Numbers
Korean has two completely separate number systems, and you must use the right one in each context. This seems complicated at first, but the rules are clear: Native Korean numbers are used for counting objects, telling age, and hours on the clock. Sino-Korean numbers (borrowed from Chinese) are used for dates, money, phone numbers, minutes, and addresses. Mixing them up marks you as a beginner.
Native Korean numbers (1–10)
Native Korean numbers only go up to 99 in practical use (larger numbers use Sino-Korean). Notice that 1–4 have shortened forms when used with counters. These shortened forms (한, 두, 세, 네) are what you'll actually say when counting things:
| Number | Korean | Before counter |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🔊 하나 | 🔊 한 |
| 2 | 🔊 둘 | 🔊 두 |
| 3 | 🔊 셋 | 🔊 세 |
| 4 | 🔊 넷 | 🔊 네 |
| 5 | 🔊 다섯 | 🔊 다섯 |
| 6 | 🔊 여섯 | 🔊 여섯 |
| 7 | 🔊 일곱 | 🔊 일곱 |
| 8 | 🔊 여덟 | 🔊 여덟 |
| 9 | 🔊 아홉 | 🔊 아홉 |
| 10 | 🔊 열 | 🔊 열 |
| 20 | 🔊 스물 | 🔊 스무 |
Sino-Korean numbers
Sino-Korean numbers are based on Chinese and are used for most formal and numerical contexts: dates, money, phone numbers, addresses, minutes, and large numbers. Unlike Native Korean numbers, these go up indefinitely and follow regular patterns — once you know 1–10, you can construct any number:
| Number | Korean |
|---|---|
| 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 (sip) |
| 100 | 🔊 백 (baek) |
| 1000 | 🔊 천 (cheon) |
| 10000 | 🔊 만 (man) |
Building numbers: 11 = 🔊 십일, 23 = 🔊 이십삼, 456 = 🔊 사백오십육
Counters
Like Chinese and Japanese, Korean uses "counters" (also called classifiers) between numbers and nouns. You can't say "three apples" directly — you must say "apple three [counter for general objects]". The counter 개 (gae) is the general-purpose counter and will work for most objects if you don't know the specific one:
| Counter | Used for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 개 | General objects | 🔊 사과 세 개 (3 apples) |
| 명 | People (polite) | 🔊 두 명 (2 people) |
| 마리 | Animals | 🔊 고양이 한 마리 (1 cat) |
| 병 | Bottles | 🔊 물 두 병 (2 bottles) |
| 잔 | Cups | 🔊 커피 한 잔 (1 cup of coffee) |
| 권 | Books | 🔊 책 세 권 (3 books) |
Telling time
Here's where both number systems come together: hours use Native Korean numbers, but minutes use Sino-Korean. "1:30" is "한 시 삼십 분" — "one" (Native Korean) "o'clock thirty minutes" (Sino-Korean). This hybrid system takes practice but becomes natural:
- 🔊 1시 30분 (한 시 삼십 분) — 1:30
- 🔊 5시 15분 (다섯 시 십오 분) — 5:15
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 🔊 지금 몇 시예요? | What time is it now? |
| 🔊 세 시예요 | It's 3 o'clock |
| 🔊 반 | half (30 minutes) |
Days of the week
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 🔊 월요일 | Monday |
| 🔊 화요일 | Tuesday |
| 🔊 수요일 | Wednesday |
| 🔊 목요일 | Thursday |
| 🔊 금요일 | Friday |
| 🔊 토요일 | Saturday |
| 🔊 일요일 | Sunday |
Months and dates
Months: Number + 월 (one = 일월) Dates: Number + 일 (one = 일일)
- 🔊 3월 15일 — March 15th
Age
Use native Korean + 살:
- 🔊 스물다섯 살이에요 — I'm 25 years old