Sino & Native Korean Numbers
Sino & Native Korean Numbers
Sino-Korean numbers and native Korean numbers
In Korean, there are two parallel sets of numbers. Those that derive from Chinese (Sino-Korean numbers), and a set of native Korean numbers.
When learning Korean numbers, you do have to learn both number systems because each has particular uses in Korean, so you can’t just learn one and use that for everything.
The Native Korean number system is used for general counting, like when you’re counting out loud, up to 99. It’s also used to count people, hours, things, ages, and more. Sino-Korean numbers are used for things like dates, money, minutes, addresses, phone numbers, and numbers above 100.
Sino Numbers
0 to 10
Now, the key to learning Sino-Korean numbers is all about mastering the numbers 0 to 10, and you’ll soon find out why.
11 to 99
To form double-digit numbers using Sino-Korean numbers, you just have to combine the number words from 1 to 10.
100 & 1,000
Saying the numbers above 100 is all about learning the large number units, and these are words like hundred, thousand, and so on.
Below are the words for 100 and 1,000:
From 100 and above, Koreans use only Sino-Korean numbers. Consequently, 135 would be read as백삼십오. It is optional to add 일 to the number that starts with 1, such as 100, 1000, and so on. However, it is more common to say the number without it. For instance, for 100, saying “백 (hundred)” is more common than saying “일백 (one hundred).”
Below are a few examples:
Numbers above 10,000
The Korean word for 10,000 is 만.
We can use the words 십, 백, and 천 with 만 to form larger numbers, like this.
Example:
In Korean, there are two parallel sets of numbers. Those that derive from Chinese (Sino-Korean numbers), and a set of native Korean numbers.
When learning Korean numbers, you do have to learn both number systems because each has particular uses in Korean, so you can’t just learn one and use that for everything.
The Native Korean number system is used for general counting, like when you’re counting out loud, up to 99. It’s also used to count people, hours, things, ages, and more. Sino-Korean numbers are used for things like dates, money, minutes, addresses, phone numbers, and numbers above 100.
Sino Numbers
0 to 10
Now, the key to learning Sino-Korean numbers is all about mastering the numbers 0 to 10, and you’ll soon find out why.
- 0 – 영 (young)
- 1 – 일 (il)
- 2 – 이 (ee)
- 3 – 삼 (sam)
- 4 – 사 (sa)
- 5 – 오 (oh)
- 6 – 육 (yook)
- 7 – 칠 (chil)
- 8 – 팔 (pal)
- 9 – 구 (gu)
- 10 – 십 (sib)
11 to 99
To form double-digit numbers using Sino-Korean numbers, you just have to combine the number words from 1 to 10.
- 20 – 이십
- 21 – 이십일
- 99 – 구십구
100 & 1,000
Saying the numbers above 100 is all about learning the large number units, and these are words like hundred, thousand, and so on.
Below are the words for 100 and 1,000:
- 100 – 백 (baek)
- 1,000 – 천 (cheon)
From 100 and above, Koreans use only Sino-Korean numbers. Consequently, 135 would be read as백삼십오. It is optional to add 일 to the number that starts with 1, such as 100, 1000, and so on. However, it is more common to say the number without it. For instance, for 100, saying “백 (hundred)” is more common than saying “일백 (one hundred).”
Below are a few examples:
- 240 – 이백사십
- 3240 – 삼천이백사십
Numbers above 10,000
The Korean word for 10,000 is 만.
- 10,000 – 만 (man)
- 100,000,000 – 억 (eok)
We can use the words 십, 백, and 천 with 만 to form larger numbers, like this.
- 100,000 – 십만 (simman)
- 1,000,000 – 백만 (baekman)
- 10,000,000 – 천만 (cheonman)
Example:
- 532,100 – 오십삼만이천백
- 1,000,000,000 – 십억