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A2 noun 10 min read

〜回

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 〜回 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 〜回 in your Level:

At the A1 level, learners encounter '〜回' (kai) as a simple tool to describe basic habits and frequency. You will mostly use it with very common numbers (1, 2, 3) to say things like 'I eat three times a day' or 'I go to the park once a week.' The focus at this stage is purely on the 'Number + Kai' structure. You will learn the specific pronunciations for 'one time' (ikkai) and 'two times' (nikai). It's important to remember that in Japanese, you don't need to pluralize the counter; 'sankai' covers both 'three time' and 'three times.' You will also learn the question word 'nankai' (how many times) to ask simple questions about someone's routine. This counter is essential for completing basic self-introductions where you might talk about how often you study Japanese or exercise.

As an A2 learner, you expand your use of '〜回' to discuss hobbies, travel experiences, and more detailed schedules. You will start using the particle 'ni' to express frequency over a period (e.g., 'tsuki ni nikai' - twice a month). You also begin to distinguish between 'kai' and 'kai-me' (the nth time). This is crucial for telling stories, such as 'This is the second time I have visited Kyoto.' You'll become more comfortable with the irregular pronunciations for 6 (rokkai), 8 (hakkai), and 10 (jukkai). At this level, you might also see 'kai' in the context of television episodes or simple sports scores. You are moving from just stating facts to describing the patterns of your life and comparing frequencies with others.

At the B1 level, '〜回' becomes a versatile tool for more complex communication. You will use it in business contexts to describe the frequency of meetings, the number of times a product has been tested, or the number of iterations in a project. You'll start to notice the difference between 'kai' and 'do' (another counter for times) and begin to use 'do' in more formal or abstract situations while keeping 'kai' for repetitive actions. You will also encounter 'kai' in formal event titles (e.g., 'Dai-go-kai' for 'The 5th Annual...'). Your grammar will include using 'kai' with particles like 'mo' (as many as) and 'shika... nai' (only) to express your subjective feeling about the frequency. For example, 'I've already told you ten times!' (Juukkai mo iimashita yo!).

By B2, you are expected to use '〜回' with high precision and understand its use in specialized fields. You will hear it in news reports discussing economic cycles or the frequency of natural disasters like earthquakes (shindo and kaisuu). You will understand the nuance of 'nan-kai-ka' (several times) versus 'nan-kai-mo' (many times). In literature or advanced essays, you might see 'kai' used in a more abstract sense to describe the 'revolving' nature of time or history, reflecting the kanji's original meaning of 'to rotate.' You can effortlessly switch between different counters for times (do, pen, kai) depending on the desired register and tone. You also understand the use of 'kai' in technical manuals and scientific data, where it represents trials or cycles in a process.

At the C1 level, your mastery of '〜回' includes an understanding of its historical development and its role in compound words. You recognize how 'kai' functions as a prefix or suffix in academic terminology (e.g., 'kaiki' for recurrence). You are sensitive to the stylistic choices made by authors when they choose 'kai' over 'do' to emphasize the mechanical or rhythmic nature of an event. You can use 'kai' in complex rhetorical structures to emphasize persistence or redundancy. Your pronunciation is flawless, including the subtle pitch-accent variations that might occur when 'kai' is combined with different numbers. You are also aware of how 'kai' is used in specific cultural rituals or traditional arts (like tea ceremony or martial arts) to count specific movements or rounds.

At the C2 level, '〜回' is a tool you use with the same nuance and flexibility as a native speaker. You understand its deepest etymological roots and can discuss the evolution of counters in the Japanese language. You can interpret and use 'kai' in highly specialized legal, medical, or philosophical texts where the exact count of occurrences has significant implications. You might use it in creative writing to play with the concept of repetition and time. You are also familiar with archaic or extremely rare uses of the kanji in historical documents. At this level, '〜回' is not just a counter; it's a fundamental building block of the Japanese conceptualization of frequency and sequence, which you navigate with total ease and cultural insight.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

〜回 in 30 Seconds

A counter for 'times' or 'frequency' of actions and events.
Essential for daily routines, medicine dosages, and media episodes.
Features specific sound changes for numbers 1, 6, 8, and 10.
Can be made ordinal (1st, 2nd) by adding the suffix 'me'.

