In the Korean language, there are two number systems: Sino-Korean Numbers and Native Korean Numbers. In this post, we will focus exclusively on Native Korean Numbers. Native Korean numbers are primarily used in everyday life, especially when counting items, age, or describing certain quantities.
This post will explain how to use Native Korean Numbers and highlight their unique characteristics. Mastering this system is crucial for understanding the Korean language and using numbers accurately in daily conversations.
If you want to learn about Sino-Korean Numbers,
click below 👇👇👇 to check it out.
Contents
1. Definition
Native Korean numbers are one of the two number systems in the Korean language. Unlike Sino-Korean numbers, which are derived from Chinese, native Korean numbers are used primarily for counting objects and things in everyday situations, such as telling time, expressing age, and using counters for objects and people. In English, native Korean numbers do not have a direct equivalent, but they function similarly to regular cardinal numbers (one, two, three, etc.) used in counting.
2. Form (Structure)
Native Korean numbers have a unique structure, and in certain situations, they use short forms. Here’s when Native Korean Numbers use their short forms:
- When used with counters:
- 하나 becomes 한 (e.g., 한 개)
- 둘 becomes 두 (e.g., 두 명)
- 셋 becomes 세 (e.g., 세 권)
- 넷 becomes 네 (e.g., 네 마리)
- When used as part of larger numbers:
- For numbers 21-29, 스물 (20) becomes 스무 (e.g., 스무하나 – 21)
- In ordinal numbers:
- 첫 번째 (first) uses the short form 첫 instead of 하나
- When expressing age:
- 스물 (20) becomes 스무 when followed by 살 (e.g., 스무 살 – 20 years old)
These short forms are commonly used in everyday Korean and are essential for natural-sounding speech when counting objects, expressing age, or using ordinal numbers.
Here’s a table showing the structure of Native Korean and Sino-Korean numbers:
| Number | Native Korean Numbers | Native Korean Numbers (Short Form) | Sino-Korean Numbers |
| 1 | 하나 | 한 | 일 |
| 2 | 둘 | 두 | 이 |
| 3 | 셋 | 세 | 삼 |
| 4 | 넷 | 네 | 사 |
| 5 | 다섯 | – | 오 |
| 6 | 여섯 | – | 육 |
| 7 | 일곱 | – | 칠 |
| 8 | 여덟 | – | 팔 |
| 9 | 아홉 | – | 구 |
| 10 | 열 | – | 십 |
| 20 | 스물 | – | 이십 |
| 30 | 서른 | – | 삼십 |
| 40 | 마흔 | – | 사십 |
| 50 | 쉰 | – | 오십 |
| 60 | 예순 | – | 육십 |
| 70 | 일흔 | – | 칠십 |
| 80 | 여든 | – | 팔십 |
| 90 | 아흔 | – | 구십 |
| 100 | 백 | – | 백 |
3. Meaning & Usage
Native Korean numbers are primarily used for counting objects, expressing age, and certain time-related expressions. These numbers are typically used in everyday situations for quantities up to 99. Here are the main contexts where Native Korean numbers are commonly used:
- Counting objects and people
- Expressing age
- Telling time (hours)
- Using with specific counters (measure words)
- Indicating time intervals
- Used in traditional Korean contexts, such as counting days or months in a more colloquial sense
Here are examples for each usage:
- Counting objects and people:
- 사과 세 개 주세요. (Please give me three apples.)
- 학생 다섯 명이 교실에 있어요. (There are five students in the classroom.)
- 책 여덟 권을 읽었어요. (I read eight books.)
- 고양이 두 마리가 있어요. (I have two cats.)
- 의자 열 개가 필요해요. (We need ten chairs.)
- Expressing age:
- When using Native Korean numbers to express age, there’s a slight difference in how we say “20” and the ages that follow. Here’s the pattern:
- For “20 years old”: We say “스무 살”, not “스물 살”.
- For ages 21 and above, we use “스물” followed by the appropriate number:
- 21 years old: 스물한 살
- 22 years old: 스물두 살
- 23 years old: 스물세 살
and so on…
- 할아버지는 여든 살이세요. (My grandfather is eighty years old.)
- 스물 한 살 때 대학을 졸업했어요. (I graduated from university when I was twenty-one years old.)
- 서른 살에 결혼했어요. (I got married at thirty years old.)
- 아홉 살 때부터 피아노를 배웠어요. (I’ve been learning piano since I was nine years old.)
- 제 동생은 여섯 살이에요. (My younger sibling is six years old.)
- Telling time (hours):
- When expressing time in Korean, there’s an important distinction to remember:
- Hours are expressed using Native Korean numbers.
- Minutes and seconds are expressed using Sino-Korean numbers.
