Day 9: Numbers in Korean – Learn How to Count from 1 to 10

 Day 9: Numbers in Korean – Learn How to Count from 1 to 10

Welcome to Day 9 of your Korean language journey! Today, we will be learning one of the most essential skills in any language: counting!

In Korean, there are two main number systems: the native Korean numbers and the Sino-Korean numbers. For today’s lesson, we will focus on the native Korean numbers, which are commonly used for counting objects, ages, and people.

By the end of today’s lesson, you will be able to count from 1 to 10 and use these numbers in everyday conversations.

1. Native Korean Numbers (고유어 숫자)

The native Korean numbers are typically used for counting things like people, ages, and hours. This system is simple and easy to learn, as the numbers 1 through 10 each have their own distinct word.

Here are the native Korean numbers from 1 to 10:

  1. 하나 (hana) – 1

  2. 둘 (dul) – 2

  3. 셋 (set) – 3

  4. 넷 (net) – 4

  5. 다섯 (daseot) – 5

  6. 여섯 (yeoseot) – 6

  7. 일곱 (ilgop) – 7

  8. 여덟 (yeodeol) – 8

  9. 아홉 (ahop) – 9

  10. 열 (yeol) – 10

2. How to Use Native Korean Numbers

Once you know the basic numbers, you can start using them in everyday sentences. Here are a few examples:

  • 사람이 하나 있어요. (Salami hana isseoyo.) – There is one person.

  • 책이 둘 있어요. (Chaegi dul isseoyo.) – There are two books.

  • 학생이 셋 있어요. (Haksaengi set isseoyo.) – There are three students.

  • 저는 다섯 살이에요. (Jeoneun daseot sar-ieyo.) – I am five years old.
    (Note: 살 (sal) is used to indicate age.)

3. Counting People

In Korean, when counting people, you use the native Korean number system along with the word 명 (myeong), which means “person” or “people.” Here are some examples:

  • 한 명 (han myeong) – one person

  • 두 명 (du myeong) – two people

  • 세 명 (se myeong) – three people

  • 네 명 (ne myeong) – four people

Example sentence:

  • 여섯 명 있어요. (Yeoseot myeong isseoyo.) – There are six people.

4. Counting Things (Object Counting)

When counting objects, you can simply attach the correct native Korean number to the object. For example:

  • 하나의 사과 (hana-ui sagwa) – one apple

  • 둘의 책 (dul-ui chaek) – two books

  • 셋의 꽃 (set-ui kkot) – three flowers

Note: 의 (ui) is used as a particle to indicate possession or association, but in many cases, it’s commonly omitted in casual speech when counting objects.

5. Review of Native Korean Numbers

Let’s quickly review the numbers from 1 to 10:

  1. 하나 (hana) – 1

  2. 둘 (dul) – 2

  3. 셋 (set) – 3

  4. 넷 (net) – 4

  5. 다섯 (daseot) – 5

  6. 여섯 (yeoseot) – 6

  7. 일곱 (ilgop) – 7

  8. 여덟 (yeodeol) – 8

  9. 아홉 (ahop) – 9

  10. 열 (yeol) – 10

Practice: Counting Objects and People

To reinforce today’s lesson, let’s practice counting a few objects and people. Write and pronounce the following:

  1. 하나의 사과 (hana-ui sagwa) – one apple

  2. 두 명의 사람 (du myeong-ui saram) – two people

  3. 셋의 책 (set-ui chaek) – three books

  4. 네 명의 학생 (ne myeong-ui haksaeng) – four students

  5. 다섯 개의 꽃 (daseot gae-ui kkot) – five flowers

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Confusing native and Sino-Korean numbers: Remember that native Korean numbers are used for counting objects, people, and age, while Sino-Korean numbers are used for counting things like money, dates, and times.

  2. Pronunciation of ‘하나 (hana)’: When counting, it’s easy to accidentally pronounce 하나 as 한. Be careful to pronounce the full 하나 when counting one (1).

What’s Next? (다음은 무엇인가요?)

Tomorrow, in Day 10, we’ll learn how to count in Korean using Sino-Korean numbers (한국어 한자 숫자). These are used for counting larger quantities, money, dates, and more!