Japanese Counter for Large Animals (頭) – Horses, Cows, etc
Learn how to count large animals in Japanese using 頭
In Japanese, large animals are commonly counted using the counter 「頭」(とう / tou).
This counter is used for large animals such as cows, horses, elephants, whales, and other livestock animals.
Basic Pattern
Most numbers follow the simple pattern:
number + 頭
Examples:
1頭 (いっとう / ittou)
2頭 (にとう / nitou)
3頭 (さんとう / santou)
Common Usage
牛が三頭います。 (ushi ga santou imasu)
Meaning: There are three cows.
This counter is mainly used in agriculture, farming, and when referring to large animals.