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.
How many apples are there?
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.
Ask 'how many people'.
The standard way to ask 'how many people'. Note the reading なんにん, not なにじん.
Ask 'how many animals' like cats, dogs, fish.
Counter for small animals. The reading changes to びき due to rendaku.
Ask 'how many large animals' like horses, cows, elephants.
Counter for large animals. 頭 means 'head'.
Ask 'how many' for flat things.
Counter for flat objects like paper, shirts, CDs.
Ask 'how many' for long, thin objects.
Counter for long, cylindrical objects. Reading changes to ぼん.
Ask 'how many' for bound items.
Counter for books and magazines.
Ask 'how many' for mechanical items.
Counter for cars, computers, TVs, etc.
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.
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.
How many eggs do you need?
How many people are at the party?
How many people are going?
How many cats do you have?
How many cows are on the farm?
How many sheets of paper do you need?
How many pens do you have?
How many copies of this book are there?