{"id":176605994,"date":"2026-11-11T10:43:42","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T18:43:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/?p=176605994"},"modified":"2026-11-13T10:50:33","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T18:50:33","slug":"korean-numbers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/korean-numbers\/","title":{"rendered":"Korean Numbers: How to Count With Both Systems (With Charts)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Korean numbers come in two complete sets, and you&#8217;ll need both in your first week. Order two coffees, ask the time or say how old you are, and you use one system. Pay for those coffees, give your phone number or say today&#8217;s date, and you use the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It sounds intimidating, but the rules are consistent. This guide gives you both systems with charts, shows exactly when to use each, and covers big numbers, time, age, money and the counters you&#8217;ll hear every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-do-korean-numbers-work-the-quick-answer\">How do Korean numbers work? The quick answer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Korean has two number systems.<\/strong> <strong>Sino-Korean numbers<\/strong> (\uc77c, \uc774, \uc0bc\u2026) come from Chinese and are used for dates, money, minutes, phone numbers and anything over 99. <strong>Native Korean numbers<\/strong> (\ud558\ub098, \ub458, \uc14b\u2026) are used for counting things and people, for hours and for age, and they only go up to 99.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learn Sino-Korean 1\u201310 first, because they build every number up to the hundred millions. Then learn native 1\u201310 and their short counter forms (\ud55c, \ub450, \uc138, \ub124, \uc2a4\ubb34). The fastest way to make the right choice automatic is to hear numbers used in real Korean, again and again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><th>Number<\/th><th>Sino-Korean<\/th><th>Native Korean<\/th><\/tr><tr><td>0<\/td><td>\uc601 (yeong) \/ \uacf5 (gong)<\/td><td>n\/a<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1<\/td><td>\uc77c (il)<\/td><td>\ud558\ub098 (hana)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2<\/td><td>\uc774 (i)<\/td><td>\ub458 (dul)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3<\/td><td>\uc0bc (sam)<\/td><td>\uc14b (set)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4<\/td><td>\uc0ac (sa)<\/td><td>\ub137 (net)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5<\/td><td>\uc624 (o)<\/td><td>\ub2e4\uc12f (daseot)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>6<\/td><td>\uc721 (yuk)<\/td><td>\uc5ec\uc12f (yeoseot)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>7<\/td><td>\uce60 (chil)<\/td><td>\uc77c\uacf1 (ilgop)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>8<\/td><td>\ud314 (pal)<\/td><td>\uc5ec\ub35f (yeodeol)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>9<\/td><td>\uad6c (gu)<\/td><td>\uc544\ud649 (ahop)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>10<\/td><td>\uc2ed (sip)<\/td><td>\uc5f4 (yeol)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Can&#8217;t read Hangul yet? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/korean-alphabet-hangul\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Our guide to the Korean alphabet<\/a> will get you there in an afternoon. Romanization helps at first, but it won&#8217;t teach you how Korean really sounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"when-to-use-sino-korean-vs-native-korean-numbers\">When to use Sino-Korean vs native Korean numbers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><th>Use Sino-Korean for<\/th><th>Use native Korean for<\/th><\/tr><tr><td>Money: \uc624\ucc9c \uc6d0 (5,000 won)<\/td><td>Counting things with a counter: \uc0ac\uacfc \uc138 \uac1c (three apples)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Dates: \uc624\uc6d4 \uc624\uc77c (May 5)<\/td><td>Counting people: \ud559\uc0dd \ub2e4\uc12f \uba85 (five students)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Minutes and seconds: \uc0bc\uc2ed \ubd84 (30 minutes)<\/td><td>Hours: \uc138 \uc2dc (3 o&#8217;clock)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Phone numbers: \uacf5\uc77c\uacf5 (010)<\/td><td>Age in conversation: \uc2a4\ubb3c\ub2e4\uc12f \uc0b4 (25 years old)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Floors, addresses, bus numbers: \uc0bc \uce35 (3rd floor)<\/td><td>How many times: \ub450 \ubc88 (twice)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Measurements, math and anything over 99<\/td><td>Durations in hours: \ub450 \uc2dc\uac04 (two hours)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Large counts, prices and scores<\/td><td>Durations in months: \ub450 \ub2ec (two months)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you remember one example, make it the time: <strong>\ub450 \uc2dc \uc2ed\uc624 \ubd84<\/strong> (du si sibo bun, 2:15). The hour is native Korean and the minutes are Sino-Korean, in one phrase you&#8217;ll use every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"sino-korean-numbers\">Sino-Korean numbers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"counting-to-100\">Counting to 100<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sino-Korean numbers work like a calculator. To make 20 you say &#8220;two ten&#8221; (\uc774\uc2ed). To make 35 you say &#8220;three ten five&#8221; (\uc0bc\uc2ed\uc624).