Ask-a-Teacher Question

<< more questions for course 3

Question to Teacher: What does ICHIDO mean? Is it a counter?
Course 3 Lesson 2: Mikami Sensei (Counters)

Myron

Post Date: 2005-09-05 22:46:38

save to notebook

saved questions

member since
2005 Aug 25

Questions: 2
Comments: 1

In this lesson, we've covered the -kai extension to describe a number of times that something occurs. However, the phrase "mou ichido itte kudasai" rings in the back of my head. What is "ichido"? Is it another way to describe a frequency, or is it restricted to the meaning of "one time"? For example, can I say "mou ni-do itte kudasai"? :)

Thanks in advance. The site is great, keep it up ;P

Was this question helpful to you?

JFZ Teacher (Kanako)

Post Date: 2005-09-05 22:53:12

member since
2003 Mar 03

Questions: 10
Comments: 1302

ど (DO) and かい (KAI) are counters commonly used to express frequency.

once = いちど (ICHIDO) / いっかい (IKKAI)
twice = にど (NIDO) / にかい (NIKAI)
three times = さんど (SANDO) / さんかい（SANKAI)
four times = よんど (YONDO) / よんかい (YONKAI)

You can use either one, but Japanese people usually do not use the DO counter when they count more than 4. They tend to use the KAI counter instead.

So you can say;

1) もういちど、いってください。(MOU ICHIDO ITTEKUDASAI) = Please say it one more time.
or
2) もういっかい、いってください。(MOU IKKAI ITTEKUDASAI) = Please say it one more time.

One more example;

1) きょう、たなかさんにさんど、でんわしました。(KYOU TANAKA SAN NI SANDO DENWASHIMASHITA) = Today I called Mr. Tanaka three times.
or
2) きょう、たなかさんにさんかい、でんわしました。(KYOU TANAKA SAN NI SANKAI DENWASHIMASHITA) = Today I called Mr. Tanaka three times.

Hope this helps,

Kanako @ YesJapan Teacher

Myron

Post Date: 2005-09-12 21:55:38

member since
2005 Aug 25

Questions: 2
Comments: 1

I got it.
Thanks, the reply did clear up the question :)

dtm

Post Date: 2005-09-29 07:30:38

member since
2005 Sep 18

Questions: 2
Comments: 7

How many?
Are the terms nando/nankai proper?