The Japanese counter 〜回 (kai) is one of the most fundamental and frequently used counters in the Japanese language. At its core, it signifies the number of times an action occurs or the frequency of an event. For English speakers, it most directly translates to 'times' (as in 'three times') or 'occurrences.' However, its utility extends beyond simple counting; it is the standard measure for rounds in a boxing match, innings in a baseball game (though specific terms exist, 'kai' is often used for the number of the round), and episodes of a television series or podcast. Understanding kai is essential because Japanese grammar requires specific counters for different categories of objects or concepts, and kai is the universal choice for actions and repetitions.

Core Concept: Repetition and Frequency. Use this whenever you are quantifying how often something happens or which specific instance in a sequence of events you are referring to.
Numerical Integration: It attaches directly to Sino-Japanese numbers (ichi, ni, san). Note that certain numbers trigger phonological changes (euphony) to make pronunciation smoother, such as 'ikkai' instead of 'ichikai'.
Sequence vs. Total: While 'kai' usually counts the total number of times, adding the suffix 'me' (〜回目) changes the meaning to the ordinal 'the nth time' (e.g., the third time).

私は一日に三回、歯を磨きます。(Watashi wa ichinichi ni san-kai, ha o migakimasu.)

Translation: I brush my teeth three times a day.

In a cultural context, Japanese people use kai to maintain precision in scheduling and habits. Whether you are at a doctor's office discussing how many times to take medicine, or at a gym discussing sets and reps, kai is the indispensable tool. It is also used in the titles of events, such as 'The 50th Annual Meeting' (第50回例会), showing its formal and official capacity. Unlike some counters that feel archaic, kai remains vibrant in modern digital life, used for 're-tweets,' 'views' (though 'saisei-kaisuu' is more specific), and 'login attempts.'

この映画を五回も見ました。(Kono eiga o go-kai mo mimashita.)

Translation: I have seen this movie as many as five times.

When you are asking 'how many times,' the word becomes 何回 (nankai). This is the standard way to inquire about frequency. In casual conversation, you might hear people use it to express disbelief at how many times something has happened. In business, it provides the necessary metric for performance and reliability. For instance, a machine might be tested for its 'number of uses' (shiyou kaisuu). Thus, kai bridges the gap between the mundane daily routine and high-level technical specifications.

Using 〜回 correctly requires understanding its placement within a sentence, which is often more flexible than English but follows specific patterns for clarity. Typically, the counter follows the direct object and the particle 'o', or it appears before the verb. Unlike English where we say 'three times a week,' Japanese places the time period first, followed by the particle 'ni' (per), then the count.

Frequency Pattern: [Time Period] + に + [Number] + 回. For example: 'Isshuukan ni nikai' (Twice a week).
Ordinal Use: [Number] + 回 + 目 (me). This indicates the specific instance in a series. 'Sankai-me' means 'the third time'.
Question Form: Use 'Nan-kai' to ask 'How many times?'. Often used with 'kurai' or 'gurai' to mean 'about how many times?'.

一週間に二回、ジムに行きます。(Isshuukan ni ni-kai, jimu ni ikimasu.)

Translation: I go to the gym twice a week.

A subtle but important point is the use of particles after kai. If you want to emphasize that a number is surprisingly large, you can add 'mo' (as many as). If you want to emphasize that it is surprisingly small, you might use 'shika' followed by a negative verb. For example, 'Ikkai shika ikanakatta' means 'I only went once.' This emotional coloring is very common in spoken Japanese and helps the listener understand your perspective on the frequency.

何回言ったらわかるんですか？ (Nan-kai ittara wakaru n desu ka?)

Translation: How many times do I have to tell you before you understand?

In formal documents or announcements, you will see kai used with the prefix 'dai-' (第) to denote the edition or number of an event. 'Dai-ikkai jugyou' refers to 'the first lesson/class.' This structure is vital for students to recognize in academic or corporate settings. Furthermore, when discussing probability or statistics, kai is used to define the sample size or the number of trials in an experiment, making it a key term in scientific Japanese as well.

The word 〜回 is omnipresent in Japanese society, appearing in contexts ranging from the highly casual to the strictly formal. If you are watching an anime or a TV drama, you will see the episode number displayed as '第〇回' (Episode X) or simply '〇回' in the metadata. In sports broadcasting, especially baseball—Japan's national pastime—the word kai is used to denote the innings (e.g., 'kyuu-kai ura' meaning the bottom of the ninth inning). This makes it one of the first counters a sports fan will master.

