| |
Japanese used different number words for different kinds of items.
For example,
the words used for counting people are different from the words used for counting
books.
It is important to keep in mind that the number words come after the
item they are counting. |
| |
|
|
リー さん は 切手 を 三枚 買いました。 |
|
|
リー さん は きって を さんまい かいました。 |
Lee bought three stamps.
"Lee san /subject/, stamp /object/, three /sheet/ bought." |
|
rii san wa, kitte o, san-mai wo, kaimashita. |
|
| |
|
| 切手 |
|
| きって |
refers to the item (stamp) |
| kitte |
|
| |
|
| 三枚 |
|
| さん まい |
refers to the number of items ("three
/sheet/")
mai - this counter is used for sheets of paper
and other flat objects. |
|
san mai |
|
