つ

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. りんごを一つください。▶ —
   One apple please.
2. 三つあります。▶ —
   There are three.

Collocations

Mnemonic

Tsu-counter (つ) is "general counter" — B + cluster (yamato-kotoba native-Japanese counter cluster). Native readings 1–9: hitotsu, futatsu, mittsu, yottsu, itsutsu, muttsu, nanatsu, yattsu, kokonotsu (10 = too). Ko (個) is Chinese-borrowed; tsu is yamato-kotoba native. Korean hana / dul / set series and Chinese yi / er / san single; Japans yamato / kango 2-way split.

Quick check

1. Tsu-counter range?

   • 1–9 native (10 = too); from 10 use Chinese-borrowed ko (個)
   • 1–100
   • 1–999
   • No limit