Medical Settings: Pharmacists will always use 'kai' when explaining dosages. 'Ikkai ni-jou' means 'two tablets per time/dose'.
Public Announcements: Train stations or department stores might announce the number of times a certain event or sale will occur during the day.
Gaming and Apps: Mobile games (Gacha) often track the 'number of pulls' or 'number of plays' using 'kai'.

この薬は、一日に三回飲んでください。(Kono kusuri wa, ichinichi ni san-kai nonde kudasai.)

Translation: Please take this medicine three times a day.

In the workplace, kai is used during meetings to count the number of times a project has been revised or the number of times a client has been contacted. It provides a concrete metric for productivity. You might hear a manager say, 'Kon-getsu wa nan-kai kaigi o shimashita ka?' (How many meetings did we have this month?). In educational settings, teachers use it to count the number of times a student has been absent or the number of times a kanji character should be practiced. It is the language of repetition and mastery.

野球の試合は九回まであります。(Yakyuu no shiai wa kyuu-kai made arimasu.)

Translation: Baseball games go up to the ninth inning.

Finally, in the realm of entertainment, ticket lotteries (drawn 'nan-kai' or in 'rounds') and concert tours use kai to distinguish between different performances in the same city. 'Oosaka kouen no dai-nikai' would mean the second performance of the Osaka show. For a learner, hearing kai is a signal that a quantitative measure of experience or action is being discussed, allowing you to anchor the conversation in numerical facts.

While 〜回 is generally straightforward, English speakers often fall into a few specific traps. The most common error is related to pronunciation—specifically the small 'tsu' (sokuon). Many learners say 'ichi-kai' instead of 'ikkai' or 'hachi-kai' instead of 'hakkai'. While understandable, these errors mark the speaker as a beginner and can sometimes cause confusion in fast-paced conversation where the sharp 'k' sound of the sokuon is a vital auditory cue.

Confusing with 〜度 (do): While 'do' also means 'times', it is more abstract and often used for 'degrees' or 'occasions'. Using 'do' for repetitive physical actions like jumping or blinking can sound slightly unnatural compared to 'kai'.
Misusing 〜階 (kai): This is a homophone meaning 'floor' of a building. Context usually clarifies it, but beginners might get confused when hearing 'sankai' (three times vs. third floor).
Particle Omission: Failing to use 'ni' when expressing frequency (e.g., saying 'shuukan sankai' instead of 'shuukan NI sankai') is a common grammatical slip.

~~一回に(ichi-kai ni)~~ → 一回(ikkai)に

Correction: Remember the double 'k' sound for 'one time'.

Another mistake involves the distinction between the total count and the ordinal sequence. Learners often say 'sankai' when they mean 'the third time' (sankai-me). Without the 'me', the listener assumes you are talking about a total of three occurrences. For example, 'Sankai kimashita' means 'I came three times,' whereas 'Sankai-me ni kimashita' means 'I came on the third occasion.' This distinction is crucial for scheduling and accuracy.

三回目(sankai-me)のデートです。(Sankai-me no deeto desu.)

Translation: This is our third date (the 3rd time dating).

Lastly, learners sometimes over-rely on kai when a more specific counter is needed. While kai is a great 'safety' word, using 'shiai' for matches or 'kyoku' for songs is more precise. However, at the A2 level, using kai for almost any repetitive action is acceptable and will be understood by native speakers. Just be aware that as you advance, you will learn more specialized counters that might replace kai in certain contexts.

In Japanese, several words can translate to 'time' or 'times', and choosing the right one depends on the nuance you wish to convey. The primary competitor to 〜回 (kai) is 〜度 (do). While often interchangeable, do feels slightly more formal or abstract. It is also used for degrees of temperature or angles, which kai never is. Understanding these subtle differences will elevate your Japanese from functional to natural.

