Numbers
Two sets of numbers: native Korean and Sino-Korean.
Korean has two sets of numbers. The native Korean numbers count things and people, hours and years of age. The Sino-Korean numbers, from Chinese, are for dates, money, minutes, phone numbers and most measures, and for anything over 99.
| Native | Sino-Korean | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 하나 hana | 일 il |
| 2 | 둘 dul | 이 i |
| 3 | 셋 set | 삼 sam |
| 4 | 넷 net | 사 sa |
| 5 | 다섯 daseot | 오 o |
| 6 | 여섯 yeoseot | 육 yuk |
| 7 | 일곱 ilgop | 칠 chil |
| 8 | 여덟 yeodeol | 팔 pal |
| 9 | 아홉 ahop | 구 gu |
| 10 | 열 yeol | 십 sip |
| 20 | 스물 seumul | 이십 isip |
| 30 | 서른 seoreun | 삼십 samsip |
| 40 | 마흔 maheun | 사십 sasip |
| 50 | 쉰 swin | 오십 osip |
| 100 | 백 baek | |
| 1,000 | 천 cheon | |
| 10,000 | 만 man |
The native numbers go up to 99 (아흔아홉 aheunahop). Tens and units join as in English: 열하나 yeolhana 11, 스물다섯 seumuldaseot 25; 십일 sibil 11, 이십오 isibo 25.
Before a counter
Before a counter or a noun, the native 1 to 4 and 20 shorten:
| Alone | Before a counter |
|---|---|
| 하나 | 한 han: 한 개 one thing |
| 둘 | 두 du: 두 명 two people |
| 셋 | 세 se: 세 시 three o'clock |
| 넷 | 네 ne: 네 살 four years old |
| 스물 | 스무 seumu: 스무 살 twenty years old |
Large numbers
Sino-Korean numbers group by ten thousands, 만, not thousands: 10,000 is 만 (not "ten thousand"), 100,000 is 십만 simman "ten ten-thousands", and 1,000,000 is 백만 baengman. Before 백, 천 and 만, "one" is left out: 백 "100", 천 "1,000", 만 원 "10,000 won".
- iman ocheon wonieyo.It's 25,000 won.
Phone numbers
Phone numbers are read digit by digit in Sino-Korean, with 공 gong for zero: 010-1234-5678 is 공일공 일이삼사 오육칠팔.
Cards from this guide
9 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.
Which numbers count things and people: native Korean or Sino-Korean?
Native Korean: 하나, 둘, 셋...
What are the native Korean numbers one to five?
하나, 둘, 셋, 넷, 다섯.
What are the Sino-Korean numbers one to five?
일, 이, 삼, 사, 오.
What does 하나 (one) become before a counter, as in 'one thing'?
한: 한 개.
How do you say 'twenty years old' with 살 (years of age)?
스무 살 (seumu sal).
How do you say 10,000 in Korean?
만 (man).
How do you say 100,000?
십만 (simman).
How is zero read in a phone number?
공 (gong).
What's 25 in native Korean numbers?
스물다섯 (seumuldaseot).