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><th>Number<\/th><th>Korean<\/th><th>Romanization<\/th><\/tr><tr><td>11<\/td><td>\uc2ed\uc77c<\/td><td>sibil<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>12<\/td><td>\uc2ed\uc774<\/td><td>sibi<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>15<\/td><td>\uc2ed\uc624<\/td><td>sibo<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>16<\/td><td>\uc2ed\uc721<\/td><td>simnyuk<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>20<\/td><td>\uc774\uc2ed<\/td><td>isip<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>30<\/td><td>\uc0bc\uc2ed<\/td><td>samsip<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>40<\/td><td>\uc0ac\uc2ed<\/td><td>sasip<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>50<\/td><td>\uc624\uc2ed<\/td><td>osip<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>60<\/td><td>\uc721\uc2ed<\/td><td>yuksip<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>70<\/td><td>\uce60\uc2ed<\/td><td>chilsip<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>80<\/td><td>\ud314\uc2ed<\/td><td>palsip<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>90<\/td><td>\uad6c\uc2ed<\/td><td>gusip<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>99<\/td><td>\uad6c\uc2ed\uad6c<\/td><td>gusipgu<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>100<\/td><td>\ubc31<\/td><td>baek<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notice that 16 is pronounced <em>simnyuk<\/em>, not sip-yuk. Korean sound rules change how some combinations are said, which is one reason it pays to listen to numbers rather than only read them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"hundreds-thousands-and-beyond\">Hundreds, thousands and beyond<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><th>Number<\/th><th>Korean<\/th><th>Romanization<\/th><\/tr><tr><td>100<\/td><td>\ubc31<\/td><td>baek<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1,000<\/td><td>\ucc9c<\/td><td>cheon<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>10,000<\/td><td>\ub9cc<\/td><td>man<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>100,000<\/td><td>\uc2ed\ub9cc<\/td><td>simman<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1,000,000<\/td><td>\ubc31\ub9cc<\/td><td>baengman<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>10,000,000<\/td><td>\ucc9c\ub9cc<\/td><td>cheonman<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>100,000,000<\/td><td>\uc5b5<\/td><td>eok<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two things trip up English speakers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>No &#8220;one&#8221; before 100, 1,000 or 10,000.<\/strong> It&#8217;s \ubc31 (100), not \uc77c\ubc31, and \ub9cc (10,000), not \uc77c\ub9cc. 100 million is the exception: people normally say \uc77c\uc5b5 (ireok), &#8220;one \uc5b5.&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Korean groups big numbers by ten thousands.<\/strong> English splits every three digits; Korean thinks in units of \ub9cc (10,000). So 50,000 is \uc624\ub9cc (five 10,000s) and one million is \ubc31\ub9cc (one hundred 10,000s).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Examples: \uc774\ucc9c\uc774\uc2ed\uc721 (icheon-isimnyuk) is 2026; \ub9cc \uc774\ucc9c\uc0bc\ubc31\uc0ac\uc2ed\uc624 (man icheon-sambaek-sasibo) is 12,345; \uc624\ub9cc (oman) is 50,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"months\">Months<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Months are Sino-Korean numbers plus \uc6d4 (wol, &#8220;month&#8221;). Two are irregular, so learn them early:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><th>Month<\/th><th>Korean<\/th><th>Romanization<\/th><\/tr><tr><td>January<\/td><td>\uc77c\uc6d4<\/td><td>irwol<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>June<\/td><td>\uc720\uc6d4<\/td><td>yuwol (not \uc721\uc6d4)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>October<\/td><td>\uc2dc\uc6d4<\/td><td>siwol (not \uc2ed\uc6d4)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>December<\/td><td>\uc2ed\uc774\uc6d4<\/td><td>sibiwol<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Days work the same way with \uc77c (il, &#8220;day&#8221;): \uc624\uc6d4 \uc624\uc77c (owol oil) is May 5, Children&#8217;s Day in Korea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"money-and-phone-numbers\">Money and phone numbers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prices always use Sino-Korean numbers with \uc6d0 (won): the \u20a910,000 note is \ub9cc \uc6d0 (man won). Phone numbers are read digit by digit, with 0 as \uacf5 (gong), so a mobile number starting 010 sounds like \uacf5\uc77c\uacf5 (gong-il-gong).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/en\/learn-languages-like-steve-kaufmann\/?utm_source=LingQ%20Blog&amp;utm_medium=banner&amp;utm_campaign=blogpost&amp;utm_content=KoreanNumbers\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"760\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/4.2.jpg\" alt=\"Learn languages from TV shows, movies, news and articles with LingQ. Free sign up.