Counters
개, 명, 마리, 시, 분 and the other words numbers go with.
To count something, Korean puts the noun first, then the number, then a counter, a word for the kind of thing counted: "apple three item".
- sagwa se gaethree apples
- haksaeng du myeongtwo students
| Counter | For | Numbers | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 개 gae | things in general | native | 의자 네 개 four chairs |
| 명 myeong | people | native | 학생 다섯 명 five students |
| 분 bun | people, politely | native | 손님 두 분 two guests |
| 마리 mari | animals | native | 고양이 한 마리 one cat |
| 권 gwon | books | native | 책 세 권 three books |
| 잔 jan | cups, glasses | native | 커피 두 잔 two coffees |
| 병 byeong | bottles | native | 맥주 한 병 a bottle of beer |
| 장 jang | flat things: paper, tickets | native | 표 두 장 two tickets |
| 대 dae | machines, cars | native | 차 한 대 one car |
| 살 sal | years of age | native | 스무 살 twenty years old |
| 번 beon | times | native | 한 번 once |
| 시 si | o'clock | native | 세 시 three o'clock |
| 분 bun | minutes | Sino-Korean | 삼십 분 thirty minutes |
| 원 won | won | Sino-Korean | 천 원 1,000 won |
| 층 cheung | floors | Sino-Korean | 오 층 the fifth floor |
| 번 beon | number in a series | Sino-Korean | 일 번 number one |
- keopi du jan juseyo.Two coffees, please.
- goyangiga du mari isseoyo.I have two cats.
Telling the time
Hours are native, minutes Sino-Korean: 세 시 삼십 분 se si samsip bun "3:30". 반 ban "half" can replace 삼십 분: 세 시 반.
- jigeum du si sasip bunieyo.It's 2:40 now.
Dates
Years, months and days are Sino-Korean: 년 nyeon, 월 wol, 일 il. June and October shorten their number: 유월 yuwol, 시월 siwol.
- oneureun siwol sipsam irieyo.Today is October 13th.
How many?
몇 "how many" goes in the number's place: 몇 개? "how many?", 몇 명이에요? "how many people?", 몇 살이에요? "how old are you?"
Cards from this guide
10 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Nouns and sentences cards.
In what order do the noun, number and counter go, as in 'three apples'?
Noun, number, counter: 사과 세 개.
Which counter is used for people?
명 (myeong), or politely 분 (bun).
Which counter is used for animals?
마리 (mari).
How do you say 'two coffees', with 잔 (cup)?
커피 두 잔.
Which counter goes with books?
권 (gwon): 책 세 권 'three books'.
How do you say '3:30'?
세 시 삼십 분, or 세 시 반.
How do you say 'October'?
시월 (siwol).
How do you ask 'How old are you?' with 몇 and 살?
몇 살이에요?
Which numbers go with 층 (floor): native or Sino-Korean?
Sino-Korean: 오 층 'the fifth floor'.
한 번 or 일 번: which means 'once'?
한 번.