何個ですか

nan'ko desu ka
phraseBeginner how many 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

何本ですかphrase
how many (long objects)

💡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

what
root
+
counter for small objects
root
+
ですか
polite question form
suffix
和英辞典