How to Say "Three of Something" in Japanese

三つ

mittsu[mʲit̚t͡sɨ]

The English phrase "three of something" is expressed in Japanese as 三つ (mittsu).

三つ is used to refer to a quantity of three general items or objects.

Which one should you use?

While 三つ is used for general objects, it should not be used for people, animals or long cylindrical objects, as these require different counters.

三つ is a native Japanese counter used for general objects and does not require a specific noun counter to be attached to it.

mittsu

While 三つ is used for objects, referring to a three-year-old child often uses the same word, 三つ, to describe their age in the native counting system.
Japanese has a unique phrase 三つ巴 which refers to a three-pronged comma-like swirl, a common heraldic symbol representing the balance of three powerful forces.
The 'tsu' in 三つ is a remnant of an ancient Japanese counting system that predates the use of Chinese-derived numbers. It belongs to a set of native Japanese counters used for many common objects.

Yui and Ren are at a bakery choosing pastries.

結衣 Yui

パンを三つ選びましょう。
Pan o mittsu erabimashou.
Let's choose three breads.
蓮 Ren

いいですね。何にしますか？
Ii desu ne. Nani ni shimasu ka?
That sounds good. Which ones will you pick?
結衣 Yui

カレーパンを三つにします。
Kareepan o mittsu ni shimasu.
I will take three curry breads.
蓮 Ren

わかりました。注文しますね。
Wakarimashita. Chuumon shimasu ne.
Understood. I will order them.

Sources

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