paper). Sensei went over 5 different counters and some pronunciation changes of various numbers in association with them, and then quizzed us in her usual manner, which is to hold up a picture of something and ask someone in class what it is. When she held up a picture of three cats and asked somebody about it, he replied that it was 3 mai of cats, and I think we all simultaneously got an image of cats that had been pressed flat and burst out laughing. (And then he used the form of "is" that's used for non-living objects, not living ones, and got more laughter when Sensei asked him what exactly he had against cats. Poor guy.)
My main problem is that I'm now associating "mai" with cats, when I should be associating "hiki" (the counter for fish and small four-legged animals) with them. Ah well; more drilling will fix that eventually.
When class was over some of us were discussing the whole counter issue, and one of my classmates wondered if you'd use "hiki" for squirrels, and I said sure, they're four-legged, and then she said ok, what about birds? So we asked sensei, who said that there's another counter used for birds: "wa". I asked just how many there are, and she said there are a lot, but we shouldn't need many more than the ones we already had; after all, how many times do we need to count dead bodies? A different classmate was thrilled at the notion that there was a counter for dead bodies, so I looked that one up (it's "tai") and I'll be able to tell him about it on Monday.
My main problem is that I'm now associating "mai" with cats, when I should be associating "hiki" (the counter for fish and small four-legged animals) with them. Ah well; more drilling will fix that eventually.
When class was over some of us were discussing the whole counter issue, and one of my classmates wondered if you'd use "hiki" for squirrels, and I said sure, they're four-legged, and then she said ok, what about birds? So we asked sensei, who said that there's another counter used for birds: "wa". I asked just how many there are, and she said there are a lot, but we shouldn't need many more than the ones we already had; after all, how many times do we need to count dead bodies? A different classmate was thrilled at the notion that there was a counter for dead bodies, so I looked that one up (it's "tai") and I'll be able to tell him about it on Monday.
no subject
A maybe more relevant question - in English, you can say "I have two!" to indicate that you have two of something (well, it's usually clear two of what from context). In Japanese, can you say that, and if you do, does it have the counter word in it? So you'd be saying "I have two flat things" even if you aren't saying of what?
no subject
You do always include the counter word. My textbook has some usage samples that include "How many cats are there?" "There are two small four-legged animals." and "How many pencils are in that box?" "There are six long cylindrical objects."
no subject
Hmm. Do you use the counter word for only one thing?
(Maybe it's for talking about things to people who don't know very many words! Back when language was first being invented! If I come up to you and tell you "I have four knubles, would you like one" and you have no idea what a knuble is, forcing me to say "I have four small four-legged animals called knubles" gives you a clue.)
no subject
For example, in both Japanese and Chinese, nouns have no plural form, and in both of these languages, you have to use counter words with numbers.
I like your theory, but that system seems to use more words, rather than fewer, since you have to have the word for "small four-legged animals" as well as "knubles".
no subject