〜回 (kai) vs. 〜度 (do): 'Kai' focuses on the repetition of a physical action (jumping 10 times). 'Do' focuses on the occasion or the experience (I've been to Japan once). 'Mou ichido' is more common than 'mou ikkai' for 'one more time' in polite requests.
〜遍 (pen): An older or more emphatic counter for times. You might hear 'ippen' in certain dialects (like Kansai-ben) or in set phrases like 'ippen ni' (all at once).
〜番 (ban): This means 'number' or 'turn'. While 'kai' counts how many times, 'ban' indicates whose turn it is or the rank in a list.

もう一度、お願いします。(Mou ichi-do, onegaishimasu.)

Comparison: 'Ichido' is preferred for 'once more' in polite settings.

There is also the counter 〜回忌 (kaiki), used specifically for counting the anniversaries of someone's death (e.g., 'san-kaiki' is the second anniversary/third year memorial). This shows how specialized counters can become. For general purposes, however, kai is your workhorse. If you are ever in doubt, kai is the safest bet for counting actions. Native speakers will rarely correct you for using kai instead of do, but the reverse might occasionally sound stiff.

今回は私が払います。(Kon-kai wa watashi ga haraimasu.)

Usage: 'Kon-kai' means 'this time' (referring to the current instance).

In summary, while do and kai overlap significantly, kai is the more 'mechanical' and 'repetitive' counter. Use it for habits, exercises, and numbered installments of media. Use do for experiences and polite requests. As you listen to more Japanese, you will begin to feel the 'weight' of each word—kai being the rhythmic beat of repeated actions, and do being the reflective marker of significant occasions.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The kanji looks like two squares, one inside the other, which visually represents the idea of something circling back into itself.

Pronunciation Guide

UK kaɪ

US kaɪ

The stress is flat (heiban) or slightly on the first syllable depending on the preceding number.

Rhymes With

Ai (love) Tai (Thai/Sea bream) Mai (counter for flat objects) Sai (age) Dai (stand) Hai (yes) Nai (not) Zai (wealth)

Common Errors

Saying 'ichi-kai' instead of 'ikkai'.
Saying 'hachi-kai' instead of 'hakkai'.
Saying 'roku-kai' instead of 'rokkai'.
Saying 'juu-kai' instead of 'jukkai'.
Confusing the pitch with 'kai' (shellfish) or 'kai' (meeting).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

The kanji is simple but must be distinguished from others like 'mouth' (kuchi).

Writing 2/5

Simple stroke order: outer box first, then inner box, then close outer box.

Speaking 3/5

Sound changes (ikkai, rokkai, etc.) require practice for fluency.

Listening 2/5

Usually clear in context, but can be confused with 'floor' (kai).

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

一 (ichi) 二 (ni) 三 (san) 日 (nichi) 週 (shuu)

Learn Next

〜度 (do) 〜目 (me) 〜階 (kai - floors) 〜回目 (kai-me)

Advanced

回転 (kaiten) 回遊 (kaiyuu) 輪廻 (rinne)

Grammar to Know

Sound Changes (Sokuon)

1 + 回 = いっぱい (ikkai), 6 + 回 = ろっぱい (rokkai)

Frequency with 'ni'

一週間に二回 (Twice a week)

Ordinal Suffix 'me'

三回目 (The third time)

Emphasis with 'mo'

十回も (As many as ten times)

Limitation with 'shika'

一回しか行かない (Only go once)

Examples by Level

一日に三回、ご飯を食べます。

I eat meals three times a day.

Time period + ni + Number + kai.

一週間に一回、テニスをします。

I play tennis once a week.

Ikkai (one time) has a small 'tsu'.

この映画を二回見ました。

I watched this movie twice.

Nikai (two times) is a regular pronunciation.

何回、日本へ行きましたか？

How many times have you been to Japan?

Nankai is the question form.

一日に八回、水を飲みます。

I drink water eight times a day.

Hakkai (eight times) has a small 'tsu'.

一ヶ月に四回、映画館に行きます。

I go to the movie theater four times a month.

Yon-kai (four times) always uses 'yon'.

一年に一回、旅行をします。

I travel once a year.

Ichinen ni ikkai.

毎日、五回練習します。

I practice five times every day.

Go-kai is a regular pronunciation.

これは二回目の中間テストです。

This is the second midterm exam.

Adding 'me' makes it ordinal (the 2nd time).

一日に六回、薬を飲まなければなりません。

I have to take medicine six times a day.

Rokkai (six times) has a small 'tsu'.

