Japanese Counter for Houses (軒) – Counting Houses and Buildings
Learn how to count houses and buildings in Japanese using 軒
In Japanese, houses and small buildings are counted using the counter 軒 (けん / ken).
This counter is commonly used for houses, shops, restaurants, and small buildings. It is often used when talking about buildings along a street or in a neighborhood.
Basic Pattern
Number + 軒 (けん / ken)
Examples:
2軒 (にけん / niken)
3軒 (さんけん / sanken)
5軒 (ごけん / goken)
Important Sound Changes
Some numbers change pronunciation when combined with 軒 (けん / ken).
1軒 (いっけん / ikken)
6軒 (ろっけん / rokken)
8軒 (はっけん / hakken)
10軒 (じゅっけん / jukken)
Common Usage
この通りには家が三軒あります。
(このとおりにはいえがさんけんあります / kono toori ni wa ie ga sanken arimasu)
Meaning: There are three houses on this street.
近くにレストランが二軒あります。
(ちかくにレストランがにけんあります / chikaku ni resutoran ga niken arimasu)
Meaning: There are two restaurants nearby.
This counter is useful when talking about buildings in a neighborhood, along a street, or when describing locations of shops and houses.