本: Counting Long, Skinny Things 11 categories of long, skinny things that are worth counting

There are eleven different use categories for the counter 本!

Of all the counters that exist in the Japanese language, one of the most common is 本 (ほん/hon). By itself, 本 means "book" or "origin," but this fact, unfortunately, reveals nothing about its counting function. 本 is not used to count books (or superhero origin stories!), but instead for counting pencils, neckties, teeth, tires, and home runs. As you can see, none of these have much (or anything) to do with books!

According to the How to Count Dictionary (数え方の辞典), there are eleven different use categories for the counter 本! We've simplified things a bit, done some combining, and removed idiomatic usage, all of which will hopefully result in a lesson you can apply easily. We've also included explanations for how to use each counter category, along with example sentences to give you some context. By the time you're done, you'll be much more skilled at using the 本 counter!

First, though, please take a look at the following chart to see how the reading of 本 changes depending on the number. Or, better yet, familiarize yourself with the general rules around reading changes in our big Japanese Counters article. As they say, teach a man to fish and he'll read Japanese counters forever! 😜

• Pronunciation of Japanese Counter 本
• "Stick-Shaped" or "Thin and Long" Things
  • Ratio is 1:2 or Longer
  • Thin and Long Containers
  • Thin and Long Buildings or Structures
  • Thin and Long Spaces
  • Rolled-up Tapes
  • Wind and String Instruments
• The Number of (Connected) Phone Calls
• The Number of Runs for a Train or Bus
• (Good) Plays In Sports
• Things That Have a Start and End
  • Performances
  • Pieces of Writing
  • Assignments or Quota
  • Projects/Plans
  • Training Tasks
  • Movies
  • Media Segments
• Number of Products (Usually Software)
• Prize Numbers
• This Article is Just 一本 of Many

Prerequisite: If you're completely new to Japanese counters, we recommend you learn the basics first. Make sure you know how to read hiragana and katakana. We'll mention the "kango/wago/gairaigo counting method," and you can learn about all three of these Japanese numbering systems in our Counting in Japanese article. Knowing the kanji for numbers will help, too. In our example sentences and explanations, we equally use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) and Japanese kanji (一, 二, 三), since both are quite common in Japanese.

Pronunciation of Japanese Counter 本

As you know, 本 is read as ほん (hon). But Japanese pronunciation isn't so simple: sometimes it will change to ぼん or ぽん. This table covers all the reading changes for ほん as well as those for the numbers that precede it.

	Numeral	Japanese	Reading 1
	1	一本	いっぽん
	2	二本	にほん
	3	三本	さんぼん
	4	四本	よんほん
	5	五本	ごほん
	6	六本	ろっぽん
	7	七本	ななほん (しちほん)
	8	八本	はちほん/はっぽん
	9	九本	きゅうほん
	10	十本	じゅっぽん (じっぽん)
	11	十一本	じゅういっぽん
	12	十二本	じゅうにほん
	100	百本	ひゃっぽん/ひゃくほん
	1,000	千本	せんぼん
	10,000	一万本	いちまんぼん
	how many	何本	なんぼん (なんほん) (なんぽん)

When used as a counter, 本 does a good job of following general reading rules. And thank goodness! You'll need your full brain power to learn all its use categories. There are a lot of them!

"Stick-Shaped" or "Thin and Long" Things

The first big category covers the most common use case. And yet "stick-shaped" or "thin and long" is pretty vague. Let's start much wider and get narrower as we go. That way, you'll be able to count as many things as possible using 本 before you have to work with more-confusing stuff.

Ratio is 1:2 or Longer

You use 本 to count sticks of chalk, pencils, pens, tree branches, strings, laces, cords, neckties, cigarettes, and umbrellas.

The idea of a "stick-shaped thin and long thing" differs from person to person, so let's start instead with a useful guiding principle: things that have a 1:2 (or longer) ratio are probably counted using 本. They don't have to be perfect sticks, cylinders, or rectangles. As long as the object is more than twice as long as it is wide and somewhat stick/cylinder-shaped, it's likely to be accepted into the 本-counter fold. If it's shorter than a 1:2 ratio, you'd probably count it using the counter 個 (こ), or with a specific counter made for that thing.

For example, you use 本 to count sticks of chalk, pencils, pens, tree branches, strings, laces, cords, neckties, cigarettes, and umbrellas. These are all long and skinny, though the ways in which they're long and skinny vary quite a bit.

You will find some flexibility here. What about a cigarette butt, for example? If it's really short, we'd suggest using the counter 個. If it's long, 本 is probably your best bet. Again, remember that 1:2 ratio we talked about.

Plenty of items that don't seem like they'd fit in this category actually do. Even though they're round or ring-shaped, wristwatches and tires are counted with 本. That's because when they're unfurled, they're long and skinny: take off your watch, lay it down, and you'll see what I mean. The same is true for bracelets and necklaces—unless they cannot be undone, in which case they get counted with 個. How finicky!

