Korean Numbers: The Complete Guide to Counting in Korean
Learning to count is an essential skill when studying any language. Korean has two number systems: Native Korean numbers and Sino-Korean numbers. Each system has its own usage and applications. This comprehensive guide will help you master both systems and understand when to use each one.
Native Korean Numbers System
Native Korean numbers are original Korean numerals that have been used since ancient times. They are primarily used for:
- Counting objects
- Telling time (hours)
- Counting people's age
- Counting up to 99
Here are the Native Korean numbers from 1 to 10:
| Number | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 하나 | hana |
| 2 | 둘 | dul |
| 3 | 셋 | set |
| 4 | 넷 | net |
| 5 | 다섯 | daseot |
| 6 | 여섯 | yeoseot |
| 7 | 일곱 | ilgop |
| 8 | 여덟 | yeodeol |
| 9 | 아홉 | ahop |
| 10 | 열 | yeol |
For numbers beyond 10 in the Native Korean system:
| Number | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | 열하나 | yeol-hana |
| 12 | 열둘 | yeol-dul |
| 20 | 스물 | seumul |
| 30 | 서른 | seoreun |
| 40 | 마흔 | maheun |
| 50 | 쉰 | swin |
| 60 | 예순 | yesun |
| 70 | 일흔 | ilheun |
| 80 | 여든 | yeodeun |
| 90 | 아흔 | aheun |
To form numbers between these tens, simply add the single digit after the tens. For example:
- 21 = 스물하나 (seumul-hana)
- 45 = 마흔다섯 (maheun-daseot)
- 99 = 아흔아홉 (aheun-ahop)
Sino-Korean Numbers System
Sino-Korean numbers came from Chinese and are typically used for:
- Dates
- Money
- Phone numbers
- Math calculations
- Numbers above 100
- Minutes in telling time
Here are the Sino-Korean numbers from 1 to 10:
| Number | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 일 | il |
| 2 | 이 | i |
| 3 | 삼 | sam |
| 4 | 사 | sa |
| 5 | 오 | o |
| 6 | 육 | yuk |
| 7 | 칠 | chil |
| 8 | 팔 | pal |
| 9 | 구 | gu |
| 10 | 십 | ship |
For larger numbers in the Sino-Korean system:
| Number | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 백 | baek |
| 1,000 | 천 | cheon |
| 10,000 | 만 | man |
| 100,000 | 십만 | ship-man |
| 1,000,000 | 백만 | baek-man |
To form numbers in between, combine the digits together. For example:
- 11 = 십일 (ship-il)
- 25 = 이십오 (i-ship-o)
- 378 = 삼백칠십팔 (sam-baek-chil-ship-pal)
- 4,962 = 사천구백육십이 (sa-cheon-gu-baek-yuk-ship-i)
When to Use Each Number System
Native Korean Numbers (1-99)
- Counting objects: 사과 한 개 (sagwa han gae) - one apple
- Hours: 세 시 (se si) - 3 o'clock
- Ages: 스물다섯 살 (seumul-daseot sal) - 25 years old
- Counting sequence: 하나, 둘, 셋... (hana, dul, set...) - one, two, three...
Sino-Korean Numbers
- Minutes: 삼십 분 (samship bun) - 30 minutes
- Dates: 이천이십오년 오월 십삼일 (i-cheon-i-ship-o-nyeon o-wol ship-sam-il) - May 13, 2025
- Money: 만 원 (man won) - 10,000 won
- Phone numbers: 일-이-삼-사 (il-i-sam-sa) - 1-2-3-4
- Numbers above 100: 천 오백 (cheon-o-baek) - 1,500
Counters in Korean
Korean uses specific counters (also called measure words) that follow numbers when counting different items. The counter used depends on what you're counting.
Common counters include:
- 개 (gae) - general counter for objects
- 명/인 (myeong/in) - for people
- 살 (sal) - for age
- 병 (byeong) - for bottles
- 잔 (jan) - for cups/glasses
- 권 (gwon) - for books
- 마리 (mari) - for animals
- 대 (dae) - for machines, vehicles
- 장 (jang) - for flat objects (papers, tickets)
Examples:
- 사과 세 개 (sagwa se gae) - three apples
- 학생 다섯 명 (haksaeng daseot myeong) - five students
- 책 두 권 (chaek du gwon) - two books
- 고양이 한 마리 (goyangi han mari) - one cat
Tips for Learning Korean Numbers
- Practice daily: Try counting objects around you in Korean.
- Use flashcards: Create flashcards with numbers on one side and Korean pronunciation on the other.
- Learn through context: Practice using numbers in common phrases like telling time or prices.
- Number games: Play number games in Korean with friends or language partners.
- Real-life application: Try to calculate prices or read signs with numbers when in Korea.
Examples in Context
At a Restaurant
- 물 한 잔 주세요. (Mul han jan juseyo.) - Please give me one glass of water.
- 김치찌개 두 그릇 주문할게요. (Kimchi-jjigae du geureut jumunhalgeyo.) - I'll order two bowls of kimchi stew.
Shopping
- 이 사과는 천 오백 원이에요. (I sagwaneun cheon-obaek wonieyeo.) - This apple is 1,500 won.
- 티셔츠 세 장 살게요. (Tisyeocheu se jang salgeyo.) - I'll buy three t-shirts.
Phone Call
- 내 전화번호는 공일공 사오육칠 팔구삼이에요. (Nae jeonhwabeonhoneun gong-il-gong sa-o-yuk-chil pal-gu-sam-i-eyo.) - My phone number is 010-4567-8932.
Telling Time
- 지금 여섯 시 삼십 분이에요. (Jigeum yeoseot si samship bunieyeo.) - It's now 6:30.
Remember to practice both number systems regularly as they are fundamental to everyday Korean conversation.
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