🔢 How do you say three dogs in Korean? (개, 명, 권, 마리, 대)
In Korean, you don’t just say “three books” or “five people” like in English.
You need "counters" — special words used after numbers based on what you're counting. 📚🐶🚗
This guide will help you master the most common Korean counters with real-life examples and patterns you can start using today. Let’s count the right way! 🎯
🧾 Common Korean Counters
| Counter | Use For | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 개 (gae) | Things, items | 사과 한 개 (1 apple) |
| 명 (myeong) | People (formal) | 학생 두 명 (2 students) |
| 사람 (saram) | People (casual) | 친구 세 사람 (3 friends) |
| 마리 (mari) | Animals | 고양이 네 마리 (4 cats) |
| 권 (gwon) | Books, magazines | 책 다섯 권 (5 books) |
| 대 (dae) | Cars, machines | 차 한 대 (1 car) |
| 병 (byeong) | Bottles | 물 세 병 (3 bottles of water) |
| 잔 (jan) | Cups, glasses | 커피 두 잔 (2 cups of coffee) |
| 벌 (beol) | Clothes sets | 옷 한 벌 (1 set of clothes) |
| 송이 (song-i) | Flowers, bunches | 꽃 세 송이 (3 flowers) |
🔤 Korean Number + Counter Structure
[Native Korean Number] + [Counter]
-
하나 → 한
-
둘 → 두
-
셋 → 세
-
넷 → 네
-
다섯 → 다섯 (no change)
📌 When used before counters, 하나 → 한, 둘 → 두, 셋 → 세, 넷 → 네
예시:
-
한 명 (1 person), 두 개 (2 things), 세 권 (3 books), 네 대 (4 cars)
💬 Sample Sentences
-
사과 한 개 주세요.
→ Please give me one apple. 🍎 -
친구가 두 명 있어요.
→ I have two friends. 👯 -
고양이를 네 마리 키워요.
→ I raise four cats. 🐱🐱🐱🐱 -
책을 세 권 읽었어요.
→ I read three books. 📘📘📘 -
커피 한 잔 마시고 싶어요.
→ I want to drink one cup of coffee. ☕
🎓 When to Use Native vs Sino-Korean Numbers?
| Number Type | Used With | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Native Korean | People, things | 한 명, 두 개, 세 마리 |
| Sino-Korean | Dates, time, money, phone numbers | 이십일 (21), 삼천 원 (₩3000) |
Tip: For most counters, use Native Korean numbers up to 99. After that, switch to Sino-Korean for convenience.
🧠 Practice Tips
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Memorize top 5 counters: 개, 명, 마리, 권, 대
-
Practice with flashcards — one side shows the item, the other shows correct counter
-
Watch Korean dramas and focus on sentences using numbers
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Try describing what you see around you: “고양이 두 마리, 책 다섯 권, 사람 세 명…”
👩🏫 Want to Practice Korean Counters in Real Conversation?
Counters are one of the first grammar hurdles for Korean learners — but you don’t have to figure them out alone! I’ll help you speak naturally and confidently in daily life and travel settings.
👉 Book a class with me on italki:
https://www.italki.com/ko/teacher/7916559
Let’s count in Korean — the right way! 😊📊