彼は一時間に十回も電話しました。

He called as many as ten times in one hour.

Jukkai/Jikkai (ten times) has a small 'tsu'. 'Mo' adds emphasis.

今月は三回しかジムに行きませんでした。

I only went to the gym three times this month.

Shika... nai means 'only'.

この歌を何回も聞きました。

I listened to this song many times.

Nan-kai-mo means 'many times'.

一回に二錠、飲んでください。

Please take two tablets per dose (per time).

Ikkai ni... means 'at one time' or 'per dose'.

次の回はもっと頑張ります。

I will try harder next time (next round/episode).

Tsugi no kai refers to the next instance.

日本へは三回行ったことがあります。

I have been to Japan three times.

Using 'kai' with the 'ta koto ga aru' experience pattern.

第十回の会議は来週行われます。

The 10th meeting will be held next week.

Dai- + Number + kai is used for formal editions/meetings.

このエラーは何回か繰り返されています。

This error has been repeated several times.

Nan-kai-ka means 'several times'.

一回の使用につき、百円かかります。

It costs 100 yen per use.

Ikkai no shiyou ni tsuki (per use).

数回の交渉の末、契約が成立しました。

After several rounds of negotiations, the contract was concluded.

Suu-kai means 'several/a few times'.

今回のプロジェクトは非常に重要です。

This (current) project is very important.

Kon-kai refers to 'this time/current instance'.

前回よりも成績が上がりました。

My grades improved compared to last time.

Zen-kai means 'the previous time'.

一回につき、五分間休憩してください。

Please take a five-minute break each time.

Ikkai ni tsuki (per instance).

何回言っても、彼は聞きません。

No matter how many times I tell him, he doesn't listen.

Nan-kai itte-mo (No matter how many times...).

この機械は一分間に三千回回転します。

This machine rotates 3,000 times per minute.

Kaiten (rotation) often uses 'kai'.

不適切なログインが数回ありました。

There were several inappropriate login attempts.

Abstract 'attempts' or 'occurrences' in a technical context.

試合は最終回までもつれ込みました。

The game was dragged out until the final inning/round.

Saishuu-kai refers to the 'final round' or 'final inning'.

今回の件に関しては、後ほど報告します。

Regarding this current matter, I will report later.

Kon-kai no ken is a common business phrase.

一回一回の練習を大切にしましょう。

Let's value each and every practice session.

Repeating 'ikkai' emphasizes the individual importance of each time.

そのドラマは全十回で完結します。

That drama concludes in a total of ten episodes.

Zen- + Number + kai (Total of X episodes).

彼は何回目かの挑戦で、ついに合格しました。

He finally passed on his nth attempt.

Nan-kai-me-ka (some number of times).

この薬の服用回数を守ってください。

Please adhere to the frequency of taking this medicine.

Fukuyou-kaisuu (frequency of dosage).

歴史は繰り返すとよく言われるが、今回も例外ではない。

It is often said that history repeats itself, and this time is no exception.

Using 'kon-kai' in a philosophical/historical context.

その実験は数百回に及ぶ試行錯誤の末に成功した。

The experiment succeeded after trials and errors spanning several hundred times.

Suu-hyaku-kai ni oyobu (spanning hundreds of times).

一回きりの人生を、後悔のないように生きたい。

I want to live my one-and-only life without regrets.

Ikkai-kiri (one-time only/once in a lifetime).

再生回数が急増し、動画がバズった。

The view count increased rapidly, and the video went viral.

Saisei-kaisuu is the specific term for 'view count'.

彼は今回の不祥事で、社会的信用を完全に失った。

With this current scandal, he completely lost his social credibility.

Kon-kai is used to isolate a specific event in a person's history.

この契約は、一回限りの特別条件です。

This contract is a one-time-only special condition.

Ikkai-kagiri (limited to one time).

何回も同じ過ちを繰り返すのは、愚かなことだ。

It is foolish to repeat the same mistake many times.

Nan-kai-mo emphasizes the redundancy.

一回の呼吸に意識を集中させる。

Concentrate your awareness on a single breath.

Ikkai no kokyuu (one single breath).

輪廻転生、何百回もの生を繰り返すと信じられている。

Samsara; it is believed that one repeats hundreds of lives.

