Meaning and Usage
"ダース" is a loanword from English "dozen," used in Japanese to count items in groups of twelve. It is commonly used in shopping contexts, especially for products like eggs, pens, or other small items sold in bulk.
Common Collocations
- ダースで買う: to buy by the dozen
- ダース単位: unit of a dozen
- ダースまとめて: a dozen all together
Usage Notes
This term is mostly used in casual and business contexts where bulk buying is involved. It is not a formal counting word but a practical unit for commerce. Learners sometimes confuse "ダース" with the native Japanese counters for small objects, but "ダース" specifically means twelve items grouped together.
Register and Politeness
"ダース" is neutral in politeness and can be used in both casual and formal speech, depending on the rest of the sentence.
Common Mistake
Avoid using "ダース" for quantities other than twelve. For example, saying "二ダース" (two dozen) is correct, but "三ダース半" (three and a half dozen) is less common and might be replaced by exact numbers.