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何個ですか
nan'ko desu ka
how many are there
このリンゴは何個ですか？
How many apples are there?
formalinformal
A polite question asking about the quantity of items, typically used in formal or casual contexts to inquire about the number of objects, people, or things.
この本は何個ありますか？
How many books are there?
お菓子は何個食べましたか？
How many sweets did you eat?
This phrase is commonly used in everyday conversations to ask about quantities. It can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns, though it is most frequently used with countable items.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Counter Usage
The counter '個' is used for small, round, or indistinct objects. For other types of objects, different counters are used (e.g., '本' for long objects, '枚' for flat objects).
Word Origin
Composed of '何' (nan, meaning 'what'), '個' (ko, a counter for small objects), and 'ですか' (desu ka, a polite question form).
Usage Notes
The counter '個' is used for small, round, or indistinct objects. For other types of objects, different counters are used (e.g., '本' for long objects, '枚' for flat objects).
Word Breakdown
何
what
root個
counter for small objects
rootですか
polite question form
suffix和英辞典