How are you?
I'm Hoorimi from BDB Korean.
Our next gathering is approaching, and I'm excited! This time, I want to practice Korean numbers with you because many Korean learners struggle with them. We usually learn Korean numbers when we are beginners, but there's a difference between knowing them and being able to use them in conversation. The key is practice! Let's practice Korean numbers together, and don't be confused when using Sino numbers or Native numbers.
In this post, I'll organize how to read numbers. Then, in the next post, let's practice how to use these numbers in conversation!
Sino Number
Basic Numbers (1-10):
1 일 (il) - One
2 이 (i) - Two
3 삼 (sam) - Three
4 사 (sa) - Four
5 오 (o) - Five
6 육 (yuk) - Six
7 칠 (chil) - Seven
8 팔 (pal) - Eight
9 구 (gu) - Nine
10 십 (ship) - Ten
Compound Numbers (11-99):
Numbers from 11 to 19 are formed by combining "십 (ship)" with the respective units (일, 이, 삼, etc.)
Example: 11 is "십일 (ship-il)" (10 + 1), and 19 is "십구 (ship-gu)" (10 + 9).
Numbers from 20 to 99 are constructed by combining the tens place with the units place.
Example: 23 is "이십삼 (i-ship-sam)" (20 + 3), and 48 is "사십팔 (sa-ship-pal)" (40 + 8).
Hundreds, Thousands, and Ten Thousands:
100 백 (baek) - Hundred
1000 천 (cheon) - Thousand
10000 만 (man) - Ten Thousand
For hundreds, you use the respective digit (1-9) followed by "백 (baek)."
Example: 300 is "삼백 (sam-baek)" (3 + 100).
For thousands, you use the respective digit (1-9) followed by "천 (cheon)."
Example: 4,000 is "사천 (sa-cheon)" (4 + 1,000).
For ten thousands, you use the respective digit (1-9) followed by "만 (man)."
Example: 70,000 is "칠만 (chil-man)" (7 + 10,000).
Native Number
1 하나 (hana) - One
2 둘 (dul) - Two
3 셋 (set) - Three
4 넷 (net) - Four
5 다섯 (daseot) - Five
6 여섯 (yeoseot) - Six
7 일곱 (ilgop) - Seven
8 여덟 (yeodeol) - Eight
9 아홉 (ahop) - Nine
10 열 (yeol) - Ten
20 스물
30 서른
40 마흔
50 쉰 (swin)
60 예순 (yeosun)
70 일흔 (ilheun)
80 여든 (yeodeun)
90 아흔 (aheun)
100 백 (baek)
Compound Numbers (11-99):
Numbers from 11 to 19 are formed by combining the respective units (하나, 둘, 셋, etc.) with "열 (yeol)."
Example: 13 is "열셋 (yeol-set)" (10 + 3), and 18 is "열여덟 (yeol-yeodeol)" (10 + 8).
Numbers from 20 to 99 are constructed similarly to the Sino-Korean system by combining the tens place with the units place.
Example: 25 is "스물다섯 (seumul-daseot)" (20 + 5), and 48 is "마흔여덟 (maheun-yeodeol)" (40 + 8).
Hundreds, Thousands, and Ten Thousands: same with Sino number.
Have you all been studying hard? Here are a few quizzes where you can check what you've studied. Take a look, and feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions.
Korean Numbers Quiz: Native vs Sino
Section 1: Write the corresponding Native number.
5 = ___________
12 = ___________
26 = ___________
32 = ___________
54 = ___________
Section 2: Write the corresponding Sino number.
50 = ___________
67 = ___________
98 = ___________
33 = ___________
21 = __________
Section 3: Identify the Korean number system used. Write "Native" or "Sino."
오십팔 = ___________
이천십이 = ___________
열둘 = ___________
스물 = ___________
삼십오 = ___________
Answer Key:
Section 1: 다섯 / 열둘 / 스물여섯 / 서른둘 / 쉰넷
Section 2: 오십 / 육십칠 / 구십팔 / 삼십삼 / 이십일
Section 3: Sino / Sino / Native / Native / Sino