Mastering the Japanese Counter ～杯 (hai): Counting Cups, Bowls, and Glasses

In English, we say 'two cups of coffee.' In Japanese, the counter comes after the number. You attach ～杯 directly to the numeral. However, Japanese counters love to change sounds. This is the part that trips people up. The word hai can turn into pai or bai. It depends entirely on the number before it. It is like a chameleon changing colors to blend in. Once you memorize the rhythm, it becomes second nature. You will use this when ordering drinks or asking for seconds of rice. It is incredibly practical for daily life.

1. 1Counting with ～杯 follows a specific phonetic pattern. Follow these steps to get it right:
2. 2Start with the number (1, 2, 3, etc.).
3. 3Check if the number causes a sound change (1, 3, 6, 8, 10).
4. 4Add the correct version of ～杯 (hai, pai, or bai).
5. 51: 一杯 (ippai)
6. 62: 二杯 (nihai)
7. 73: 三杯 (sanbai)
8. 84: 四杯 (yonhai)
9. 95: 五杯 (gohai)
10. 106: 六杯 (roppai)
11. 117: 七杯 (nanahai)
12. 128: 八杯 (happai)
13. 139: 九杯 (kyuuhai)
14. 1410: 十杯 (juuppai)

Use ～杯 for anything served in a cup, mug, or glass. This includes coffee, tea, juice, and beer. It also applies to food served in bowls. Think of ramen, udon, or a bowl of rice. Even a spoonful of sugar uses ～杯. If you are at a bar, you will use this for every round. If you are at a ramen shop, use it for your main dish. It covers both the container and the contents. It is the 'gold standard' for liquid portions in Japan.

Do not use ～杯 for bottles. Bottles use ～本 (hon) because they are long and thin. If you buy a can of soda, use ～缶 (kan) or ～個 (ko). Do not use it for flat plates. Plates use ～枚 (mai). If you are counting the physical empty glasses as objects, you might use ～個 (ko). But if you are talking about the drink itself, stick to ～杯. Using the wrong counter is like wearing socks with sandals. People understand you, but it looks a bit 'off.'

The biggest mistake is saying ichi-hai instead of ippai. It sounds clunky to a native ear. Another common slip is using san-hai instead of san-bai. That 'b' sound is important! People also forget that ～杯 applies to ramen. They often try to use ～個 (ko) because it is a 'thing.' Remember: if it is in a bowl, use ～杯. Also, be careful with ippai. It can also mean 'full' or 'a lot.' Context will help you tell the difference. Don't worry; you'll get the hang of it.

Compare ～杯 (hai) with ～本 (hon). ～本 is for long, cylindrical things like bottles or pens. If you order a bottle of beer, use ippon. If you order a glass of beer, use ippai. Compare it with ～つ (tsu). ～つ is a general counter for everything. You can use hitotsu if you forget ippai. It is your 'emergency backup' counter. However, using ippai makes you sound much more advanced. It shows you understand the nuances of the language.