\" class=\"wp-image-176604127\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/4.2.jpg 760w, https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/4.2-300x148.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/4.2-600x296.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"native-korean-numbers\">Native Korean numbers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"counting-to-99\">Counting to 99<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Native numbers from 11 to 19 are \uc5f4 (10) plus the number: \uc5f4\ud558\ub098 (yeolhana) is 11, \uc5f4\ub458 (yeoldul) is 12. The tens have their own words:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><th>Number<\/th><th>Korean<\/th><th>Romanization<\/th><\/tr><tr><td>20<\/td><td>\uc2a4\ubb3c<\/td><td>seumul<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>30<\/td><td>\uc11c\ub978<\/td><td>seoreun<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>40<\/td><td>\ub9c8\ud754<\/td><td>maheun<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>50<\/td><td>\uc270<\/td><td>swin<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>60<\/td><td>\uc608\uc21c<\/td><td>yesun<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>70<\/td><td>\uc77c\ud754<\/td><td>ilheun<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>80<\/td><td>\uc5ec\ub4e0<\/td><td>yeodeun<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>90<\/td><td>\uc544\ud754<\/td><td>aheun<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To make 25, combine them: \uc2a4\ubb3c\ub2e4\uc12f (seumul-daseot).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-counter-forms\">The counter forms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the part beginners miss. When a native number comes before a counter word, five numbers get shorter:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><th>Number<\/th><th>On its own<\/th><th>Before a counter<\/th><\/tr><tr><td>1<\/td><td>\ud558\ub098 (hana)<\/td><td>\ud55c (han)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2<\/td><td>\ub458 (dul)<\/td><td>\ub450 (du)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3<\/td><td>\uc14b (set)<\/td><td>\uc138 (se)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4<\/td><td>\ub137 (net)<\/td><td>\ub124 (ne)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>20<\/td><td>\uc2a4\ubb3c (seumul)<\/td><td>\uc2a4\ubb34 (seumu)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So &#8220;two coffees&#8221; is \ucee4\ud53c \ub450 \uc794 (keopi du jan), not dul jan. The short forms also apply inside bigger numbers: 21 people is \uc2a4\ubb3c\ud55c \uba85 (seumulhan myeong).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"telling-the-time-and-saying-your-age\">Telling the time and saying your age<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Time<\/strong> mixes both systems: native numbers for the hour, Sino-Korean for the minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\ub450 \uc2dc \uc2ed\uc624 \ubd84 (du si sibo bun): 2:15<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\uc138 \uc2dc \uc0bc\uc2ed \ubd84 (se si samsip bun): 3:30, or simply \uc138 \uc2dc \ubc18 (se si ban), &#8220;half past three&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Age<\/strong> uses native numbers with \uc0b4 (sal) in everyday speech: \uc2a4\ubb3c\ub2e4\uc12f \uc0b4 (seumul-daseot sal), 25 years old. In formal writing you&#8217;ll see Sino-Korean numbers with \uc138 instead: \uc774\uc2ed\uc624 \uc138 (isibo se). Since June 2023, South Korea officially uses international age for legal purposes, though you&#8217;ll still hear people mention traditional &#8220;Korean age&#8221; in conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"korean-counters-you-ll-use-every-day\">Korean counters you&#8217;ll use every day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Korean doesn&#8217;t say &#8220;three apples&#8221; directly. You say the noun, the number and a counter that matches what you&#8217;re counting: \uc0ac\uacfc \uc138 \uac1c (sagwa se gae), literally &#8220;apple three items.&#8221; These counters all use native numbers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><th>Counter<\/th><th>Used for<\/th><th>Example<\/th><\/tr><tr><td>\uac1c (gae)<\/td><td>Things in general<\/td><td>\uc0ac\uacfc \uc138 \uac1c, three apples<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\uba85 (myeong)<\/td><td>People<\/td><td>\ud559\uc0dd \ub2e4\uc12f \uba85, five students<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\ubd84 (bun)<\/td><td>People (polite; not the \ubd84 for minutes)<\/td><td>\ub450 \ubd84, two people<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\ub9c8\ub9ac (mari)<\/td><td>Animals<\/td><td>\uace0\uc591\uc774 \ud55c \ub9c8\ub9ac, one cat<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\uc794 (jan)<\/td><td>Cups and glasses<\/td><td>\ucee4\ud53c \ub450 \uc794, two coffees<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\ubcd1 (byeong)<\/td><td>Bottles<\/td><td>\ub9e5\uc8fc \ud55c \ubcd1, one bottle of beer<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\uad8c (gwon)<\/td><td>Books<\/td><td>\ucc45 \ub124 \uad8c, four books<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\uc7a5 (jang)<\/td><td>Flat things (tickets, paper)<\/td><td>\ud45c \ub450 \uc7a5, two tickets<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you forget the right counter, \uac1c works for most objects and people will understand you. For larger counts, many speakers switch to Sino-Korean, so you&#8217;ll hear both \uc11c\ub978 \uba85 and \uc0bc\uc2ed \uba85 for 30 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Watch out for \ubc88 (beon). With native numbers it means &#8220;times&#8221;: \ub450 \ubc88 (du beon), twice. With Sino-Korean numbers it means &#8220;number&#8221;: 3\ubc88 \ubc84\uc2a4 (sam-beon beoseu), bus number 3, or 2\ubc88 \ubb38\uc81c (i-beon munje), question 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ordinal-numbers-first-second-third\">Ordinal numbers: first, second, third<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Add \ubc88\uc9f8 (beonjjae) to the native counter forms. The first is irregular:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\uccab \ubc88\uc9f8 (cheot beonjjae): first<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ub450 \ubc88\uc9f8 (du beonjjae): second<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\uc138 \ubc88\uc9f8 (se beonjjae): third<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ub124 \ubc88\uc9f8 (ne beonjjae): fourth<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You&#8217;ll also see the shorter \uccab\uc9f8, \ub458\uc9f8, \uc14b\uc9f8 (cheotjjae, duljjae, setjjae) for &#8220;first, second, third&#8221; in lists and for siblings, and the Sino-Korean \uc81c1, \uc81c2 (je-il, je-i) in formal writing, like chapter or article numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-make-korean-numbers-stick\">How to make Korean numbers stick<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can memorize these tables in an evening. Choosing the right system without thinking takes longer, because it depends on what you&#8217;re counting, and in real conversation numbers go by fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most effective way to get there is to hear numbers in context, again and again: prices in a shopping vlog, times in a drama, ages in an interview. Each time you notice \ub450 \uc2dc or \ub9cc \uc6d0 in a real sentence, the pattern gets stronger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"625\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/lingq-korean-lesson-native-number-lookup.jpg\" alt=\"A Korean lesson on LingQ with the native Korean number \ub2e4\uc12f (five) looked up\" class=\"wp-image-176606358\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/lingq-korean-lesson-native-number-lookup.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/lingq-korean-lesson-native-number-lookup-300x268.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/lingq-korean-lesson-native-number-lookup-640x571.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Korean YouTube lesson on LingQ. The date 5\uc6d4 1\uc77c (May 1) uses Sino-Korean numbers; tap \ub2e4\uc12f and LingQ tells you it&#8217;s the native Korean five.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That&#8217;s exactly what <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/en\/learn-korean-online\/?utm_source=LingQ%20Blog&amp;utm_medium=anchor_text&amp;utm_campaign=blogpost&amp;utm_content=KoreanNumbers\">LingQ<\/a> is built for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Start with Korean Mini Stories,<\/strong> short stories with native audio that repeat everyday numbers, times and counters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tap any number or phrase<\/strong> to see what it means, like \ub2e4\uc12f (&#8220;five, the native Korean number&#8221;) in the lesson above, and save it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>See it again everywhere.<\/strong> LingQ highlights every word you save in all your other lessons, so \uc138 \uc2dc and \ub9cc \uc6d0 keep coming back until you know them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Learn from real Korean.<\/strong> Import Korean YouTube videos, dramas and podcasts and hear numbers the way Koreans actually say them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/en\/learn-korean-online\/?utm_source=LingQ%20Blog&amp;utm_medium=anchor_text&amp;utm_campaign=blogpost&amp;utm_content=KoreanNumbers\">Start learning Korean with LingQ for free \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a bigger-picture plan, see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-korean\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">how to learn Korean<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/best-app-to-learn-korean\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the best app to learn Korean<\/a>. Learning Japanese too? Compare these systems with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/japanese-numbers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Japanese numbers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"korean-numbers-faqs\">Korean numbers FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1813400000\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What are the numbers 1 to 10 in Korean?