Korean Numbers

Korean has two separate number systems — Sino-Korean numbers (한자어 수) and Native Korean numbers (고유어 수). Understanding when to use each system is one of the most important and practical things to learn in Korean.

Why Two Number Systems? · 왜 두 가지 숫자가 있을까요?

Originally, Korean had only one number system — the Native Korean system (고유어 수). This system was used for everyday counting and traditional concepts that were part of life for a long time.

As Korean society developed and became more complex, people needed to count larger numbers and express new concepts — such as dates, money, measurements, and administrative records. To meet this need, Korea borrowed the number system from Chinese. This is the Sino-Korean system (한자어 수).

As a result, Korean ended up with two systems used side by side:

• Native Korean numbers — used for traditional concepts, smaller quantities, and things that have always been part of everyday life
• Sino-Korean numbers — used for larger numbers, new concepts, and borrowed or formal systems

💡 Think of it this way:
Native Korean numbers = the original system — personal, everyday, traditional
Sino-Korean numbers = the borrowed system — formal, large-scale, modern

For example, you count your age in Native Korean, but you say the year in Sino-Korean.

Sino-Korean Numbers · 한자어 수

Sino-Korean numbers are borrowed from Chinese and are used for larger numbers, formal contexts, and modern concepts such as dates, money, phone numbers, and measurements.

1 — 10

1 일
2 이
3 삼
4 사
5 오
6 육
7 칠
8 팔
9 구
10 십

11 — 100

11 십일
12 십이
20 이십
30 삼십
50 오십
100 백

Larger Numbers

1,000 천
10,000 만
100,000 십만
1,000,000 백만
100,000,000 억

☕ Note — Korean groups large numbers in units of 만 (10,000), not thousands like English.
10,000 = 만 (not 십천)
100,000 = 십만 (10 x 만)
1,000,000 = 백만 (100 x 만)

When to Use Sino-Korean Numbers · 언제 쓸까요?

날짜 Dates
오늘은 육월 구일이에요. Today is the 9th of June.

돈 Money
이 가방은 오만 원이에요. This bag is 50,000 won.

전화번호 Phone numbers
제 번호는 공일공-일이삼사-오육칠팔이에요.
My number is 010-1234-5678.
(Note: 0 is read as 공 in phone numbers)

분 / 초 Minutes and seconds
삼십 분이에요. It is 30 minutes.
사십오 초예요. It is 45 seconds.

층 Floor numbers
삼 층에 있어요. It is on the third floor.

년 Year
이천이십오 년이에요. It is the year 2025.

월 Month
유월이에요. It is June.
(Note: 6월 is pronounced 유월, not 육월)

Native Korean Numbers · 고유어 수

Native Korean numbers are the original Korean system. They are used for everyday counting, ages, and units of time that have always been part of traditional Korean life.

1 — 10

1 하나 (한 before a counter)
2 둘 (두 before a counter)
3 셋 (세 before a counter)
4 넷 (네 before a counter)
5 다섯
6 여섯
7 일곱
8 여덟
9 아홉
10 열

11 — 99

11 열하나
12 열둘
20 스물
30 서른
40 마흔
50 쉰
60 예순
70 일흔
80 여든
90 아흔
99 아흔아홉

☕ Native Korean numbers only go up to 99.
For 100 and above, Sino-Korean numbers are always used.

When to Use Native Korean Numbers · 언제 쓸까요?

나이 Age
저는 스물다섯 살이에요. I am 25 years old.

시 Hours (telling the time)
세 시예요. It is 3 o’clock.
열두 시예요. It is 12 o’clock.

개수 Counting objects
사과 두 개 주세요. Please give me 2 apples.
커피 한 잔 주세요. Please give me 1 coffee.

명 Counting people
학생이 열 명이에요. There are 10 students.

번 Counting occurrences
한 번 더 해 주세요. Please do it one more time.

💡 Before a counter (개, 명, 잔, 번…), the form of 1-4 changes:
하나 → 한 한 개 one (object)
둘 → 두 두 명 two (people)
셋 → 세 세 잔 three (cups)
넷 → 네 네 번 four (times)

Comparison · 비교

The clearest example of both systems working together is telling the time. Hours use Native Korean numbers, while minutes use Sino-Korean numbers.

Telling the Time · 시간 말하기

시 (hours) → Native Korean
분 (minutes) → Sino-Korean

세 시 삼십 분이에요. It is 3:30.
[세 = Native] + [삼십 = Sino-Korean]

열두 시 오십 분이에요. It is 12:50.
[열두 = Native] + [오십 = Sino-Korean]

한 시 십오 분이에요. It is 1:15.
[한 = Native] + [십오 = Sino-Korean]

Summary Table · 정리표

When to use	Sino-Korean 한자어	Native Korean 고유어
Dates 날짜	육월 구일 ✓	✗
Money 돈	오만 원 ✓	✗
Hours 시	✗	세 시 ✓
Minutes 분	삼십 분 ✓	✗
Age 나이	✗	스물다섯 살 ✓
Counting objects 개수	✗	두 개 ✓
Floor 층	삼 층 ✓	✗
Phone numbers 전화번호	공일공… ✓	✗

Practice · 연습

Exercise 1 — Sino-Korean or Native Korean?

Choose the correct number system for each situation.

1. Your age Sino-Korean / Native Korean
2. The year 2025 Sino-Korean / Native Korean
3. 3 apples Sino-Korean / Native Korean
4. 50,000 won Sino-Korean / Native Korean
5. 7 o’clock Sino-Korean / Native Korean
6. 30 minutes Sino-Korean / Native Korean
7. 10 students Sino-Korean / Native Korean
8. Phone number Sino-Korean / Native Korean

Answers

1. Your age Native Korean ✓ 스물다섯 살
2. The year 2025 Sino-Korean ✓ 이천이십오 년
3. 3 apples Native Korean ✓ 세 개
4. 50,000 won Sino-Korean ✓ 오만 원
5. 7 o’clock Native Korean ✓ 일곱 시
6. 30 minutes Sino-Korean ✓ 삼십 분
7. 10 students Native Korean ✓ 열 명
8. Phone number Sino-Korean ✓ 공일공…

Exercise 2 — Say the time in Korean

1. 2:30 → ____________________
2. 7:15 → ____________________
3. 12:00 → ____________________
4. 4:45 → ____________________

Answers

1. 2:30 → 두 시 삼십 분이에요.
2. 7:15 → 일곱 시 십오 분이에요.
3. 12:00 → 열두 시예요.
4. 4:45 → 네 시 사십오 분이에요.