⏰ Telling Time and Dates in Korean (Beginner Level Guide)
시작이 반이에요! 꾸준하게 하면서 실력을 쌓아봐요. 천천히, 하지만 확실히 배워봅시다. 🚀
What time is it now? 🕒 When is your birthday? 🎂
If you want to talk about time and dates in Korean, this guide is perfect for beginners! We’ll cover numbers, time units, and show you how to ask and answer simple questions.
📚 Table of Contents
- Telling Time in Korean
- Example Sentences: Time
- Talking About Dates
- Example Sentences: Date
- Practice Dialogue
- Did You Know?
- Final Thoughts
🕒 Telling Time in Korean
In Korean, telling the time uses native Korean numbers for hours and Sino-Korean numbers for minutes.
| Time Expression | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 한 시 | han si | 1 o’clock |
| 세 시 십오 분 | se si sib-o bun | 3:15 |
| 열두 시 반 | yeoldu si ban | 12:30 (half past twelve) |
| 지금 몇 시예요? | jigeum myeot si-yeyo? | What time is it now? |
🕒 Example Sentences: Time
지금 두 시예요.
Jigeum du si-yeyo.
It’s 2 o’clock now.
회의는 네 시에 시작해요.
Hoeuineun ne si-e sijakhaeyo.
The meeting starts at 4 o’clock.
저는 아침 7시에 일어나요.
Jeoneun achim ilgop sie ireonayo.
I wake up at 7 a.m.
📅 Talking About Dates
In Korean, the date format is Year + Month + Day.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 2025년 7월 15일 | icheon isibo nyeon chilwol sibo il | July 15, 2025 |
| 생일이 언제예요? | saeng-il-i eonje-yeyo? | When is your birthday? |
| 제 생일은 5월 10일이에요. | je saeng-il-eun owol sip-il-ieyo | My birthday is May 10th. |
📝 Example Sentences: Date
오늘은 몇 월 며칠이에요?
Oneureun myeot wol myeochil-ieyo?
What is today’s date?
오늘은 7월 15일이에요.
Oneureun chilwol sib-oil-ieyo.
Today is July 15th.
생일이 언제예요?
Saeng-il-i eonje-yeyo?
When is your birthday?
제 생일은 11월 3일이에요.
Je saeng-il-eun sibirwol sam-il-ieyo.
My birthday is November 3rd.
🗣 Practice Dialogue
👩 A: 지금 몇 시예요?
Jigeum myeot si-yeyo?
What time is it now?
👨 B: 세 시 반이에요.
Se si ban-ieyo.
It’s 3:30.
👩 A: 오늘 며칠이에요?
Oneul myeochil-ieyo?
What’s today’s date?
👨 B: 7월 15일이에요.
Chilwol sib-oil-ieyo.
It’s July 15th.
🌏 Did You Know?
Koreans often use the 24-hour system, especially for public transport and schedules. For example, 3 p.m. = “15시 (sipsam si).”
🔗 Related Posts
Beginner Series (10)
📦 Final Thoughts
Mastering how to tell time and dates in Korean is a small but important step. With practice, you’ll soon feel comfortable asking and answering everyday questions.
I hope that while reading posts here, you’ll learn Korean and grow to love Korea. Please come back anytime to discover new expressions and cultural insights!
🎓 Want to practice Korean time & dates with real feedback?
Book a 1:1 class on italki and practice directly with me!
