🔢 Korean Numbers: Sino vs Native (Beginner Level)
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...분 소요
Beginner Series
This lesson is part of the Beginner Series. 시작이 반이에요! 꾸준히 따라오면 회화가 훨씬 쉬워집니다. 😊
🔢 Korean Numbers: Sino vs Native (Beginner)
Did you know Korean uses two number systems? This beginner-friendly guide shows when to use Sino-Korean vs Native Korean numbers with simple charts, examples, and a quick dialogue.
📑 Table of Contents
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📌 What Are Sino and Native Numbers?
🟦 Sino-Korean (일, 이, 삼…) → dates, money, minutes, phone numbers, large units
🟩 Native Korean (하나, 둘, 셋…) → counting items, hours, age, people
🟩 Native Korean (하나, 둘, 셋…) → counting items, hours, age, people
🔢 Number Chart: 1–10
| Number | Sino-Korean | Native Korean |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 일 (il) | 하나 (hana) |
| 2 | 이 (i) | 둘 (dul) |
| 3 | 삼 (sam) | 셋 (set) |
| 4 | 사 (sa) | 넷 (net) |
| 5 | 오 (o) | 다섯 (daseot) |
| 6 | 육 (yuk) | 여섯 (yeoseot) |
| 7 | 칠 (chil) | 일곱 (ilgop) |
| 8 | 팔 (pal) | 여덟 (yeodeol) |
| 9 | 구 (gu) | 아홉 (ahop) |
| 10 | 십 (sip) | 열 (yeol) |
🕒 When to Use Each Number System
- 🧍♂️ Age: Native — 스물다섯 살 (25 years old)
- 💰 Money/Prices: Sino — 오천 원 (5,000 won)
- 🕐 Time (Hours): Native — 한 시
- 🕐 Time (Minutes): Sino — 십오 분
- 📅 Dates/Months: Sino — 7월 20일
- ☎ Phone Numbers: Sino — 공일…
📝 Example Sentences
- 저는 스물두 살이에요. (I’m 22.)
- 지금 세 시 십오 분이에요. (It’s 3:15.)
- 커피 두 잔 주세요. (Two cups of coffee, please.)
- 이 책은 삼만 원이에요. (30,000 won.)
🔟 Counting by Tens in Native Korean
| Number | Native | Romanization | Used For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 열 | yeol | ten |
| 20 | 스물 | seumul | twenty |
| 30 | 서른 | seoreun | thirty |
| 40 | 마흔 | maheun | forty |
| 50 | 쉰 | swin | fifty |
| 60 | 예순 | yesun | sixty |
| 70 | 일흔 | ilheun | seventy |
| 80 | 여든 | yeodeun | eighty |
| 90 | 아흔 | aheun | ninety |
💯 Higher Units in Sino-Korean
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 백 | baek | hundred | 100 |
| 천 | cheon | thousand | 1,000 |
| 만 | man | ten thousand | 10,000 |
| 억 | eok | hundred million | 100,000,000 |
| 조 | jo | trillion | 1,000,000,000,000 |
🗣 Practice Dialogue
A: 나이가 어떻게 되세요?
How old are you?
B: 스물여덟 살이에요.
I’m 28.
A: 오늘 몇 월 며칠이에요?
What’s today’s date?
B: 7월 20일이에요.
It’s July 20th.
🔗 Related Lessons (Beginner Series)
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🏷️ Label: Beginner Series
👋 Practice Korean with Me
Still unsure when to use which numbers? Let’s practice with real-life tasks (age, prices, time). Book a 1:1 italki lesson
Beginner Series TOPIK Beginner (1–2)
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