How do I read 数 in ページ数?

Question

ページ数 means number of pages. Is it すう or かず?

Answer 1

It is read すう in this case

• From Tangorin: PEEJIsuu
• From Weblio 読み方：ページすう

Answer 2

「ページ数」 is always read 「ページすう」.

Generally speaking, 「数」 is read 「かず」 when preceded by originally Japanese words, and it is read 「すう」 when preceded by Sino- and Non-Sino loanwords. Be reminded that exceptions abound regarding this matter. When unsure, consult a dictionary or call me collect.

「かず」:

「[口数]{くちかず}」(talkativeness), 「[場数]{ばかず}」(number/amount of experience(s) ), 「[品数]{しなかず}」(number of items), etc.

「すう」:

「ホームラン数」(number of homeruns), 「[台]{だい}数」(number of machines, cars, etc.), 「[支店]{してん}数」(number of branches for a company), 「ゴール数」(number of goals in soccer), etc.

A Hillarious Exception:

「[頭数]{あたまかず}」: The number of people in a given place or situation.

「[頭数]{とうすう}」: The number of (larger) animals in a given place or situation.