Lesson 3 · Beginner 1 · A1
Korean Numbers: Two Counting Systems
숫자
Korean has two sets of numbers: Sino-Korean numbers, which come from Chinese, and native Korean numbers. It sounds confusing, but each system has clear jobs. Learn both here and you will be able to pay, give your phone number and say your age.
🎯 Learning goals
After this lesson you will be able to:
- Count things and people and say prices
- Choose between Sino-Korean and native Korean numbers
💬 Key phrases
일, 이, 삼, 사, 오
il, i, sam, sa, o
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (Sino-Korean)
육, 칠, 팔, 구, 십
yuk, chil, pal, gu, sip
6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (Sino-Korean)
백, 천, 만
baek, cheon, man
100, 1,000, 10,000
하나, 둘, 셋, 넷, 다섯
hana, dul, set, net, daseot
1–5 (native Korean)
여섯, 일곱, 여덟, 아홉, 열
yeoseot, ilgop, yeodeol, ahop, yeol
6–10 (native Korean)
전화번호가 뭐예요?
jeonhwabeonhoga mwoyeyo?
What's your phone number?
사과 두 개 주세요
sagwa du gae juseyo
Two apples, please
만 원이에요
man wonieyo
It's 10,000 won
스무 살이에요
seumu sarieyo
I'm 20 years old
몇 개요?
myeot gaeyo?
How many?
📐 Grammar
Number + counter (개, 명, 잔, 살)
counting things, people and age
Korean puts a counter word after native numbers: 개 for things, 명 for people, 잔 for cups, 병 for bottles and 살 for age. 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷 and 스물 shorten before a counter: 한 개, 두 명, 세 잔, 네 병, 스무 살.
| Base form | Number + counter (개, 명, 잔, 살) |
|---|---|
| 사과 + 1 | 사과 한 개 |
| 사람 + 2 | 두 명 |
| 커피 + 3 | 커피 세 잔 |
| 물 + 4 | 물 네 병 |
| 20 + 살 | 스무 살 |
Example
친구 두 명이 와요.
chingu du myeongi wayo.
Two friends are coming.
커피 한 잔 주세요.
keopi han jan juseyo.
One coffee, please.
저는 스물다섯 살이에요.
jeoneun seumuldaseot sarieyo.
I am 25 years old.
🗣 Dialogue
이 사과 얼마예요?
i sagwa eolmayeyo?
How much are these apples?
한 개에 천 원이에요.
han gaee cheon wonieyo.
It's 1,000 won each.
그럼 다섯 개 주세요.
geureom daseot gae juseyo.
Then five, please.
네, 오천 원입니다.
ne, ocheon wonimnida.
Okay, that's 5,000 won.
여기 있어요.
yeogi isseoyo.
Here you are.
감사합니다!
gamsahamnida!
Thank you!
✏️ Grammar practice
Choose the word that completes each sentence.
✅ Quick quiz
Choose the correct meaning.
Updated: November 2026