Counters + inherently plural items


Suppose I want to ask for two pairs of chopsticks for myself and someone I'm
with.

Does `お箸【はし】を二【ふた】つください` mean I'm asking for two chopsticks or two sets of
chopsticks? (Also, am I using the right counter? I'm learning from Duolingo
here..)

Can it change for other objects and their respective counters? Are there maybe
other words often used to avoid confusion about some x quantities of a thing?
I see this misunderstanding in English a bit too much, and I'm wondering if it
happens in Japanese too.




In your sentence お[箸]{はし}を[二]{ふた}つください, you're not using any counter.

ぜん is the counter for a set (or pair) of chopsticks. So, you can make clear
your meaning by using this counter. Alternatively, let's say you want three
chopsticks (for whatever reason), then you can use the counter ほん for long
slender things. Though I imagine if you ask, "はしを三本ください" you'll probably get
quizzical looks--perhaps they'll even think you mean three sets and just got
the counter wrong.

Nevertheless, if you say "はしをにほんください", you'll probably be given two chopsticks
(assuming they're not the 割{わ}り箸{ばし}). Definitely, if you ask "はしをにぜんください"
you'll get two pair of chopsticks.




In your sentence お[箸]{はし}を[二]{ふた}つください, you're not using any counter.

ぜん is the counter for a set (or pair) of chopsticks. So, you can make clear
your meaning by using this counter. Alternatively, let's say you want three
chopsticks (for whatever reason), then you can use the counter ほん for long
slender things. Though I imagine if you ask, "はしを三本ください" you'll probably get
quizzical looks--perhaps they'll even think you mean three sets and just got
the counter wrong.

Nevertheless, if you say "はしをにほんください", you'll probably be given two chopsticks
(assuming they're not the 割{わ}り箸{ばし}). Definitely, if you ask "はしをにぜんください"
you'll get two pair of chopsticks.