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">In Sino-Korean: \uc77c, \uc774, \uc0bc, \uc0ac, \uc624, \uc721, \uce60, \ud314, \uad6c, \uc2ed (il, i, sam, sa, o, yuk, chil, pal, gu, sip). In native Korean: \ud558\ub098, \ub458, \uc14b, \ub137, \ub2e4\uc12f, \uc5ec\uc12f, \uc77c\uacf1, \uc5ec\ub35f, \uc544\ud649, \uc5f4 (hana, dul, set, net, daseot, yeoseot, ilgop, yeodeol, ahop, yeol).<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1813400001\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Why does Korean have two number systems?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Native Korean numbers are original Korean words. Sino-Korean numbers came from Chinese, along with many other words. Over time each system took on different jobs: native numbers for counting, hours and age; Sino-Korean for dates, money, minutes and large numbers.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1813400002\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Which Korean number system should I learn first?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Learn Sino-Korean 1\u201310 first. They&#8217;re simple and let you build every number up to the hundred millions. Then learn native 1\u201310 and the counter forms (\ud55c, \ub450, \uc138, \ub124, \uc2a4\ubb34) for counting, time and age.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1813400003\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>When do you use native Korean numbers?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">For counting things and people with a counter word (\ucee4\ud53c \ub450 \uc794, two coffees), for hours (\uc138 \uc2dc, 3 o&#8217;clock), for age in conversation (\uc2a4\ubb3c\ub2e4\uc12f \uc0b4, 25) and for how many times (\ub450 \ubc88, twice). Native numbers only go up to 99.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1813400004\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How do you say zero in Korean?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">\uc601 (yeong) in most contexts, such as math and temperatures. In phone numbers, Koreans usually say \uacf5 (gong).<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1813400005\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How do you tell the time in Korean?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Use native numbers for the hour with \uc2dc and Sino-Korean numbers for minutes with \ubd84: \ub450 \uc2dc \uc2ed\uc624 \ubd84 (du si sibo bun) is 2:15. Half past is \ubc18: \uc138 \uc2dc \ubc18 is 3:30.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1813400006\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Why is the number 4 unlucky in Korea?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The Sino-Korean \uc0ac (sa) sounds like the Chinese-origin word for death. Some buildings label the fourth floor &#8220;F&#8221; instead of &#8220;4&#8221; in elevators.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1813400007\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What&#8217;s the best way to learn Korean numbers?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Memorize both 1\u201310 charts, then hear numbers in real Korean as often as you can. LingQ lets you learn from Korean stories, YouTube and dramas with one-tap translations, so you meet numbers, times and counters in context until choosing the right system becomes automatic.<\/p> <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"start-learning-korean-with-lingq\">Start learning Korean with LingQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Korean numbers stop feeling like two separate puzzles once you&#8217;ve heard them enough times in real sentences. LingQ&#8217;s Korean library gives you that exposure from day one, with Mini Stories for beginners, word tracking across everything you read, and the option to import the Korean content you already love. LingQ is free to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/en\/learn-languages-like-steve-kaufmann\/?utm_source=LingQ%20Blog&amp;utm_medium=banner&amp;utm_campaign=blogpost&amp;utm_content=KoreanNumbers\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"760\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/4.2.jpg\" alt=\"Learn languages from TV shows, movies, news and articles with LingQ. Free sign up.\" class=\"wp-image-176604127\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/4.2.jpg 760w, https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/4.2-300x148.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/4.2-600x296.