数える・算える|かぞえるkazoeru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N3approx.Common
Which spelling to use
数える数える(かぞえる) is the most common and most standard written form; it is the default choice for beginners.
算える算える(かぞえる) is rarely used. It is a less common written variant that you may occasionally encounter, but beginners should normally choose 数える(かぞえる).
Definitions
  1. ichidan verb, transitive verbto count; to enumerate
    あの子こは20まで数かぞえられる。↗
    That child can count to twenty.
Conjugation
Dictionary form数える(かぞえる)
Polite (masu)数えます(かぞえます)
Negative (nai)数えない(かぞえない)
polite (masen)数えません(かぞえません)
classical zu / nu数えず・数えぬ(かぞえず・かぞえぬ)
Past (ta)数えた(かぞえた)
polite (mashita)数えました(かぞえました)
Past negative (nakatta)数えなかった(かぞえなかった)
polite (masen deshita)数えませんでした(かぞえませんでした)
Te form数えて(かぞえて)
Potential数えられる(かぞえられる)
Passive数えられる(かぞえられる)
Causative数えさせる(かぞえさせる)
Causative passive数えさせられる(かぞえさせられる)
Conditional (ba)数えれば(かぞえれば)
tara数えたら(かぞえたら)
Volitional数えよう(かぞえよう)
polite (mashou)数えましょう(かぞえましょう)
Imperative数えろ(かぞえろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • SynonymカウントNeutralA loanword for counting; also the baseball count of balls and strikes and the knock-down count in boxing. For everyday counting, 「数える」 is the usual word.
  • Synonym数え上げるかぞえあげるNeutralTo count or list things one by one until every item is covered; stresses enumerating all of them. 「数える」 is mainly counting but can also mean listing.
  • Related数に入れるかずにいれるNeutralA set phrase meaning to include something in the count or take it into account. 「数える」 focuses on the act of counting itself.

Use 「数える」 for counting numbers or listing things. 「数え上げる」 stresses counting or listing every item one by one. 「数に入れる」 means to include something in the count. 「カウント」 is the loanword for sports counts like balls and strikes or a knock-down.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 1から、1ずつ足たしあげるなどにより、ものの個数こすう又または順位じゅんいを確たしかめる。
  2. 列挙れっきょする。一ひとつずつ取り上とりあげる。
  3. 数すうがそれだけのものになる。ある数量すうりょうに至いたる。
  4. ものの数かずに入いれる。その中なかの一ひとつに含ふくめる。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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