Small ke

The small ke (ヶ) is a Japanese character, typographically a small form of the katakana character ケ ke. While identical in shape to a small ケ (which is originally from 介), and sometimes written as a large character, ヶ is actually an abbreviation for the kanji 箇, specifically by writing half of the bamboo radical 竹 (⺮). 箇, alternatively written as 個 (or 个), is a common Japanese counter word. ヶ is also as an abbreviation for the Japanese conjunctive particle が. It is pronounced ka (sometimes ko) when it specifies a counter, or ga when it specifies a conjunction, but not ke. However, ヶ is not used as a general abbreviation for 箇 or 個. For example, 個人 kojin "individual" will not be written as ×ヶ人 (except possibly as very informal ryakuji; contrast with 〆, as an abbreviation for 締). Note that 個 is used in various words, but 箇 is generally only used as a counter, or as a variant of 個. When used as a counter, the katakana カ or ヵ are sometimes used instead. When used as a counter but pronounced ko, the katakana コ is sometimes used instead (chiefly in informal writing). The most familiar example as a counter is for counting months, as in 1ヶ月 (ik-ka-getsu, one month [duration]) where it is pronounced ka. Other common examples are places 〜ヶ所 (-ka-sho) and countries 〜ヶ国 (-ka-koku). An example where it is pronounced as ko is when counting small objects, such as pieces of fruit or candy, where one may write 一ヶ (ik-ko), rather than the more formal 一個; this is particularly common in hand-written signs at shops, though 一コ is also common. When used as the conjunction 〜が〜 (-ga-), it has the same meaning as 〜の〜 (-no-) which is more common in modern Japanese and...