Translation guide
To ask about countable quantities, Japanese uses question words like いくつ, 何人, 何枚, etc., depending on what is being counted. The structure is often [counter] + が + ありますか／いますか or [counter] + ですか.
Ask 'how many' for general countable items when the specific counter is unknown or not needed.
The most general way to ask 'how many'. Used for small, miscellaneous objects. It is a native Japanese counter that can be used for things up to about 10, but is often used for any number when the exact counter is unclear.
りんごはいくつありますか。
How many apples are there?
いくつ欲しいですか。
How many do you want?
Uses the counter 個 (こ) for small, often round or generic objects. More specific than いくつ and can be used for larger numbers.
卵は何個必要ですか。
How many eggs do you need?
Ask 'how many people'.
The standard way to ask 'how many people'. Note the reading なんにん, not なにじん.
パーティーには何人いますか。
How many people are at the party?
何人で行きますか。
How many people are going?
Ask 'how many animals' like cats, dogs, fish.
Counter for small animals. The reading changes to びき due to rendaku.
猫を何匹飼っていますか。
How many cats do you have?
Ask 'how many large animals' like horses, cows, elephants.
Counter for large animals. 頭 means 'head'.
牧場には牛が何頭いますか。
How many cows are on the farm?
Ask 'how many' for flat things.
Counter for flat objects like paper, shirts, CDs.
紙は何枚必要ですか。
How many sheets of paper do you need?
Ask 'how many' for long, thin objects.
Counter for long, cylindrical objects. Reading changes to ぼん.
ペンを何本持っていますか。
How many pens do you have?
Ask 'how many' for bound items.
Counter for books and magazines.
この本は何冊ありますか。
How many copies of this book are there?
Ask 'how many' for mechanical items.
Counter for cars, computers, TVs, etc.
車は何台ありますか。
How many cars are there?
Japanese uses specific counters for different types of objects. If you don't know the counter, いくつ is a safe fallback for small numbers, but for larger or specific items, learning the correct counter is important. The pattern is: [item] + は/が + [number + counter] + あります/います.
りんごは三つあります。
There are three apples.
Using いくつ for people is incorrect and can be rude. Always use 何人 (なんにん) for people.