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The counter differs depending on the size or shape of the food. As for cakes and apples, both つ and 個 are used.
Japanese counter word - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Your sentence was correct.So I couldn't use it say for all fruits - apple, mango etc? I know that flat objects have different word. Was hoping to find some common ground!
Was my sentence grammatically correct?
Thank you all for your replies. I just get mixed up sometimes with which counter.Your sentence was correct.
As far as getting by, the TSU counting is most important because you will be understood. So you can use that as your common ground for physical things. Especially when it comes to food and drink and shopping. Even if you use it for paper, books, etc. Of course if you want to learn Japanese properly, you'll need to memorize the various count suffixes.
Yes it's the same pattern except since dogs are living you need a different verb e.g. いぬがさんびきいます。One more question: is the sentence I wrote able to be substituted. By that I mean can I use the same sentence but replace "cake" with say "dog/inu") and change mittsu to the small animal count? Or do I need to reword it?
examples of countersSo I couldn't use it say for all fruits - apple, mango etc? I know that flat objects have different word. Was hoping to find some common ground!
Probably most learners would have the same feelings.I just get mixed up sometimes with which counter.
examples of counters
玉
たま
relatively big spherical fruits
スイカ一玉
すいかひとたま
a watermelon
(玉 can be used also for apples.)
房
ふさ
bunch
バナナ一房
ばななひとふさ
a bunch of bananas
ブドウ二房
ぶどうふたふさ
two bunches of grapes
本
ほん
stick
バナナ一本
ばなないっぽん
a stick of banana
粒
つぶ
relatively small fruits
ブドウ一粒
ぶどうひとつぶ
a grape
イチゴ三粒
いちごみつぶ/さんつぶ
three strawberries
It's understandable if you use こ or つ for all these fruits, but I have to point out that they don't always work well. For instance, it is uncertain whether ブドウひとつ refers to a bunch of grapes or a grape.
Probably most learners would have the same feelings.