Numbers are everywhere—shopping, telling time, making reservations, talking about age. If you want to function in Korea or understand Korean content, you need to know Korean numbers.
Here’s the catch: Korean has two number systems. But don’t worry—this complete guide will make it crystal clear when to use each.
Why Korean Has Two Number Systems
Korean numbers come from two sources:
- Native Korean numbers (순우리말 숫자) - Ancient Korean counting
- Sino-Korean numbers (한자어 숫자) - Borrowed from Chinese
Think of it like English using both “one, two, three” and “first, second, third”—different systems for different purposes.
The good news: You only need to learn 1-99 in native Korean. Everything else uses Sino-Korean.
Let’s break down both systems and when to use them.
Section 1: Korean Numbers Basics
Native Korean Numbers (1-99)
Used for: Age, hours, counting objects with counters
| Number | Korean | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 하나 | hana |
| 2 | 둘 | dul |
| 3 | 셋 | set |
| 4 | 넷 | net |
| 5 | 다섯 | daseot |
| 6 | 여섯 | yeoseot |
| 7 | 일곱 | ilgop |
| 8 | 여덟 | yeodeol |
| 9 | 아홉 | ahop |
| 10 | 열 | yeol |
Tens:
- 20 = 스물 (seumul)
- 30 = 서른 (seoreun)
- 40 = 마흔 (maheun)
- 50 = 쉰 (swin)
- 60 = 예순 (yesun)
- 70 = 일흔 (ilheun)
- 80 = 여든 (yeodeun)
- 90 = 아흔 (aheun)
Combining:
- 21 = 스물하나 (seumul hana)
- 35 = 서른다섯 (seoreun daseot)
- 47 = 마흔일곱 (maheun ilgop)
Sino-Korean Numbers (1-∞)
Used for: Minutes, dates, money, phone numbers, addresses
| Number | Korean | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Larger numbers:
- 100 = 백 (baek)
- 1,000 = 천 (cheon)
- 10,000 = 만 (man)
- 100,000 = 십만 (sip-man)
- 1,000,000 = 백만 (baek-man)
Examples:
- 25 = 이십오 (i-sip-o)
- 346 = 삼백사십육 (sam-baek-sa-sip-yuk)
- 1,999 = 천구백구십구 (cheon-gu-baek-gu-sip-gu)
Full guide: Korean Numbers: How to Count (Native + Sino)
Section 2: Sino vs Native Numbers - When to Use Each
This is where most learners get confused. Here’s your cheat sheet:
Use Native Korean Numbers For:
Hours (when telling time)
- 2시 = 두 시 (du si) - 2 o’clock
Age
- 25살 = 스물다섯 살 (seumul-daseot sal) - 25 years old
Counting objects with counters
- 사람 세 명 (saram se myeong) - three people
- 사과 두 개 (sagwa du gae) - two apples
Note: Native numbers change form before counters:
- 하나 → 한 (han)
- 둘 → 두 (du)
- 셋 → 세 (se)
- 넷 → 네 (ne)
- 스물 → 스무 (seumu)
Use Sino-Korean Numbers For:
Minutes (when telling time)
- 2시 30분 = 두 시 삼십 분 (du si sam-sip bun) - 2:30
Dates
- 5월 3일 = 오월 삼일 (o-wol sam-il) - May 3rd
Money
- 5,000원 = 오천 원 (o-cheon won) - 5,000 won
Phone numbers
- 010-1234-5678 = 공일공 일이삼사 오육칠팔
Addresses & floors
- 3층 = 삼 층 (sam cheung) - 3rd floor
Mathematical calculations
- 1 + 2 = 3 → 일 더하기 이는 삼
Full guide: Sino vs Native Numbers: Complete Rules
Section 3: Counting in Korean with Counters
Korean uses counters (like “sheets” of paper or “heads” of cattle in English). The counter changes based on what you’re counting.
Common Counters
| Counter | Used For | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 개 (gae) | General objects | 사과 세 개 (3 apples) |
| 명 (myeong) | People (polite) | 학생 다섯 명 (5 students) |
| 분 (bun) | People (very polite) | 손님 세 분 (3 guests) |
| 마리 (mari) | Animals | 고양이 두 마리 (2 cats) |
| 권 (gwon) | Books | 책 한 권 (1 book) |
| 잔 (jan) | Cups/glasses | 커피 두 잔 (2 cups of coffee) |
| 병 (byeong) | Bottles | 물 세 병 (3 bottles of water) |
| 장 (jang) | Flat objects | 종이 네 장 (4 sheets of paper) |
| 대 (dae) | Vehicles/machines | 차 한 대 (1 car) |
| 살 (sal) | Age | 스물다섯 살 (25 years old) |
Pattern: Noun + Native Number + Counter
Structure: [Thing] + [Number] + [Counter]
Examples:
- 사람 세 명 (saram se myeong) - three people
- 고양이 다섯 마리 (goyangi daseot mari) - five cats
- 커피 두 잔 (keopi du jan) - two cups of coffee
Full guide: Counting in Korean: Complete Counter Guide
Section 4: Days of the Week in Korean
Days of the week use Sino-Korean numbers + 요일 (yoil - “day of week”):
| Day | Korean | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 월요일 | woryoil |
| Tuesday | 화요일 | hwayoil |
| Wednesday | 수요일 | suyoil |
| Thursday | 목요일 | mogyoil |
| Friday | 금요일 | geumyoil |
| Saturday | 토요일 | toyoil |
| Sunday | 일요일 | iryoil |
Asking what day: “오늘 무슨 요일이에요?” (oneul museun yoirieyo?) “What day is today?”
