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Subject: counters
From: Amanda (abartzmetrocast.net)
Date: Sun, 08 Dec 2002 02:57:37 GMT

I understand for basic counters if you are counting humans you'd use にん. I also understand that if you are counting... say, cats, you'd use ひき. And for inanimates it would be こ.

My question is this: if you are counting a part of an animate object would you use the counter for that that object (either for humans or animals) or would you use the inanimate because that seperate part itself can not have essence?

I was making up silly practice sentences and I tried to do "Four cow ears" and "Five [human] heads" but I couldn't figure out what to do. None of what I tried really sounded right.

Please help!


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