つ counter (tsu)

The つ counter is the native Japanese way to count generic objects from 1 to 10. It attaches directly after the number (often written in kanji or hiragana).

| Number | Reading | Example | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | ひとつ (hitotsu) | 本を一つ買います。 | | 2 | ふたつ (futatsu) | — | | 3 | みっつ (mittsu) | — |

本を一つ買います。
Hon o hitotsu kaimasu. — “I buy one book.”

For Sino-Japanese numbers (一, 二, 三…) with other counters, see our numbers 1–10 post.

After 10, Japanese uses other counter systems — つ is mainly for the 1–10 native set learners meet first.