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/en\/learn-korean-online\/?utm_source=LingQ%20Blog&amp;utm_medium=anchor_text&amp;utm_campaign=blogpost&amp;utm_content=KoreanNumbers\">Try LingQ&#8217;s Korean lessons free \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Keep reading:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/korean-alphabet-hangul\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Korean alphabet guide<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-korean\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to learn Korean<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/best-app-to-learn-korean\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Best app to learn Korean<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/learning-korean-teach-you-a-lesson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn Korean from Teach You a Lesson<\/a><\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Korean numbers made simple: Sino-Korean and native Korean charts, when to use each, counters, time, age, money and big numbers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":176605997,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"lingq_tldr":"- Korean has two number systems: Sino-Korean (\uc77c, \uc774, \uc0bc\u2026) and native Korean (\ud558\ub098, \ub458, \uc14b\u2026).\n- Sino-Korean is for dates, money, minutes, phone numbers and anything over 99; native Korean is for counting things and people, hours and age, and only goes to 99.\n- Before a counter, native 1\u20134 and 20 shorten: \ud55c, \ub450, \uc138, \ub124, \uc2a4\ubb34 (\ucee4\ud53c \ub450 \uc794, two coffees).\n- Time mixes both: \ub450 \uc2dc \uc2ed\uc624 \ubd84 is 2:15.\n- Big numbers group by \ub9cc (10,000): 50,000 is \uc624\ub9cc, one million is \ubc31\ub9cc.\n- The fastest way to make it automatic is hearing numbers in real Korean, which LingQ is built for.","lingq_cover_text":"","lingq_keep_modified":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-176605994","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learning-korean"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Korean Numbers: Sino-Korean vs Native Korean (With Charts)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn Korean numbers in both systems, Sino-Korean and native Korean, with charts, counters, time, age and money, and exactly when to use each one.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/korean-numbers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Korean Numbers: Sino-Korean vs Native Korean (With Charts)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn Korean numbers in both systems, Sino-Korean and native Korean, with charts, counters, time, age and money, and exactly when to use each one.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/korean-numbers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"LingQ Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lingqcom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-11-11T18:43:42+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" 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are the numbers 1 to 10 in Korean?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"In Sino-Korean: \uc77c, \uc774, \uc0bc, \uc0ac, \uc624, \uc721, \uce60, \ud314, \uad6c, \uc2ed (il, i, sam, sa, o, yuk, chil, pal, gu, sip). In native Korean: \ud558\ub098, \ub458, \uc14b, \ub137, \ub2e4\uc12f, \uc5ec\uc12f, \uc77c\uacf1, \uc5ec\ub35f, \uc544\ud649, \uc5f4 (hana, dul, set, net, daseot, yeoseot, ilgop, yeodeol, ahop, yeol).\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lingq.com\\\/blog\\\/korean-numbers\\\/#faq-question-1813400001\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lingq.com\\\/blog\\\/korean-numbers\\\/#faq-question-1813400001\",\"name\":\"Why does Korean have two number systems?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Native Korean numbers are original Korean words. Sino-Korean numbers came from Chinese, along with many other words. Over time each system took on different jobs: native numbers for counting, hours and age; Sino-Korean for dates, money, minutes and large numbers.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lingq.com\\\/blog\\\/korean-numbers\\\/#faq-question-1813400002\",\"position\":3,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lingq.com\\\/blog\\\/korean-numbers\\\/#faq-question-1813400002\",\"name\":\"Which Korean number system should I learn first?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Learn Sino-Korean 1\u201310 first. They're simple and let you build every number up to the hundred millions. Then learn native 1\u201310 and the counter forms (\ud55c, \ub450, \uc138, \ub124, \uc2a4\ubb34) for counting, time and age.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lingq.com\\\/blog\\\/korean-numbers\\\/#faq-question-1813400003\",\"position\":4,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lingq.com\\\/blog\\\/korean-numbers\\\/#faq-question-1813400003\",\"name\":\"When do you use native Korean numbers?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"For counting things and people with a counter word (\ucee4\ud53c \ub450 \uc794, two coffees), for hours (\uc138 \uc2dc, 3 o'clock), for age in conversation (\uc2a4\ubb3c\ub2e4\uc12f \uc0b4, 25) and for how many times (\ub450 \ubc88, twice). Native numbers only go up to 99.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lingq.com\\\/blog\\\/korean-numbers\\\/#faq-question-1813400004\",\"position\":5,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lingq.com\\\/blog\\\/korean-numbers\\\/#faq-question-1813400004\",\"name\":\"How do you say zero in Korean?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"\uc601 (yeong) in most contexts, such as math and temperatures. 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