Order food and count things
Use useful counters and polite ordering phrases.
Order an item politely.
Hear the lesson phrases
Google voice when available; device voice as a fallback.
Read the audio transcript
いらっしゃいませ。
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
Read each word aloud, then test your recall of its meaning.
| 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
Answer the questions and read the explanations. You can repeat the exercises.
Ask a price.