- For example:
- 세 시 (3 o’clock) – Native Korean number
- 삼십 분 (30 minutes) – Sino-Korean number
- 오십 초 (50 seconds) – Sino-Korean number
- 여섯 시에 만나요. (Let’s meet at six o’clock.)
- 열 시에 일어났어요. (I woke up at ten o’clock.)
- 지금 세 시예요. (It’s three o’clock now.)
- 두 시 삼십 분에 약속이 있어요. (I have an appointment at two-thirty.)
- 아홉 시부터 다섯 시까지 일해요. (I work from nine o’clock to five o’clock.)
- When expressing time in Korean, there’s an important distinction to remember:
- Using with specific counters:
- 커피 한 잔 주문했어요. (I ordered one cup of coffee.)
- 신발 두 켤레를 샀어요. (I bought two pairs of shoes.)
- 편지를 세 통 보냈어요. (I sent three letters.)
- 네 그루의 나무를 심었어요. (I planted four trees.)
- 다섯 번 연습했어요. (I practiced five times.)
- If you want to explore more about classifiers and how they’re used with Native Korean numbers, click the button below 👇👇👇:
5. Used in traditional Korean counting (days/months):
- 오늘은 일곱 번째 날이에요. (Today is the seventh day.)
- 여덟 번째 달이에요. (It’s the eighth month.)
- 오늘은 열 번째 날이에요. (Today is the tenth day.)
- 세 번째로 해봐요. (Try it third.)
4. Key Points to Remember
- Native Korean numbers are used with classifiers for counting objects, animals, and people.
- Classifiers change depending on the type of object being counted (e.g., 병 for bottles, 권 for books, 마리 for animals).
- Native Korean numbers are used for counting small quantities (1-99) and age.
- Native Korean numbers are typically used for everyday conversations and informal contexts.
5. Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks using Native Korean numbers where applicable. Use correct counters and note special cases like age and time.
- 우리는 _____________ 동안 여행을 갔어요. (We went on a trip for 3 days.)
- 내일은 _____________ 이에요. (Tomorrow is the 5th month.)
- _____________ 의 사람이 이 행사에 참가했어요. (20 people participated in this event.)
- 저는 _____________ 때부터 피아노를 배웠어요. (I’ve been learning piano since I was six years old.)
- 나는 오늘 _____________ 에 일어났어요. (I woke up at 7 o’clock today.)
- 우리 학교에는 _____________ 의 선생님이 계세요. (There are 10 teachers at our school.)
- 우리 집에 고양이가 _____________ 있어요. (We have four cats at home.)
- 이 영화는 _____________ 반 동안 해요. (This movie runs for two and a half hours.)
- _____________ 후에 도착할 거예요. (I will arrive in 3 hours.)
- 나는 _____________ 이에요. (I am 25 years old.)
6. Answers
- 3일 (삼일)
- 5월 (오월)
- 20명 (스무명)
- 6살 (여섯 살)
- 7시 (일곱 시)
- 10명 (열 명)
- 4마리 (네 마리)
- 2시간 (두 시간)
- 3시간 (세 시간)
- 25살 (스물 다섯 살)
7. Common Mistakes and Tips
⚠️ Mistake 1: Mixing Native Korean and Sino-Korean Numbers Incorrectly
Native Korean numbers are used for counting things like people, hours, and age, while Sino-Korean numbers are used for dates, minutes, and larger numbers. Mixing them incorrectly is a common mistake.
❌ 저는 이십 살이에요.
✅ 저는 스물 살이에요. (I am 20 years old.)
❌ 친구를 삼 명 만났어요.
✅ 친구를 세 명 만났어요. (I met three friends.)
❌ 다섯월 삼일에 여행을 가요.
✅ 오월 삼일에 여행을 가요. (I will go on a trip on May 3rd.)
💡 Tip: Use Native Korean numbers for counting people, things, hours, and age. Use Sino-Korean numbers for dates, money, addresses, and phone numbers.
⚠️ Mistake 2: Forgetting to Use Shortened Forms Before Counters
Some Native Korean numbers have shortened forms when used before counters. Learners often forget to use these.
❌ 사과 넷 개 있어요.
✅ 사과 네 개 있어요.
❌ 저는 친구 하나 명 만났어요.
✅ 저는 친구 한 명 만났어요. (I met one friend.)
❌ 커피 셋 잔 마셨어요.
✅ 커피 세 잔 마셨어요. (I drank three cups of coffee.)
💡 Tip: When counting with counters like 명 (people), 개 (things), 마리 (animals), and 잔 (cups), use the shortened forms:
하나 → 한 / 둘 → 두 / 셋 → 세 / 넷 → 네
Mastering Native Korean numbers is essential for everyday conversations, especially when counting objects, telling time (hours), and expressing age. Remember to use the correct number system for each context and apply shortened forms before counters. With practice, using Native Korean numbers will become more natural!