🔢 Numbers in Korean: Counting 1–100
From Korea
...분 소요
“Until I’m satisfied” — continuously improved with learner feedback.
Korean Numbers Made Easy — Native vs Sino (When to Use Each + Practice)
Two systems, one simple plan: learn the patterns, know the use-cases, practice for 2 minutes.
Korean has Native and Sino-Korean numbers. This guide shows when each system is used and gives short tables + practice so you can speak confidently today.
한국어 숫자는 고유어와 한자어 두 가지입니다. 어디서 어떤 숫자를 쓰는지 한눈에 정리하고, 바로 말하기 연습까지 해요.
📑 Table of Contents (open/close)
🎯 Learning Goals
- Know which system to use by situation (items/age vs dates/money).
- Memorize 1–10 quickly with short tables.
- Apply 2–5 minute speaking drill today.
🧠 Native vs Sino — Quick Difference
| Use case | Native | Sino |
|---|---|---|
| Counting items (1–99) | ✅ | |
| Age (informal talk) | ✅ | |
| Age (official, forms) | ✅ | |
| Minutes, money, dates | ✅ | |
| 100 and above | ✅ | |
| Phone/room/bus numbers | ✅ |
🔢 Native Korean Numbers (1–10)
| Korean | RR | English |
|---|---|---|
| 하나 | ha-na | 1 |
| 둘 | dul | 2 |
| 셋 | set | 3 |
| 넷 | net | 4 |
| 다섯 | da-seot | 5 |
| 여섯 | yeo-seot | 6 |
| 일곱 | il-gop | 7 |
| 여덟 | yeo-deol | 8 |
| 아홉 | a-hop | 9 |
| 열 | yeol | 10 |
📝 Counter changes: 하나→한, 둘→두, 셋→세, 넷→네 (e.g., 한 명 one person, 두 개 two things). “스무 살(20 years old)”처럼 스물→스무도 자주 써요.
🔢 Sino-Korean Numbers (1–10 & pattern)
| Korean | RR | English |
|---|---|---|
| 일 | il | 1 |
| 이 | i | 2 |
| 삼 | sam | 3 |
| 사 | sa | 4 |
| 오 | o | 5 |
| 육 | yuk | 6 |
| 칠 | chil | 7 |
| 팔 | pal | 8 |
| 구 | gu | 9 |
| 십 | sip | 10 |
Pattern (11–99) = tens + units
- 십일 = 11 (sip-il)
- 이십 = 20 (i-sip), 삼십 = 30 (sam-sip) … 구십 = 90 (gu-sip)
- 이십오 = 25 (i-sip-o), 구십구 = 99 (gu-sip-gu)
- 백 = 100, 백이십삼 = 123
🎉 When to Use Each
| Situation | Example (KO) | System |
|---|---|---|
| Counting apples | 사과 세 개 | Native |
| Age (casual) | 스무 살 | Native |
| Date | 11월 3일 | Sino |
| Money | 천 원 | Sino |
| Room number | 이공삼 호 | Sino |
🗣 Practice (2 minutes)
- I have three books. → 책 세 권 있어요.
- I’m 25 years old. → 스물다섯 살이에요.
- Today is May 15. → 오늘은 오월 십오일이에요.
- It’s 2,000 won. → 이천 원이에요.
Tiny habit: Record yourself saying all 4 lines once slowly, once naturally. Save the audio as “Korean Numbers.”
👩🏫 Teacher’s Tips
- Start tiny: Count 1–10 in both systems while making coffee.
- Use counters: 명(people), 개(things), 권(books), 살(age), 원(won).
- Design environment: Put a sticky on your phone: “Native → items/age, Sino → dates/money/100+.”
❌ Common Mistakes
- Using Sino for items under 100 → Use Native + counter.
- Forgetting form changes with counters → 한/두/세/네.
- Mixing RR with spelling → Keep KO spelling in tables; RR only for reading.
🎓 italki Lesson
Want live practice & quick feedback? Book a 1:1 session and drill numbers with real counters and money talk.
Tags: Korean numbers, Native vs Sino, Korean counters, Beginner Korean, TOPIK 1, Money in Korea
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