Stand, Platform, Counter for Machines

Interesting Fact

In Japanese, you say 車一台 (くるま いちだい) for "one car" and パソコン三台 for "three computers." 🚗💻 This counter comes from 台, meaning a stand or platform. Historically, 台 referred to a raised structure or stand that supported something. Over time, the word became associated with the machines and vehicles sitting on such structures, eventually becoming a counter for them. So when Japanese speakers count cars with 台, they're using an old idea of something being supported on a stand.