Order food and count things
Use useful counters and polite ordering phrases.
What you’ll work on
- Order an item politely
- Use basic counters with quantities
- Ask a price
A short conversation
Google voice when available; device voice as a fallback. Kana readings help you read the written words; they do not show pitch accent.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- いらっしゃいませ。irasshaimasewelcome (to a customer)A set greeting used by staff to welcome customers.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- コーヒーkoohiicoffee
- をoobject markerPronounced o. Marks what the action acts on; English usually has no separate word for it.
- ひとつhitotsuone item
- おねがいします。onegaishimasuplease (request)
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- ほかには。hoka ni waanything else?An abbreviated question, used here while taking an order.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- みずmizuwater
- もmoalso / too
- おねがいします。onegaishimasuplease (request)
- ぜんぶでzenbudealtogether
- いくらikurahow much
- ですdesupolite statement endingAdds a polite style. English may use “is”, “am”, or “are”, or leave it unexpressed.
- か。kaquestion markerMakes the sentence a question; English often changes its word order instead.
Count with the right unit
Japanese uses counters for different kinds of things. 一つ（ひとつ）, 二つ（ふたつ）, 三つ（みっつ）are useful general counts. In ordering, the item can precede the quantity: コーヒーを一つお願いします.
People use 人: 一人 is ひとり, 二人 is ふたり, and 三人 is さんにん. Books use 冊, and flat objects often use 枚. Readings can change with the number, so learn whole number–counter combinations.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- ふたりfutaritwo people
- です。desuare (polite)
This is a natural way to state your party size. “Of us” is understood from context; 二人 literally counts two people.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- ほんhonbooks
- をoobject markerUsually pronounced o. Marks what the action affects; English often expresses this through word order.
- にさつnisatsutwo (counter for books)
- かいます。kaimasuwill buy (polite)
“I” is understood from context here; there is no written Japanese word for it in this sentence.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- パンpanbread / bread rolls
- をoobject markerUsually pronounced o. Marks what the action affects; English often expresses this through word order.
- みっつmittsuthree (general count)
- おねがいします。onegaishimasuplease (polite request)
Ask for a price politely
いくらですか asks how much something costs. これはいくらですか makes the item explicit. 円 is yen; 百円 is ひゃくえん.
お願いします is a polite request with a noun or order. ください can also follow the item requested. Be careful with allergies: these beginner phrases cannot guarantee detailed dietary communication. Practice saying the specific item you need clearly.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- これkorethis thing
- はwatopic markerPronounced wa. Marks what the following comment is about; it is not the word “is”.
- いくらikurahow much (price)
- ですdesuis (polite)
- か。kaquestion markerMakes this a question. English may change its word order or add an auxiliary instead.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- みずmizuwater
- をoobject markerUsually pronounced o. Marks what the action affects; English often expresses this through word order.
- ください。kudasaiplease give me
The natural English order omits “give me”; ください supplies the request.
Lesson vocabulary
Listen once, say it aloud, and try to recall the Japanese before looking.
| Japanese / reading | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| 一つ ひとつ | one (general count) | |
| 二つ ふたつ | two (general count) | |
| 三つ みっつ | three (general count) | |
| 一人 ひとり | one person | |
| 二人 ふたり | two people | |
| いくら いくら | how much (price) |
Practice questions
Try every question, then check your answers. Punctuation and spacing do not affect your score. Use the displayed Japanese spelling or the complete kana reading; mixed spellings are accepted only when explicitly listed. Long vowels, small kana, and verb endings matter.
Showing an answer makes that question a practice item worth zero for this attempt. Retry with the answers hidden when you’re ready. If audio cannot play, use Show answer / text to practice by reading.
Independent practice
These are independent practice tasks. The site does not record your voice, save your writing, or grade open-ended answers. Ask a teacher or conversation partner for feedback when you can.
Speaking practice
Act out ordering two items, adding a drink, and asking the total price.
Writing practice
Write the readings for 一つ, 二つ, 三つ, 一人, and 二人 without looking.
Review the lesson objectives
Select the tasks you can complete independently. This self-assessment does not change your quiz score.
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