✅Day 4: Counting in Korean – Native vs Sino Numbers

📘 Counting in Korean – Native vs Sino Numbers

Counting in Korean can be confusing at first because Korean has not just one, but two number systems!

This guide will help you clearly understand the difference between Native Korean numbers and Sino-Korean numbers. You’ll also learn when to use each, how to pronounce them, and see real-life examples with Romanization.

🔢 The Two Number Systems in Korean

Number	Native Korean	Romanization	Sino-Korean	Romanization
1	하나	ha-na	일	il
2	둘	dul	이	i
3	셋	set	삼	sam
4	넷	net	사	sa
5	다섯	da-seot	오	o
6	여섯	yeo-seot	육	yuk
7	일곱	il-gop	칠	chil
8	여덟	yeo-deol	팔	pal
9	아홉	a-hop	구	gu
10	열	yeol	십	sip

✅ Native Korean is mostly used for counting things you can touch or experience (people, items, hours). ✅ Sino-Korean is used for dates, money, phone numbers, minutes, etc.

📌 When to Use Native Korean Numbers

• 👦 Age (informally): “스물한 살” – 21 years old
• 🕓 Hours (in time): “두 시” – 2 o’clock
• 🎁 Counting items (with counters): “사과 다섯 개” – five apples

🧠 Tip: Native numbers are only used up to 99. Above that, switch to Sino-Korean.

📌 When to Use Sino-Korean Numbers

• 💰 Money: “천 원” – 1,000 won
• 📞 Phone numbers: “공일공-사이삼…”
• 📅 Dates & months: “삼월 십일일” – March 11th
• ⏰ Minutes in time: “오십오 분” – 55 minutes
• 🏫 School years: “일학년” – first grade

🎯 Real-Life Example Sentences

Korean	English	Romanization
열한 시 오십오 분이에요.	It’s 11:55.	yeol-han si o-sip-o bun-i-e-yo
사과 다섯 개 주세요.	Please give me five apples.	sa-gwa da-seot gae ju-se-yo
저는 스물한 살이에요.	I’m 21 years old.	jeo-neun seu-mul-han sal-i-e-yo

🧪 Mini Quiz – Test Your Knowledge!

1. Which number system is used for minutes?
   a) Native Korean
   b) Sino-Korean
   
   Click to Show Answer

   ✅ b) Sino-Korean

2. Translate: “three o’clock”
   a) 세 시
   b) 삼 시
   
   Click to Show Answer

   ✅ a) 세 시 (Native)

3. Which is correct for “1000 won”?
   a) 천 원
   b) 하나 원
   
   Click to Show Answer

   ✅ a) 천 원

✅ Conclusion

Now you understand when and how to use Korean numbers!

• Native Korean: used for age (informal), hours, and counting things
• Sino-Korean: used for money, time (minutes), phone numbers, and dates

Practice using both number systems by talking about your age, time, and money. Use the tables above to make your own example sentences!

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