In the last lesson, I way-too-briefly mentioned how the meaning of numbers can change simply by adding the kanji for "eye," 目（め）to the end of them.

It's a somewhat complicated topic, so I probably should have given a better explanation... but we were drowning in the fiery pits of Numbers Hell in the last lesson, so I didn't get a chance.

Therefore, rejoice, for I will teach it in this lesson.

Consider these two examples:

トマト2個買ってきて。
トマト　にこ　かって　きて。
Will you go pick up two tomatoes (at the store)?
Literally: "tomato + two things + buy (and) + come."

2個目は半額だって。
にこめ　は　はんがく　だって。
Apparently the second one is half price. // It says the second one is half price.
Literally: "the second one + は + half price + だって."

So when we just say 二個（にこ）it means "two things."

But if we add 目 (め), saying 二個目 (にこめ), then it means "the second one."

Fun Side Note: When people can't catch my name in Japanese, I will point with two fingers like I'm asking for two of something at a store and say 二個 (にこ // two [of something]). Aside from being an easy way to clarify that my name is Niko, it occasionally gets a laugh or two as a bonus. It's probably a pity laugh, as I have a pitifully low Joke Success Rate in Japanese.

Anyways, I'm not sure how to explain that any better than giving you a bunch of examples. So yeah, here we go...

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全部で何個ある？
ぜんぶ　で　なんこ　ある？
How many are there altogether?
Literally: "all + で + how many things + there are?"
Note: For example, you could ask this if someone bought you a bunch of presents, and they're all sitting on a table in front of you.

それ何個目？
それ　なんこめ？
How many is that now? // What number are you on now?
Literally: "that + what number thing?"
Note: For example, if you're watching your friend stuff his/her face with donuts one after another, you could ask this.

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4人家族です。
よにん　かぞく　です。
There are four people in my family.
Literally: "four people + family + です."

右から4人目の奴、俺の弟なんだ。
みぎ　から　よにんめ　の　やつ、　おれ　の　おとうと　なんだ。
The fourth guy from the right is my little brother.
Literally: "right + from + fourth person + の + guy, + I + の + younger brother + なんだ."

Sometimes, the difference between the English translations is nice and clear-cut, like how here we have "four people" and "the fourth person," but translation is not always so easy. T_T

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何人くらい誘おうか？
なんにん　くらい　さそおう　か？
How many people should we invite?
Literally: "how many people + about + shall we invite + か?"

何人目の恋人と結婚しましたか？
なんにんめ　の　こいびと　と　けっこんしましたか？
How many girlfriends [boyfriends] did you have before you got married? //Which number boyfriend [girlfriend] did you end up marrying?
Literally: "which number person + の + boyfriend / girlfriend + と + marriage + did?"
Note: A more direct translation would be, "Which number lover did you marry?" ...but I think the nuance of that English is quite a bit different than the Japanese. ^_^

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おいしすぎて5回もおかわりしちゃった。
おいしすぎて　ごかい　も　おかわり　しちゃった。
It was so good that I had seconds five times.
Literally: "too delicious (and) + five times + も + second helping + did (oops)."
Note: The use of ～しちゃった instead of ～した indicates that the speaker ate too much or did not intend to eat so much. The use of も also indicates that five times is a large number.

タイに来たのは5回目です。
タイ　に　きた　のは　ごかいめ　です。
This is the fifth time I've come to Thailand.
Literally: "Thailand + に + came + のは + fifth time + です."

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1日何回歯磨いてる？
いちにち　なんかい　は　みがいてる？
How many times a day do you brush your teeth?
Literally: "one day + how many times + teeth + are brushing?"
Note: When talking about routine activities, it's common to use the present progressive [present continuous] tense. In English, this would be like saying, "How many times are you brushing your teeth per day?" In this case, though, I think "How many times do you brush your teeth per day?" or the translation used in the example is better.

何回目のデートでキスした？
なんかいめ　の　デート　で　キス　した？
What [Which number] date did you have your first kiss?
Literally: "which time + の + date + で + kiss + did?"
Note: This is asking if the kiss was on the first date, second date, fifth date, and so on.

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I mostly let the examples do the explaining for this lesson. If you look over the literal translations a few times, it should make sense... somewhat. If not, then just come back and re-read this once you get to a higher level of Japanese.