数えます（かぞえます、kazoemasu）
- to count

The Japanese verb 数えます (読み方: かぞえます) means "to count," "to enumerate," or "to reckon." It involves determining the quantity or number of something. The action focuses on the process of tallying items, people, or abstract things like days or experiences. It emphasizes the act of establishing how many of a particular thing there are. The meaning extends to the action of calculating or estimating.

⚫︎りんごを 数えます Translation: I count the apples. ⚫︎子供の数を 数えます Translation: I count the number of children. ⚫︎今日まで何日 数えましたか？ Translation: How many days have you counted until today?

⚫︎You would use 数えます when you are literally counting something: the number of items, people, or events. ⚫︎It is commonly used in various situations, such as: ⚫︎Counting objects (e.g., apples, books, money). ⚫︎Counting people (e.g., attendees at an event). ⚫︎Counting time (e.g., days, years). ⚫︎Calculating amounts (e.g., scores, expenses). ⚫︎When the emphasis is on the act of counting itself.

⚫︎The base form of the word is 数える (読み方: かぞえる). ⚫︎The polite form, as indicated, is 数えます (read as かぞえます). This is the form most commonly used in everyday conversation. ⚫︎It's written in hiragana as かぞえます. ⚫︎The kanji form is 数えます. ⚫︎The okurigana (the suffix hiragana) is always "えます."

⚫︎There is no perfect single synonym but depending on the context, you might use these: ⚫︎計算する (けいさんする): To calculate, to compute. This applies when dealing with more complex mathematical operations. ⚫︎勘定する (かんじょうする): To count/calculate (mainly money or accounts). ⚫︎見積もる (みつもる): To estimate.

⚫︎There is no single direct antonym because the meaning of 数えます is very specific. However, words or actions that indicate the opposite of counting could be considered, such as: ⚫︎減らす (へらす): To reduce, to decrease. ⚫︎捨てる (すてる): To discard, to throw away. ⚫︎忘れる (わすれる): To forget.

お皿の数を 数えて、割れていないか確認しました。 ・Translation: I counted the number of plates and checked if any were broken. ・Explanation: This sentence uses the continuous form, 数えて to show the action of counting the plates to check their condition.

試験の点数を 数え 間違えました。 ・Translation: I made a mistake when I counted the points on the exam. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates a mistake in the process of counting.

The word 数える is formed from the kanji 数, which means "number" or "count," and the verb suffix える which turns the noun to verb form.