Understanding ～回
The counter ～回 (～かい) is used to count the number of times an action or event occurs. It is one of the most common counters for frequency and is essential for everyday conversation.
Usage and Nuances
You attach ～回 directly after a number to indicate how many times something happens, e.g., 三回 (さんかい) means "three times." It can be used with verbs like 見る (to see), 行く (to go), or 電話をかける (to call).
Common Collocations
- 一回 (いっかい): one time
- 二回 (にかい): two times
- 何回 (なんかい): how many times?
- ～回も: emphasizes "as many as ~ times"
Register and Politeness
～回 is neutral and can be used in both casual and formal contexts. It is a straightforward way to express frequency without additional nuance.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse ～回 with ～階 (also read かい), which means "floor" or "story" of a building. Context usually clarifies the meaning, but be careful when reading or listening.
Summary
Use ～回 to count occurrences or repetitions of actions. It is a fundamental counter that appears frequently in daily Japanese, so mastering it will help you describe how often things happen naturally.