Using 'kai' for metaphysical cycles of rebirth.

その作家は、一回一回の推敲に心血を注いでいる。

That author pours their heart and soul into every single revision.

Emphatic repetition 'ikkai ikkai' for meticulousness.

この儀式は、百回忌をもって節目とされる。

This ritual marks a milestone with the 100th anniversary of the person's death.

Hyaku-kaiki is a specific ritual term.

幾多の困難を乗り越え、今回ようやく日の目を見ることとなった。

After overcoming numerous difficulties, it has finally come to light this time.

Formal literary expression using 'kon-kai'.

統計学的には、試行回数が増えるほど誤差は収束する。

Statistically, as the number of trials increases, the error converges.

Shikou-kaisuu (number of trials).

一回たりとも、彼を疑ったことはない。

Not even once have I ever doubted him.

Ikkai-taritomo (not even once - very formal/emphatic).

この伝統芸能は、第何百何十何回という長い歴史を持つ。

This traditional art has a long history, reaching the several hundred and something-th performance.

Using 'kai' to track centuries of performance history.

今回の改訂により、法案の矛盾が解消された。

Through this current revision, the contradictions in the bill were resolved.

Kon-kai no kaitei (this revision).

Common Collocations

一日に三回

何回も

今回に限り

再生回数

使用回数

第一回

数回程度

最終回

一回休み

合計三回

Common Phrases

もう一回

— One more time. Used to ask for a repetition.

もう一回言ってください。

今回

— This time. Refers to the current situation or instance.

今回は私が勝ちました。

前回

— Last time. Refers to the previous instance.

前回は雨でした。

次回

— Next time. Refers to the upcoming instance.

次回も見てください。

何回か

— Several times. A few occurrences.

何回か電話しました。

一回目

— The first time. The first in a series.

一回目は緊張しました。

一回につき

— Per time. For each instance.

一回につき五分です。

何回も何回も

— Over and over again. Emphasizes persistence or annoyance.

何回も何回も言いました。

あと三回

— Three more times. Remaining count.

あと三回で終わります。

一回きり

— Only once. A unique event.

一回きりのチャンス。

Often Confused With

〜回 vs 〜階 (kai)

Means 'floors'. Pronounced the same. Context is key (buildings vs. actions).

〜回 vs 〜度 (do)

Also means 'times' but is more abstract or used for degrees of temperature.

〜回 vs 〜回目 (kai-me)

Means 'the nth time' (ordinal) whereas 'kai' is the total count.

Idioms & Expressions

"三度目の正直"

— Third time's the charm. (Note: uses 'do' but related to 'kai' concepts).

三度目の正直で合格した。

Common

"一回一回が勝負"

— Every single time is a critical moment/battle.

プロとして一回一回が勝負だ。

Enthusiastic

"今回ばかりは"

— This time, and this time only (expressing exception or seriousness).

今回ばかりは許さない。

Emphatic

"一回休み"

— To skip a turn (from board games).

疲れたから、一回休みだ。

Casual

"何回言えば気が済むのか"

— How many times do I have to say it to satisfy you? (Rhetorical/Angry).

何回言えば気が済むのか！

Informal

"一回死んだつもりで"

— As if I had died once (meaning to give one's absolute all or start over).

一回死んだつもりで頑張る。

Determined

"一回リセットする"

— To reset once (to start fresh).

関係を一回リセットしよう。

Casual

"数えきれない回数"

— A number of times that cannot be counted.

数えきれない回数、練習した。

Expressive

"一回のご縁"

— A one-time connection/encounter.

一回のご縁を大切にする。

Formal

"百回聞くより一回見る"

— Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times (Seeing is believing).

百回聞くより一回見るのが早い。

Proverbial

Easily Confused

〜回 vs 〜階

Identical pronunciation 'kai'.

Used for building levels. For example, 'sankai' could mean 'three times' or 'the third floor'. Check the verb: 'mita' (saw) implies 'times', 'itta' (went) could be either but usually floor.

三階に行きます (Go to the 3rd floor) vs 三回行きます (Go three times).

〜回 vs 〜度

Both translate to 'times' in English.

Kai is for repetitive, often physical actions. Do is for occasions or experiences. You say 'mou ichido' (one more time) to be polite, but 'mou ikkai' in sports.

