| Korean | Romanization | English | Usage Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 하나 | hana | one | Pure Korean system (objects, age) |
| 일 | il | one | Sino-Korean system (dates, money) |
| 둘 | dul | two | Pure Korean system |
| 이 | i | two | Sino-Korean system |
| 셋 | set | three | Pure Korean system |
| 삼 | sam | three | Sino-Korean system |
| 명 | myeong | people counter | Standard form |
| 분 | bun | people counter | Honorific form |
| 개 | gae | object counter | Generic counter |
| 마리 | mari | animal counter | All animals |
You want to order two coffees in Seoul but all that comes out is incomprehensible gibberish? Welcome to the fascinating world of Korean numbers! Unlike Japanese, which I usually teach, Korean has this unique feature: two completely different number systems that coexist in daily life. During my travels in Korea, I realized that no conversation goes by without these numbers, whether it’s negotiating a price at Myeongdong market or understanding your Korean conversation partner’s age.
The Traditional Korean System: Everyday Numbers
Koreans use their traditional system in very specific situations. When you hear someone say their age or order dishes in a restaurant, this is the system that comes into play.
- 하나 (hana): one – Watch out, this word transforms into “한” when it precedes a counter
- 둘 (dul): two – Becomes “두” in constructions with counters
- 셋 (set): three – Shortens to “세” before counters
- 넷 (net): four – Takes the form “네” with counters
- 다섯 (daseot): five – This one never changes form
- 여섯 (yeoseot): six – Also stable in all situations
- 일곱 (ilgop): seven – The pronunciation trap with that silent final “ㅂ”
- 여덟 (yeodeol): eight – Same trap as seven
- 아홉 (ahop): nine – Easier to remember
- 열 (yeol): ten – The base for building all numbers up to 19
Amusing quirk: this system stops dead at 99. Beyond that, even Koreans switch to the other system! It’s as if our brain had two separate drawers for numbers.
The Sino-Korean System: Chinese Heritage
Here’s the system you’ll hear in train stations, on billboards, or when someone gives you a price. It comes directly from Chinese influence on Korea.
- 일 (il): one – Used for dates, money, numbers
- 이 (i): two – Shorter than “dul” and very common
- 삼 (sam): three – Like in “Samsung” actually
- 사 (sa): four – Be careful, this number is unlucky in Korea!
- 오 (o): five – Simple to remember
- 육 (yuk): six – Somewhat particular pronunciation
- 칠 (chil): seven – Easier than its Korean equivalent
- 팔 (pal): eight – Short and efficient
- 구 (gu): nine – Don’t confuse with “고”
- 십 (ship): ten – The base for building 20, 30, etc.
This system allows expressing huge numbers. 백 (baek) for hundred, 천 (cheon) for thousand, 만 (man) for ten thousand. In a Korean shop, 2500 won is said “이천오백원” (icheon-obaek-won).
Korean Counters: The Art of Categorizing
Here begins the real adventure! In Korean, you can’t simply say “two cars”. The structure requires: noun + number + counter. It’s as if each category of objects had its own magic word.
- 명 (myeong): counter for people – In everyday life, widely used
- 분 (bun): honorific counter for people – When you want to be polite
- 마리 (mari): counter for all animals – From cats to tigers
- 개 (gae): universal counter for objects – Your lifeline when you don’t know
- 대 (dae): counter for vehicles and machines – Cars, computers, phones
- 권 (gwon): counter for books – Practical in bookstores
- 장 (jang): counter for flat sheets – Paper, photos, cards
- 병 (byeong): counter for bottles – Beer, soju, water
Concrete example: “two cats” is said 고양이 두 마리 (goyang-i du mari). The noun comes first, then the Korean number, then the counter. In a café, “three americanos” becomes 아메리카노 세 잔 (amerikano se jan).
Temporal and Financial Counters
Time and money exclusively use the Sino-Korean system. These counters come up constantly in conversations.
- 원 (won): the monetary unit – Impossible to escape in Korea
- 년 (nyeon): counter for years – 2023년 (icheon-iship-sam-nyeon)
- 월 (wol): counter for months – 삼월 (sam-wol) for March
- 일 (il): counter for days of the month – 십오일 (ship-o-il) for the 15th
- 분 (bun): counter for minutes – Careful, same character as the honorific counter but different context
- 초 (cho): counter for seconds – In sports timing
- 시간 (sigan): counter for hours of duration – “two hours of class”
- 번 (beon): counter for times – “three times per week”
At a restaurant, when you pay 오천원 (ocheon-won) for a bibimbap, you use the Sino-Korean system. But if you order for three people, you’ll say 세 명 (se myeong) with the traditional Korean system.
When to Use Which System?
This question often comes back from my students. Here are the rules I’ve observed in the field:
- Traditional Korean system: people’s age, hours (1 o’clock, 2 o’clock…), objects with counters, food quantities
- Sino-Korean system: money, dates, minutes, phone numbers, building floors, large quantities
- Both: depending on the counter used – some only accept one system
For example, to say your age, you’ll always use the traditional system: 스물다섯 살 (seumul-daseot sal) for 25 years old. But for a birth date, it’ll be Sino-Korean: 일구구팔년 (il-gu-gu-pal-nyeon) for 1998.
Pronunciation Pitfalls and Tips
A few details that make all the difference when speaking with Koreans:
- 여덟 (yeodeol): this final ㅂ is never pronounced, it’s a classic trap
- 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷: these first four numbers contract before counters
- 사 (sa): avoided in certain contexts because it resembles the word “death”
- 십 + digit: for Sino-Korean tens, very regular
- 열 + digit: for 11-19 in the traditional system
In the elevator of a Korean building, you’ll often notice that the 4th floor is replaced by “F” or completely absent. This superstition around the number four even influences architecture!
If you really want to progress in your Korean learning and discover other fascinating subtleties of this language, why not consider some personalized lessons? Each language has its own logic, and understanding them completely changes your relationship with communication!