📏 Using Counters in Korean – 개, 명, 권, 잔 Explained
Korean uses special “counter” words when counting objects, people, or even cups of coffee. If you’ve ever felt confused about when to use 명 versus 개, this in-depth guide will help you master the most common units — and give you plenty of practice so you can revisit and review anytime.
🗂 Why Counters Matter
Unlike English, Korean almost always pairs a number with a counter. Using the correct counter shows both fluency and cultural understanding. For example, saying “사람 두 개” (“two people two things”) sounds odd; you must say “사람 두 명.”
🔢 Core Pattern
Number + Native-Korean numeral + Counter + Noun
예) 커피 두 잔 = two cups of coffee | 책 세 권 = three books
📌 Top 8 Counters You Must Know
| Counter | Pronunciation | Use For | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 개 | gae | general items | 사과 두 개 |
| 명 / 분 | myeong / bun | people (분 = honorific) | 학생 세 명, 손님 한 분 |
| 권 | gwon | books/volumes | 책 다섯 권 |
| 잔 | jan | cups/glasses | 커피 두 잔 |
| 병 | byeong | bottles | 맥주 세 병 |
| 대 | dae | vehicles/machines | 자동차 한 대 |
| 마리 | mari | animals/fish | 고양이 네 마리 |
| 벌 | beol | clothes (sets) | 옷 두 벌 |
🗣 Example Sentences
| Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|
| 사과 세 개 주세요. | sagwa se gae ju-se-yo | Please give me three apples. |
| 친구 두 명이 와요. | chingu du myeong-i wa-yo | Two friends are coming. |
| 커피 한 잔 할까요? | keo-pi han jan hal-kka-yo? | Shall we have a cup of coffee? |
| 책을 다섯 권 빌렸어요. | chaegeul da-seot gwon bil-lyeot-seo-yo | I borrowed five books. |
📝 Self-Study Exercises
- Write five items in your room and count them using 개.
- Describe your family using 명: “가족이 네 명이에요.”
- Go to a café menu online, choose drinks, and create sentences with 잔.
- Leave your sentences in the comments — I’ll check and give feedback!
💡 Pro Tips & Common Mistakes
- 하나, 둘, 셋 → 한, 두, 세 before counters: “한 잔,” “두 개,” “세 명.”
- Use Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼) with 날짜/시간 (dates, minutes).
- Mixing counters? Use the most specific one; avoid duplicate counters.
- Honorific 분 only for people you respect (customers, elders).
👩🏫 Practice Counters Live with Me
Need real-time corrections? Join my italki class — we’ll role-play shopping, ordering, and describing your surroundings using counters until they feel automatic.
Count the objects on your desk in Korean and post it below. Example: 펜 세 개, 노트 두 권, 컵 한 잔! I’ll respond with tips and pronunciation guides. 😊
🔗 Related Posts (links checked)
Did You Know?
Did You Know? In Korean markets, sellers might shout “한 근에 세 개!” 근 is an old weight unit (~600 g) still used for produce. Counters like 근 (weight) show how Korea blends tradition with modern metric measures.