三十度 (30 degrees) - Kai can never be used for temperature.

〜回 vs 〜回戦

Contains the kanji 回.

Used specifically for tournament rounds. 'Ikkai-sen' is the first match of a tournament.

一回戦で負けた (Lost in the first round).

〜回 vs 〜話

Used for episodes.

Wa is used specifically for storytelling/episodes. Kai is more general and used for the broadcast number.

第一話 (Episode 1).

〜回 vs 〜番

Relates to sequence.

Ban means 'number' or 'turn'. Kai means how many times the turn happens.

一番 (Number 1) vs 一回 (One time).

Sentence Patterns

[Number]回 [Verb]

三回食べました。

[Time]に [Number]回 [Verb]

一日に二回飲みます。

何回も [Verb]

何回も見ました。

[Number]回目

二回目です。

一回につき [Amount]

一回につき五百円です。

何回 [Verb]ても...

何回練習しても下手です。

第[Number]回 [Event]

第十回オリンピック。

[Number]回限りの [Noun]

一回限りのチャンス。

Word Family

Nouns

回数 (kaisuu) - frequency/number of times

回転 (kaiten) - rotation/revolution

回答 (kaitou) - reply/answer

回復 (kaifuku) - recovery

Verbs

回る (mawaru) - to turn/revolve

回す (mawasu) - to rotate something

繰り返す (kurikaesu) - to repeat

〜度 (do)

〜回目 (kai-me)

〜回忌 (kaiki)

〜回戦 (kaisen)

巡る (meguru)

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high. One of the top 10 most used counters in Japanese.

Common Mistakes

Ichikai → Ikkai
You must use the small 'tsu' for the number one. 'Ichikai' is incorrect pronunciation.
Shichi-kai → Nana-kai
While 'shichi' is 7, 'nana-kai' is the much more common and natural way to say 7 times.
Isshuukan sankai → Isshuukan ni sankai
You need the particle 'ni' to express 'per' week. Without it, the sentence is grammatically incomplete.
Sankai (when meaning 'the third time') → Sankai-me
Without 'me', you are just saying 'three times' (total). 'Sankai-me' specifies the third instance.
Using 'kai' for temperature → Using 'do' (度)
'Kai' is only for occurrences. For temperature or angles, you must use 'do'.

Tips

The Box Mnemonic

The kanji 回 looks like a box inside a box. Imagine a record player spinning in a box. Each full rotation is one 'kai'. It represents the 'round' and 'repetition' of the action.

The 1-6-8-10 Rule

Memorize that 1, 6, 8, and 10 are the 'special' ones. Ikkai, Rokkai, Hakkai, Jukkai. All others (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9) are just the normal number plus 'kai'. This will make you sound much more native.

Frequency Particle

Always use the particle 'ni' after the time period. 'Ichinichi NI sankai'. Think of 'ni' as 'per' in English. This is a common mistake for A1-A2 learners.

Kai vs. Kai-me

If you are counting total times, use 'kai'. If you are pointing to a specific time in a sequence (the 1st, the 2nd), use 'kai-me'. 'Sankai mita' (Saw it 3 times) vs 'Sankai-me ni mita' (Saw it on the 3rd occasion).

Baseball Context

If you hear 'kai' in a loud, energetic environment, look for a scoreboard. It's almost certainly referring to the current inning of a baseball game.

Kon-kai, Zen-kai, Ji-kai

Learn these three as a set. Konkai (this time), Zenkai (last time), Jikai (next time). They are used constantly in business, schools, and media.

Adverbial Position

Remember that 'sankai' can act like an adverb. You don't need a particle between 'sankai' and the verb. 'Sankai tabeta' is perfect Japanese.

The 'Mo' Emphasis

Japanese people often add 'mo' to 'kai' to show they are impressed or surprised by the frequency. 'Juukkai mo itta!' (I went as many as ten times!).

Kanji vs. Hiragana

While 'kai' is often written in kanji (回), in casual texting, it's sometimes written in hiragana (かい). However, for your studies, always prioritize learning the kanji.

View Counts

If you are a YouTuber or social media user, learn 'Saisei-kaisuu'. It literally means 'reproduction times' and is the standard word for 'views'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'round' or a 'cycle'. The kanji '回' looks like a whirlpool or a wheel turning. Each time it goes around, that's one 'kai'.

