Numbers

12 phrases · Korean with romanization, English and audio

  1. 일, 이, 삼, 사, 오

    Il, i, sam, sa, o

    One, two, three, four, five

    Usage

    Sino-Korean numbers 1–5, used for amounts and ordinal counting

    Grammar Note

    Korean has two numeral systems: Sino-Korean (일, 이, 삼…) and native Korean (하나, 둘, 셋…). Sino-Korean is used for money, dates, phone numbers.

  2. 육, 칠, 팔, 구, 십

    Yuk, chil, pal, gu, sip

    Six, seven, eight, nine, ten

    Usage

    Sino-Korean numbers 6–10

    Grammar Note

    "십 (10)" forms the base: "이십 (20)", "삼십 (30)". "십일 (11)" = "십 + 일".

  3. 백, 천, 만

    Baek, cheon, man

    Hundred, thousand, ten thousand

    Usage

    Used for large numbers, especially for prices

    Grammar Note

    Korean prices in won are large, so "만" (10,000) is commonly used. E.g., 오만원 = 50,000 won.

  4. 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷, 다섯

    Ha-na, dul, set, net, da-seot

    One, two, three, four, five (native Korean)

    Usage

    Native Korean numbers 1–5, used for counting physical items

    Grammar Note

    Native Korean numbers change before counters: 하나→한, 둘→두, 셋→세, 넷→네. Used with physical objects and people.

  5. 몇 번이에요?

    Myeot beon-i-e-yo?

    What number is it?

    Usage

    Used to ask for a number, such as a room or phone number

    Grammar Note

    "몇" is the question word for numbers. "번" is a counter for numbers, turns, and times.

  6. 지금 몇 시예요?

    Ji-geum myeot si-ye-yo?

    What time is it now?

    Usage

    Ask what the current time is

    Grammar Note

    Hours use native Korean numbers (한 시=1:00, 두 시=2:00). Minutes use Sino-Korean (삼십 분=30 min).

  7. 이만 오천 원이에요

    I-man o-cheon won-i-e-yo

    It is 25,000 won

    Usage

    State a price in Korean won

    Grammar Note

    Korean uses a "man-based" (10,000) number system. 이만 오천 = 2×10,000 + 5×1,000 = 25,000 won.

  8. 써 주세요

    Sseo ju-se-yo

    Please write it down

    Usage

    Ask someone to write down a number or amount when you cannot catch it

    Grammar Note

    "쓰다" (to write) + polite request "-아/어 주세요". For clarity: "숫자로 써 주세요" (please write it in numbers).

  9. 두 명이에요

    Du myeong-i-e-yo

    There are two of us

    Usage

    Tell a restaurant or venue how many people are in your party

    Grammar Note

    People are counted with native Korean numbers + "명". Honorific form: "분" (e.g., 두 분 = two people, respectfully).

  10. 첫 번째 왼쪽이에요

    Cheot beon-jjae oen-jjok-i-e-yo

    It is the first one on the left

    Usage

    Give directions or explain the order of something

    Grammar Note

    Ordinals: 첫 번째 (1st), 두 번째 (2nd), 세 번째 (3rd). "-번째" is the ordinal suffix attached to native Korean numbers.

  11. 스물일곱 살이에요

    Seu-mul-lil-gop sa-ri-e-yo

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    Answering when someone asks "naiga eotteoke doeseyo?" (how old are you?)

    Grammar Note

    Ages take the native numerals (하나, 둘 … 스물), not the Sino-Korean 이십칠. Rule 29 of the standard pronunciation adds an n after the final l, giving [seumullilgop]; "살이에요" links across the boundary as [sarieyo].

  12. 올해 스물여덟 살이 돼요

    Ol-hae seu-mul-lyeo-deol sa-ri dwae-yo

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Saying that your birthday falls within this year, so your age changes

    Grammar Note

    "N 살이 되다" = "to turn N". The polite form 돼요 is the same verb 되다 seen in "환불 돼요?". The standard pronunciation of 스물여덟 is [seumullyeodeol] (standard pronunciation rule 29).

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