🔢 Numbers in Korean: Counting 1–100

Two Number Systems? Don’t Panic, Let’s Master Both!

In Korean, there are two number systems — Native Korean and Sino-Korean. They are used in different situations. Let’s learn both step-by-step and know when to use each one!

🧠 First, What’s the Difference?

Use Case	Native Korean	Sino-Korean
Counting items (1–99)	✅
Telling age (informally)	✅
Telling age (officially)		✅
Telling minutes, money, dates		✅
Counting above 100		✅
Phone numbers, room numbers		✅

🔢 Native Korean Numbers (1–10)

Korean	Pronunciation	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

📝 Note: When combined with counters, the numbers sometimes change:

하나 → 한
둘 → 두
셋 → 세
넷 → 네

Ex: 한 명 (one person), 두 개 (two things)

🔢 Sino-Korean Numbers (1–10)

Korean	Pronunciation	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	ship	10

🔢 Sino-Korean Numbers (11–100)

Korean	Pronunciation	English
십일	ship-il	11
십이	ship-i	12
이십	i-ship	20
삼십	sam-ship	30
사십	sa-ship	40
오십	o-ship	50
육십	yuk-ship	60
칠십	chil-ship	70
팔십	pal-ship	80
구십	gu-ship	90
백	baek	100

🎯 You can form any number by combining the tens and units:
이십오 = 25 (i-ship-o)
구십구 = 99 (gu-ship-gu)

🎉 When to Use Each Number Type

Situation	Example (Korean)	Translation
Counting apples	사과 세 개	Three apples (Native)
Your age	스무 살	20 years old (Native)
Date (Nov 3)	11월 3일	November 3rd (Sino)
Money	천 원	1,000 won (Sino)
Room number 203	이공삼 호	Room 203 (Sino)

🗣 Practice Time

Try saying these in Korean:

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.

👩‍🏫 Let’s Count Together in Class!

Struggling with Korean numbers? You’re not alone!
In my class, I’ll help you master both systems through real-life use — from counting things to handling money in Korea!

👉 Book a class with me on italki