One important point here is that 本 is usually used with inanimate objects. A whole tuna at the fish market, for example, when it's dead (or unable to move), gets counted using 本 because it's long, roughly cylindrical, and inanimate.

And yet if the same tuna were alive and swimming in the ocean, we'd use the counter 匹, which applies to animals. Interesting, right?

There are many variations to the "inanimate" rule: trees, for example, and flowers, and other growing things—which have long stalks but are living organisms—get counted with 本 because they're immobile.

Humans beings are also animate, and longer than we are wide, yet we don't count ourselves using 本. We do, however, count spines, teeth, individual hairs, arms, legs, fingers, and blood vessels using 本.

Speaking of blood vessels, other long lines of liquid get counted with 本 as well: rivers and waterways, to name just two.

Although most of these have made sense so far, there are some 本 objects we'd put in the "questionable" category. Eyeglasses, for example, are counted with 本. Maybe it's because glasses are made up of several long skinny parts, or maybe it's because telescopes came first and glasses were thought of as small, wearable telescopes. Whatever the reason, you'll find exceptions like this everywhere, and you'll just have to remember them when they arise.

Thin and Long Containers

Most long cylindrical containers get counted with 本 as well. Soda cans, plastic bottles, beer bottles, fire extinguishers, and cans of hairspray make the cut.

The correct counter to use for Mason jars and other jam and pickling jars depends on the person. Some use 本, though I think the jars aren't long and thin enough (I'm kind of a 本 stickler), so I would suggest つ, 個, or the counter for glass jars and bottles, 瓶 (びん). Other even-shorter containers, like tuna cans, definitely aren't counted with 本. For these, your best option would be to use either the cans counter 缶 (かん) or either of the two general counters.

Yet Iida, one of the authors of 数え方の辞典, makes an interesting point: if the can has something solid in it—tuna, corn, beans, etc.—it will be counted with 缶 or 個. But if it contains a liquid or gaseous substance, you would use 本. Hmmm. Which means that even though the can itself might look the same from the outside, the contents inside can change the counter you use. Overall, using 缶 or 個 is probably the safest bet, and nobody will punish you for counting a can filled with juice using 個.

Thin and Long Buildings or Structures

If a building is taller than it is wide (perhaps using our familiar 1:2-or-more ratio), you can be pretty sure it will be counted using 本. Think of a typical city skyscraper or similar urban tower, you're on the right track.

What other "buildings" are thin and long? Turn your head to the side ninety degrees, and you'll have it: bridges and the like fit the bill. They too get counted with 本.

Thin and Long Spaces

Tunnels, mines, wells, long holes, and so on are all counted with 本. I wonder how many pipes Mario has gone down… Oh! You know how to count that now!

Don't count potholes with 本, though, because they don't meet the 1:2 ratio, though maybe a really deep sinkhole would work.

Rolled-up Tapes

Certain kinds of (now older) magnetic tapes are counted using 本, too: cassette tapes, VHS tapes, and film. This is tape that doesn't decrease in length when you use it. The "tape" of film in your old camera, for example, doesn't disappear as you use it to take pictures. (If you're younger than twenty-five, you probably have no idea what I'm talking about.)

Tape that gets "used up," on the other hand, does not officially get counted using 本, though plenty of people still count it this way.

Tape that gets "used up," on the other hand, does not officially get counted using 本, though plenty of people still count it this way. Duct tape, scotch tape, toilet paper, and other similar things should be counted using 個 or 巻 (まき)—the counter for "rolls of things." For toilet paper in particular, since the actual word for it in English is (トイレットペーパー), you can use the English counter as well: ロール.

You won't be surprised to hear that there are exceptions to this. Plastic wrap, tinfoil, and wax paper are usually counted with 本, not because they're long when you unravel them, but because they are long and cylindrical when rolled up. They get a pass on the "used up" rule because they meet the requirements of a different one.

Wind and String Instruments

Wind instruments are often stick/cylinder-shaped and pipe-like, so it's understandable that you'd count them with 本. This includes flutes, clarinets, recorders, trumpets, trombones, saxophones, and more.

Stringed instruments also get counted using 本, though this feels odd. Still, think about it: the body shapes of guitars, basses, ukuleles, and other strummable instruments generally exceed the 2:1 ratio, plus they're covered with long, skinny strings. Perhaps it's not so odd after all.

An exception: harps are counted using 台 (だい), the counter used (among other things) for large, bulky instruments. Think of it this way: if you have trouble lifting the instrument off the ground, it's likely to use the 台 counter for counting.

The Number of (Connected) Phone Calls

Not that long ago, telephones were connected by long, skinny cables. Even though phones connect wirelessly now, the concept remains.

Okay. We're done with the "long, skinny, cylinder-like objects," the most common and important 本 counter category to learn. Next we'll get into the weeds a bit with some unusual and more rare uses for 本. We think they're interesting and useful!

