匹

• Reading: ひき
• Romaji: hiki
• Kanji breakdown: 匹 (hiki) — originally a unit of cloth; now counter for small animals
• Pronunciation: /çi.ki/

Meaning

Counter for small and medium-sized animals such as cats, dogs, fish, and insects.

Used for animals roughly smaller than a person: cats, dogs, fish, insects, rabbits, and more. Larger animals like horses and elephants use 頭 (とう) instead. Has notable sound changes: 一匹 (いっぴき), 二匹 (にひき), 三匹 (さんびき), 六匹 (ろっぴき), 八匹 (はっぴき), 十匹 (じゅっぴき).

Examples

1. 猫を二匹飼っています。 I have two cats.
2. 池に魚が何匹いますか。 How many fish are in the pond?
3. 庭で犬が一匹遊んでいます。 A dog is playing in the yard.

Usage Guide

Context: pets, nature, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 匹 originally meant a roll of cloth, a standard unit of measurement. Its use as an animal counter developed separately in Japanese, possibly because animals were counted alongside goods in trade.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal