Chapter Four

NUMBERS IN KOREAN

There are two types of Korean numerals that are regularly used, the Sino-Korean and Native-Korean. The Sino-Korean numerals are based on Chinese numbers. 

The Native-Korean numbers are used to count, like if you're counting people, hours, age, etc, from 1-99, then we use the Native-Korean numbers. 

Let's look at an example,

If somebody asks you the time, and let's say it is 9'O clock. Then how will you answer?

You'll say,  아홉 시 (Aa-hop-si), 아홉 (Aa-hop) is 9 in native numbers. And, '시' is the counter for hours. 

And, when to use Sino-Korean numerals?

Let's look at an example. 

You bought a pen and you ask the shopkeeper how much it is, then let's say the price is 80won. Then, how will he say that?

It is 팔십 원 (Pal-sib-won). 팔 (Pal) is 8 in Sino numerical system. And 십 (sib) is 10. So joined together, eighty will be 'Pal-sib'. 원 (won) is Korean national currency. 

I think now you know what is Sino numerals and native numerals. Now let's study the numbers.

Sino-Korean numerals

English   Korean

One          일 (il_)

Two         이 (i) (sounds like ee)

Three       삼 (sam)

Four         사 (sa)

Five          오 (o)

Six            육 (yook)

Seven        칠 (chil)

Eight          팔 (Pal)

Nine          구 (goo)

Ten            십 (sib)

Eleven       십일 (sib-il)

Twelve       십이 (sib-ee)

Thirteen     십삼 (sib-sam)

Fourteen    십사 (sib-sa)

Fifteen        십오 (sib-o)

Sixteen        십육 (sib-yook) 

Seventeen    십칠 (sib-chil)

Eighteen       십팔 (sib-Pal)

Nineteen      십구 (sib-goo)

Twenty        이십 (ee-sib) 

Thirty           삼십 (sam-sib)

Fourty           사십 (sa-sib)

Native-Korean numerals

1 -하나 (hana)

2 -둘 (dool)

3- 셋 (se't') (you remember batchim?)

4- 넷 (ne't')

5- 다섯 (daseo't')

6- 여섯 (yeoseo't')

7- 일곱 (ilgop)

8- 여덟 (yeodeolp)

9- 아홉 (aahop)

10- 열 (yeol)

11- 열하나 (yeol-hana)

12- 열둘 (yeol-dool)

So, now we have understood the basic numerals. Now we can say any number using this. Make sure to study at least 1-10 numbers from both systems. If you know at least 1-10, then you will be able to say any numbers. 

열심히 공부 해주세요

(yeol-sim-hi gong-boo hae-joo-se-yo)

please study hard.

화이팅 !!- hwa-i-Ting - Fighting!