The number of your fingers

[koheychan]

:?

I've found that some of native English speakers say they have got "EIGHT fingers." And some say "TEN fingers." I think it depends on if you count your thumbs as your fingers or not. Which is preferable for non-native speakers and which is more commonplace?

Could somebody please help me?

 

[Tdol]

I'd generally say 10, unless I wanted to distiguish the thumbs.

 

[koheychan]

I'd generally say 10, unless I wanted to distiguish the thumbs.

Hi Tdol Thank you for your answer.

A teacher of mine taught me that it's wrong to say you have 10 fingers; you have only 8 fingers. I've wondered about it but I know the answer.

By the way when do you prefer to distinguish the thumbs? I'm Japanese and I very scarcely differentiate them from the other fingers when counting. Actually I don't think I have ever done. Could you give me some example when I should say 8 instead of 10, if there's any? :?:

 

[Tdol]

I can't think of a natural case where I would, except to point out that we have thumbs.

BTW-

I very scarcely differentiate them

.... would be better if you used 'seldom' or 'rarely'. ;-))