Visual Association

Imagine a baseball scoreboard. Each inning is a 'kai'. Visualize the number 1 to 9 followed by this square-within-a-square kanji.

Word Web

Frequency Repetition Rotation Episode Inning Round Cycle Turn

Challenge

Try to count how many times you drink water today using Japanese: 'Ikkai, nikai, sankai...' and say it out loud each time.

Word Origin

The character 回 comes from a pictograph representing something revolving or a whirlpool. It originally meant to turn or go around.

Original meaning: To revolve, to return, or a circle.

Sino-Japanese (On-yomi).

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities; it is a neutral counting word.

English speakers often use 'once, twice, thrice' or 'one time, two times'. Japanese is more consistent, using the same counter for all numbers.

Baseball innings (1-kai to 9-kai) TV Anime episode numbers (Dai-ikkai) Gacha games (10-ren kai - 10 consecutive pulls)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Health & Medicine

一日に三回
食後に一回
服用回数
一回二錠

Sports

一回表
九回裏
最終回
第一回戦

Education

十回練習する
三回目の中間テスト
何回も書く
今回の授業

Technology

再生回数
ログイン回数
一分間に千回
エラー回数

Media

全十回
第一回放送
最終回スペシャル
前回までのあらすじ

Conversation Starters

"日本に何回行ったことがありますか？ (How many times have you been to Japan?)"

"一週間に何回、料理をしますか？ (How many times a week do you cook?)"

"この映画を何回見ましたか？ (How many times have you seen this movie?)"

"一日に何回、コーヒーを飲みますか？ (How many times a day do you drink coffee?)"

"ジムに月何回行っていますか？ (How many times a month do you go to the gym?)"

Journal Prompts

今日、何回「ありがとう」と言いましたか？ (How many times did you say 'thank you' today?)

今週、何回日本語を練習しましたか？ (How many times did you practice Japanese this week?)

一番多く見た映画は何ですか？何回見ましたか？ (What movie have you seen the most? How many times?)

一日のルーティンを、回数を使って説明してください。 (Explain your daily routine using frequency counts.)

将来、何回ぐらい海外旅行をしたいですか？ (About how many times do you want to travel abroad in the future?)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Both are actually correct and used. 'Jukkai' is more common in modern daily speech, while 'jikkai' is often heard in more formal or traditional counting. Most textbooks teach 'jukkai' first. The important part is the double 'k' sound.

Yes, but the kanji is different (階). While they sound the same, 'kai' for times is 回 and 'kai' for floors is 階. In speech, you have to rely on context. If someone says 'sankai ni arimasu,' they usually mean 'it's on the 3rd floor.'

Use 'do' (度) for more formal requests, like 'mou ichido onegaishimasu.' Also use 'do' for abstract occasions or experiences, and for physical measurements like temperature and angles. Use 'kai' for mechanical repetitions, sports innings, and frequency of habits.

You can say 'mou ikkai' (informal/neutral) or 'mou ichido' (polite). If you are practicing a dance move, 'mou ikkai' is perfect. If you are asking a teacher to repeat a sentence, 'mou ichido' is better.

It means 'three times' (total count). To say 'the third time' (ordinal), you must add 'me' to make it 'sankai-me'. This is a very important distinction in Japanese grammar.

This is due to a phonological process called 'euphony' (onbin). When the 'ichi' sound meets a 'ka' sound, the 'chi' turns into a small 'tsu' to make the transition faster and easier to say. This happens with 1, 6, 8, and 10.

'Yon-kai' is the only correct way to say 4 times. 'Shi-kai' is avoided because 'shi' can also mean 'death,' and it's generally not used with the counter 'kai'.

The pattern is 'Isshuukan ni nankai?'. You start with the time period (isshuukan), add the particle 'ni' (per), and then the question word 'nankai'.

While 'kyoku' is the counter for songs, you use 'kai' to count how many times you *listened* to or *sang* a song. So, 'kono uta o sankai kikimashita' (I listened to this song three times).

Actually, you usually see 'zen-X-kai' where X is the total number of episodes. If a show only has one episode, it's a 'tanpatsu' (one-off), but if you mean 'all one time,' it's not a common phrase. You usually see 'zen-juu-kai' (all 10 episodes).