263
匹
Counter for Small Animals
ひき (hiki)
JLPT N2
Interesting Fact
Japanese uses different counters for different objects. 匹 is the standard counter for small animals such as cats, dogs, fish, rabbits, and insects.
Memory Trick
Imagine counting three playful puppies: one puppy, two puppies, three puppies. Counting small animals helps you remember 匹 is the counter for them.
Readings
Onyomi: ヒツ (hitsu)
Kunyomi: ひき (hiki)
Example Words
一匹
いっぴき (ippiki)
One small animal
二匹
にひき (nihiki)
Two small animals
三匹
さんびき (sanbiki)
Three small animals
匹数
ひきすう (hikisuu)
Number of animals
Example Sentence
公園 で 猫 を 二匹 見ました。
こうえん で ねこ を にひき みました。
kouen de neko o nihiki mimashita
I saw two cats in the park.