Here's the first unexpected category: you can use 本 to count the number of connected phone calls. It makes sense if you think about it: not that long ago, telephones were connected by long, skinny cables. Even though phones connect wirelessly now, the concept remains. If it helps, think of skinny, invisible data lines connecting each phone.

Similarly, sometimes people will use 本 to count answering machine messages and online messages (normally counted with 件/けん), as well as faxes and postcards (usually counted using 通/つう). If they do use 本, however, it's because they want to emphasize the connection between them. For example, a mother might say…

…which carries the nuance that she is feeling sad her son doesn't even try to stay in touch with her. The connection isn't there. Just like you do in your own native language, Japanese people probably don't think about all this subtlety; they just speak it naturally. This is the kind of detail you'll learn from practice, not from reading a textbook.

The Number of Runs for a Train or Bus

Maybe it's due to the shape of trains and buses, or maybe it's because trains and buses run on the same stretch of track or road over and over again, but counting the number of buses and trains uses 本. This is a little hard to explain in English, so here's an example:

Even though 本 here refers to each run of a transportation service, flights and ships are counted using 便 (びん). Why? Who knows?

(Good) Plays In Sports

In sports, some plays lead to something positive, like a point or a better position. These are counted with 本.

In martial arts such as judo or kendo, players learn the word ippon (一本). Ippon is a throw or strike that leads to a point—synonymous with "winning the point."

Unsurprisingly, in baseball, the number of home runs or hits is also counted with 本. This has expanded to include swings, both hits and misses.

In hockey, soccer, American football, or basketball, shooting or passing the ball is counted with 本. In tennis, ping-pong, and volleyball, serves, smashes, or spikes use 本, too. Even a failed hit gets counted with 本. For example:

In sports that involve multiple attempts, like the javelin or hammer throw, ski jump, high jump, or diving, 本 is used to count each attempt, though it gets combined with the ordinal number prefix 目 (め). The first try will be 一本目 (いっぽんめ), the second will be 二本目 (にほんめ), and so on.

Things That Have a Start and End

When something has both a start and an end, it is often counted using 本. Think of that start and end connected by a long string of times! Here's a list of things that fit this category.

Performances

本 is used to count the number of performances for events such as plays, lectures, talk shows, or other programs.

Pieces of Writing

Though used mostly by writers or editors, 本 counts the number of papers, books, articles, scripts, or manga. That's because these artists think of their writing in terms of tasks to be completed. And yet…

…readers don't count them this way. From a reader's perspective, books are counted using 冊 (さつ), stories with 話 (わ), articles with 記事 (きじ), 個, or つ, and papers using つ.

Assignments or Quota

If a person has a fixed number of things they must do to achieve a quota, 本 is used to count them. This works for everything from business assignments to school assignments.

Projects/Plans

A number of projects or plans usually gets counted with 本.

That being said, projects and plans also commonly get counted with つ.

Training Tasks

本 is also used to count during practice and training. You'll see it used in sports, acting, singing, illustration practice, and more. 本 tallies every push-up, every lap around the field, every sketch.

Movies

Movies, since they have a clear start and end, are counted with 本 too. A double feature is referred to as 二本立て映画（にほんた　えいが）.

Media Segments

Similar to movies, 本 is used to count the number of programs on other media. It can be used by viewers, too, though it's more commonly done so by those making the content.

You can also count the number of news topics using 本. A news topic is just a tiny show, right? A short performance all its own.

Shorter than either a TV show or a news piece, advertisements are counted with 本 as well.

A weird thing about advertisements: even those that are not on TV get counted as 本. Radio, newspaper, and magazine ads are all 本, too, though this kind of counting is usually only used by the folks working on them who consider them tasks with a start and finish.

Number of Products (Usually Software)

Some products get counted with 本, the most common being video games and software.

These items were probably categorized into 本 because of cassette and VHS tapes, and because neither of them existed back when the 本 counter was first created.

Some products get counted with 本, the most common being video games and software.

Other kinds of products get counted with 本, too, though usually only by the sellers. Here's an example: recently I came across a website selling Wagyu steaks at a reasonable price. They said「30本限定」—the number of steaks one person could buy was limited to thirty. The seller used 本 to count their products. Their consumers, on the other hand, probably wouldn't.

Let's move on from these very specific instances. If you find yourself in one of them, you'll learn what you need quickly.

Prize Numbers

In drawings or contests, the number of prizes usually uses the counter 本. This comes from the fact that, back in the day, lucky winners were chosen by drawing long, thin pieces of paper out of a hat or box. Pretty cool.

This Article is Just 一本 of Many

You learned all about the Japanese counter 本! Nice going! Although there was a lot here, the most important category to learn is the first one: long and skinny sticks or cylinders. If you can retain the basics of that section, you'll be good in 99% of 本's use cases. The rest are really just a bonus.

That said, you'll find many other counters out there, and they're all almost as interesting as this one. If you haven't yet, check out some of our other counters articles, like 台, 枚, and 匹. You can find all the counters we've ever written about inside our big Japanese Counters study list—plus a whole lot more!