Learn the two sets through examples
Korean uses native Korean numbers and Sino-Korean numbers, which have Chinese origins. They serve different purposes in everyday speech; one set is not simply more polite than the other.
| Native (고유어) Use native Korean numbers with common counters for people, objects and cups: 두 명 means two people, 세 개 means three objects, and 한 잔 means one cup or glass. Use Sino-Korean numbers for prices, calendar dates, building floors and phone numbers. For example, 오천 원 means ₩5,000 and 육 층 means the sixth floor. |
|---|
The two expressions for three months, 삼 개월 and 세 달, illustrate why the following word matters: 개월 uses Sino-Korean numbers, while 달 uses native numbers. Both can describe a length of three months.
Read and say the time
For ordinary clock times, use native numbers for the hour and Sino-Korean numbers for the minutes. For example, 두 시 삼십 분 means 2:30.
| Time | Korean | Romanised |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 | 한 시 | han si |
| 2:30 | 두 시 삼십 분 | du si samsip bun |
| 6:45 | 여섯 시 사십오 분 | yeoseot si sasibo bun |
| 9:05 | 아홉 시 오 분 | ahop si o bun |
| 12:00 | 열두 시 | yeoldu si |
Put 오전 before a morning time and 오후 before an afternoon or evening time: 오후 세 시 means 3 p.m. Timetables and tickets often use 24-hour notation, so 15:00 also means 3 p.m.
Count objects, people and food
| Counter | For | Numbers | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 개 | objects, the general-purpose one | native | 이거 세 개 주세요 (three of these, please) |
| 명 | people | native | 네 명이요 (four people) |
| 분 | people, respectfully | native | 몇 분이세요? (how many in your party?) |
| 마리 | animals, fish, insects | native | 토끼 두 마리 (two rabbits) |
| 잔 | cups and glasses | native | 커피 두 잔 (two coffees) |
| 병 | bottles | native | 맥주 세 병 (three bottles of beer) |
| 그릇 | bowls of food | native | 국수 한 그릇 (one bowl of noodles) |
| 장 | flat sheets — paper, tickets | native | 두 장 주세요 (two, please) |
| 켤레 | pairs — shoes, socks | native | 신 두 켤레 (two pairs of shoes) |
| 벌 | sets of clothes | native | 옷 한 벌 (one outfit) |
| 살 | years of age | native | 스무 살 (twenty years old) |
| 층 | floors of a building | Sino | 육 층 (sixth floor) |
| 원 | won | Sino | 오천 원 (₩5,000) |
| 인분 | portions of a dish | Sino | 이인분 (two portions) |
개 is a useful general counter for individual objects. 이거 두 개 주세요 means “Two of these, please.” It does not replace every counter; for example, use 두 명이요 to say that there are two people in your party.
Staff may ask 몇 분이세요?, meaning “How many people?” Here 분 is a respectful counter for people. You can answer with 명.
인분 counts food portions and takes Sino-Korean numbers: 일인분, 이인분, 삼인분 mean one, two and three portions. It does not specify a universal weight or guarantee how much will satisfy each diner. Check the menu's portion details or ask the restaurant.
Understand prices in ten-thousands
The word 만 means 10,000. For example, 삼만 원 is three times ten thousand won, or ₩30,000. Add any smaller amount that follows: 만 이천 원 is ₩10,000 plus ₩2,000, or ₩12,000.
| Price | Said as | Romanised |
|---|---|---|
| ₩1,000 | 천 원 | cheon won |
| ₩5,000 | 오천 원 | ocheon won |
| ₩10,000 | 만 원 | man won |
| ₩12,000 | 만 이천 원 | man icheon won |
| ₩30,000 | 삼만 원 | samman won |
| ₩50,000 | 오만 원 | oman won |
| ₩150,000 | 십오만 원 | sibo-man won |
| ₩1,000,000 | 백만 원 | baengman won |
Printed prices normally group digits with commas in thousands, even though the spoken number uses 만. If you are unsure of a spoken price, ask to see it written or displayed on a calculator before paying.
Recognise dates, floors and phone numbers
Dates use Sino-Korean numbers with 년 for the year, 월 for the month and 일 for the day. 10월 9일 means 9 October. June and October are pronounced 유월 and 시월.
Building floors use 층: 6층 is the sixth floor, and 지하 1층 is the first basement level, commonly marked B1. Subway Line 3 is 3호선, and Exit 5 is 5번 출구.
Read phone numbers digit by digit, commonly using 공 for zero. 1330 is 일삼삼공. Keep important numbers written down if you are unsure how to say them.
The National Institute of Korean Language's orthography guidance and Standard Korean Dictionary provide further examples.
