複数
fukusū[ɸɯ̟̊kɯ̟sɨː]
The Japanese word for plural is 複数 (fukusū).
複数 can be used as an adjective meaning more than one, or as a noun referring to the plural number. It is also used to describe a word in its plural form.
Meaning: more than one (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 複数 is composed of the characters 複, meaning multiple or double and 数, meaning number.
Which one should you use?
While 複数 can mean 'plural' generally, adding the suffix 形 (form) to create 複数形 results in the specific term for 'plural form'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
fukusū
Did you know?
- To express plurality without using 複数, Japanese often uses 'counters'. These are special words that change based on whether the object is long, flat, small or animal-shaped.
- Japanese has a few pluralizing suffixes like たち (tachi), but these are primarily used for people and rarely for inanimate objects.
- The term 複数形 is used almost exclusively when discussing foreign languages, as native Japanese nouns lack the inherent 'plural form' that English nouns possess.
Examples in context
- "horse"の複数形は"horses"です。The plural of horse is horses.This sentence shows how to use 複数 to talk about the plural of a word.Tatoeba #12039548 by small_snow, translation #1178779 by Scott
- 「louse」の複数形は「lice」です。The plural form of "louse" is "lice".This sentence demonstrates the use of 複数 regarding a specific word's plural form.Tatoeba #74438 by fcbond, translation #329281 by fcbond
- エスペラントは形容詞が「a」で終わります。複数形が「j」を付けて作られます。In Esperanto an adjective ends in "a." The plural is formed by adding "j."This sentence uses 複数 to describe how plural forms are constructed in Esperanto.Tatoeba #1590726 by KamishiroRin, translation #703053 by papabear
- 二台Two (units of device/vehicle/machinery)
- 人々People
- 兄弟姉妹Siblings
- 国々Countries
- あの本、読んだ？Did you read those books?
- 何本飲む？How many (bottles) will you drink?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota is helping Himari with her English homework.
- 陽太 Yotaこの単語の複数形はどうやって書くの？Kono tango no fukusuukei wa dou yatte kaku no?How do you write the plural form of this word?
- 陽葵 Himari最後に「s」をつければいいよ。Saigo ni 's' o tsukereba ii yo.You just need to add an 's' at the end.
- 陽太 Yotaへえ、簡単だね。他のは？Hee, kantan da ne. Hoka no wa?Oh, that's easy. What about the others?
- 陽葵 Himariそれは不規則な複数形だから、辞書を見て。Sore wa fukisokuna fukusuukei dakara, jisho o mite.That one is an irregular plural, so check the dictionary.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “plural” translations and entries 複数, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
