Two systems, different everyday jobs
| Number | Native Korean | Sino-Korean |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 하나 | 일 |
| 2 | 둘 | 이 |
| 3 | 셋 | 삼 |
| 4 | 넷 | 사 |
| 5 | 다섯 | 오 |
| 6 | 여섯 | 육 |
| 7 | 일곱 | 칠 |
| 8 | 여덟 | 팔 |
| 9 | 아홉 | 구 |
| 10 | 열 | 십 |
Native Korean numbers are common for counting items and people, and for clock hours. Sino-Korean numbers are used for prices in won, minutes, dates, and phone-number digits. This is a beginner guide to common combinations, not a rule that every possible counter uses the same system. Learn unfamiliar measurement units with their actual number pattern.
Name the kind of thing you are counting
A counter follows the number and identifies the unit. A practical pattern is noun + number + counter: 커피 두 잔, “two cups of coffee.” Before a counter, 하나, 둘, 셋, and 넷 become 한, 두, 세, and 네. 스물 becomes 스무 in combinations such as 스무 살. These shorter forms belong with the following counter; do not shorten a standalone answer such as 하나, 둘, 셋 when simply counting aloud.
| Unit | Counter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| General items | 개 | 사과 세 개 — three apples |
| People | 명 | 학생 두 명 — two students |
| People, respectfully | 분 | 손님 세 분 — three guests |
| Cups / glasses | 잔 | 커피 한 잔 — one cup of coffee |
| Bottles | 병 | 물 두 병 — two bottles of water |
| Books / bound volumes | 권 | 책 네 권 — four books |
Notice that 분 has two different jobs in common number expressions. 손님 두 분 counts people respectfully using a native number. 이 분 means two minutes using a Sino-Korean number. A counter’s written form alone does not settle the meaning; read the situation.
Build a price in blocks
For prices, use 십 (ten), 백 (hundred), 천 (thousand), and 만 (ten thousand). 삼천 원 is 3,000 won; 오천오백 원 is 5,500 won. Korean groups large numbers around 만, so 12,000 is 만 이천, not a literal word-for-word translation of “twelve thousand.”
These are number-reading examples, not current café prices. On a real menu, confirm what the displayed amount includes. To ask a price, use 얼마예요? (“How much is it?”). You can point to an item and say 이거 얼마예요? (“How much is this?”).
One clock reading uses both systems
세 시 십오 분 is 3:15. 세 is the native short form for the hour, while 십오 is the Sino-Korean number for the minutes. At 2:30, say 두 시 삼십 분 or 두 시 반 (“half past two”). If the time could be ambiguous, add 오전 for a.m. or 오후 for p.m.
Practise hours separately from minutes before combining them. Write 1:10, say 한 시 first, then add 십 분. This reduces the temptation to use 일 시 simply because the minute part uses Sino-Korean numbers.
Check quantities, prices, and time
Your own number drill
Write three quantities, two sample prices, and one time. Cover the Korean and read them back from the digits. A useful answer set is 사과 한 개, 물 세 병, 책 두 권, 이천 원, 만 원, and 네 시 오 분. Check both the number system and any short form, rather than marking only the digit as correct.
Reference and next step
Use National Institute of Korean Language: Korean–English Learners’ Dictionary to hear 하나, 둘, 셋, 잔, 명, 분, 원 and compare their senses. The prices and situations above are original practice examples. Continue with number vocabulary and shopping, then use the café guide to put a quantity inside a request.