Japanese Counter for Floors (階) – Counting Building Floors
Learn how to count building floors in Japanese using 階
In Japanese, floors of a building are counted using the counter 階 (かい / kai).
This counter is used when referring to floors in buildings such as apartments, offices, shopping malls, hotels, and department stores.
Basic Pattern
Number + 階 (かい / kai)
Examples:
2階 (にかい / nikai)
5階 (ごかい / gokai)
Important Sound Changes
Some numbers change pronunciation when combined with 階 (かい / kai).
1階 (いっかい / ikkai)
3階 (さんがい / sangai)
6階 (ろっかい / rokkai)
8階 (はっかい / hakkai)
10階 (じゅっかい / jukkai)
Common Usage
レストランは三階にあります。
(レストランはさんがいにあります / resutoran wa sangai ni arimasu)
Meaning: The restaurant is on the third floor.
私の部屋は五階です。
(わたしのへやはごかいです / watashi no heya wa gokai desu)
Meaning: My room is on the fifth floor.
This counter is very common when giving directions inside buildings, hotels, and shopping malls.