Numbers (숫자)

Master both Sino-Korean and Native Korean number systems – count, tell time, state your age, and handle prices.

Two Number Systems in Korean

Korean uses two different number systems depending on the context:

Sino-Korean numbers (한자어 수) – based on Chinese characters. Used for dates, money, phone numbers, minutes, addresses, and numbers above 100.
Native Korean numbers (고유어 수) – original Korean numbers. Used for age, counting objects (with counters), hours of time, and numbers 1-99.

Sino-Korean Numbers (1-100)

Number	Korean	Romanization
Number	Korean	Romanization
1	일	il	10	십	sip
2	이	i	20	이십	isip
3	삼	sam	30	삼십	samsip
4	사	sa	40	사십	sasip
5	오	o	50	오십	osip
6	육	yuk	60	육십	yuksip
7	칠	chil	70	칠십	chilsip
8	팔	pal	80	팔십	palsip
9	구	gu	90	구십	gusip
100	백	baek	1000	천	cheon

Forming higher numbers: 11 = 십일 (10+1), 25 = 이십오 (20+5), 135 = 백삼십오 (100+30+5).

Native Korean Numbers (1-99)

Number	Korean	Romanization	Number	Korean	Romanization
1	하나	hana	10	열	yeol
2	둘	dul	20	스물	seumul
3	셋	set	30	서른	seoreun
4	넷	net	40	마흔	maheun
5	다섯	daseot	50	쉰	swin
6	여섯	yeoseot	60	예순	yesun
7	일곱	ilgop	70	일흔	ilheun
8	여덟	yeodeol	80	여든	yeodeun
9	아홉	ahop	90	아흔	aheun

Forming teen numbers: 11 = 열하나 (10+1), 25 = 스물다섯 (20+5). Note: 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷 become 한, 두, 세, 네 when used with counters (e.g., 한 개 = one item).

Using Numbers: Age, Time, Counters

Age (Native Korean + 살)
저는 25살입니다. (Jeoneun 25(sal)imnida.) – I am 25 years old.

Hours (Native Korean + 시)
1시 (han si) – 1 o'clock
2시 (du si) – 2 o'clock

Minutes (Sino-Korean + 분)
5분 (o bun) – 5 minutes
30분 (samsip bun) – 30 minutes

Counters (개, 명, 잔, etc.)
사과 한 개 (sagwa han gae) – one apple
사람 두 명 (saram du myeong) – two people

Practice Dialogue (At a Cafe)

Barista: 뭐 드릴까요? (Mwo deurilkkayo?) – What can I get you?

Customer: 커피 두 잔 주세요. (Keopi du jan juseyo.) – Two cups of coffee, please.

Barista: 한 잔에 4,500원입니다. 총 9,000원이에요. (Han jane 4,500 wonimnida. Chong 9,000 wonieyo.) – One cup is 4,500 won. Total 9,000 won.

Customer: 아, 비싸네요. 그럼 한 잔만 주세요. (A, bissaneyo. Geureom han janman juseyo.) – Oh, that's expensive. Then give me just one cup.

Barista: 알겠습니다. 여기 있습니다. (Algesseumnida. Yeogi itsseumnida.) – Here you are.

Customer: 감사합니다. (Gamsahamnida.) – Thank you.

Exercise

Write the following numbers in Korean (Sino-Korean unless specified otherwise):

8 → ___________
15 → ___________
32 → ___________
100 → ___________
Age 22 (Native Korean + 살) → ___________
3:15 (time) → ___________ 시 ___________ 분

Show answers

1. 팔 (pal)
2. 십오 (sibo)
3. 삼십이 (samsipi)
4. 백 (baek)
5. 스물두 살 (seumuldu sal)
6. 세 시 십오 분 (se si sibo bun)

Cultural note: When counting objects, you must use a specific counter depending on the item (개 for general objects, 명 for people, 대 for vehicles, 잔 for cups, etc.). Also, the numbers 2, 3, 4, and 5 change form when used with counters (둘→두, 셋→세, 넷→네, 하나→한). Age is always asked using Native Korean numbers + 살 (sal). In Korean culture, age is very important for determining speech levels and social hierarchy.

Learning tip: Practice both number systems daily. For Native numbers, count objects around you (books, pens). For Sino-Korean, practice reading prices on receipts or phone numbers. Listen to Korean songs – many use numbers in lyrics. Use the phrase "몇 개예요?" (myeot gaeyeyo? – How many?) to practice counting with counters.

Continue to Day 6

آج کا سبق – خلاصہ

آج آپ نے کورین میں دو عددی نظام سیکھے: چینی کورین (سینو) اور دیسی کورین (نیٹو) نمبرز۔ عمر، وقت، قیمت، اور گنتی کے تحت استعمال کا طریقہ سیکھا۔ مشق کے جملوں کے ذریعے سمجھا۔

کل ہم کورین میں بنیادی فعل اور جملے کی ساخت سیکھیں گے۔ مشق جاری رکھیں!

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