Answering: “월요일이에요” (woryoirieyo) “It’s Monday”
Full guide: Days of the Week in Korean
Section 5: Months in Korean
Months use Sino-Korean numbers + 월 (wol - “month”):
| Month | Korean | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1월/일월 | irwol |
| February | 2월/이월 | iwol |
| March | 3월/삼월 | samwol |
| April | 4월/사월 | sawol |
| May | 5월/오월 | owol |
| June | 6월/유월 | yuwol |
| July | 7월/칠월 | chirwol |
| August | 8월/팔월 | parwol |
| September | 9월/구월 | guwol |
| October | 10월/시월 | siwol |
| November | 11월/십일월 | sibirwol |
| December | 12월/십이월 | sibiwol |
Note: June (6월) is pronounced “yuwol” not “yukwol”
Dates: Number + 일 (il - “day”)
- March 15th = 3월 15일 (samwol sip-o-il)
- December 25th = 12월 25일 (sibiwol isip-o-il)
Full guide: Months in Korean: Complete Guide
Section 6: Telling Time in Korean
Time in Korean uses both number systems:
- Hours: Native Korean (하나, 둘, 셋…)
- Minutes: Sino-Korean (일, 이, 삼…)
Basic Time Format
[Hour]시 [Minute]분
Examples:
| Time | Korean | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 | 한 시 | han si |
| 2:30 | 두 시 삼십 분 | du si samsip bun |
| 3:15 | 세 시 십오 분 | se si sibo bun |
| 11:45 | 열한 시 사십오 분 | yeolhan si sasibo bun |
| 12:00 | 열두 시 | yeoldu si |
AM and PM
오전 (ojeon) - AM / morning 오후 (ohu) - PM / afternoon
- 오전 9시 = 9 AM
- 오후 3시 = 3 PM
Asking for Time
“몇 시예요?” (myeot siyeyo?) “What time is it?”
“지금 몇 시예요?” (jigeum myeot siyeyo?) “What time is it now?”
Quarter and Half Hours
15분 = 십오 분 (sibo bun) - 15 minutes 30분 = 삼십 분 (samsip bun) OR 반 (ban) - 30 minutes / half past
- 2시 반 (du si ban) = 2:30
Full guide: Telling Time in Korean: Complete Guide
Section 7: Practical Number Usage
Shopping
“이거 얼마예요?” (igeo eolmayeyo?) “How much is this?”
“5,000원이에요” (o-cheon wonieyo) “It’s 5,000 won”
Restaurants
“2명이에요” (du myeongieyo) “Two people”
“3번 테이블” (sam beon teibeul) “Table number 3”
Phone Numbers
Korean phone numbers: 010-1234-5678
Read as: 공일공 (010) 일이삼사 (1234) 오육칠팔 (5678)
Note: 0 is read as 공 (gong) in phone numbers
Reservations
“내일 오후 7시에 4명 예약하고 싶어요” (naeil ohu ilgop sie ne myeong yeyakago sipeoyo) “I’d like to make a reservation for 4 people tomorrow at 7 PM”
Reading Numbers Fluently in Korean
Knowing numbers is one thing—but can you recognize them instantly when reading Korean text?
Whether you’re:
- Reading menus with prices
- Checking K-drama timestamps
- Following recipes
- Reading Korean news
You need to read numbers at natural speed, not calculate them slowly.
Batchim includes number recognition drills that build automatic reading speed for both number systems.
Complete Numbers Article Directory
Number Systems
- Korean Numbers: How to Count (Native + Sino)
- Sino vs Native Numbers: When to Use Each
- Counting in Korean with Counters
Time & Dates
Next Steps: Practice Numbers Daily
Numbers are fundamental to Korean. Here’s how to practice:
- Count everything - Objects around you, floors in buildings
- Tell time in Korean - Check your watch and say it in Korean
- Read prices - When shopping or looking at menus
- Practice with Batchim - Download the app for daily number drills
- Learn related grammar - Check our Grammar Guide for particles used with numbers
Conclusion: Master Korean Numbers
Korean numbers might seem complicated with two systems, but they follow clear rules:
✅ Native Korean: Hours, age, counting with counters (1-99) ✅ Sino-Korean: Minutes, dates, money, addresses (all numbers)
Once you internalize these patterns, using Korean numbers becomes automatic.
Ready to practice? Download Batchim and start building number fluency today.
Related Guides:
숫자 공부 화이팅! (Happy number studying!) 🔢🇰🇷