Native Korean Numbers

When to Use Native Korean Numbers?

Native Korean numbers are typically used in the following contexts:

• Counting Objects: When counting items or people, native Korean numbers are preferred.

• Age: To express age, native Korean numbers are commonly used.

• Ordinal Numbers: For first, second, third, etc., native Korean numbers are used.

• Time: To express hours.

How to Use Native Korean Numbers

Native Korean numbers range from 1 to 99 and are used differently from Sino-Korean numbers. Here’s a brief overview:

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Let's Learn!

1	2	3	4
하나	둘	셋	넷
5	6	7	8
다섯	여섯	일곱	여덟
9	10	11	12
아홉	열	열하나	열둘
20	30	40	50
스물	서른	마흔	쉰
60	70	80	90
예순	일흔	여든	아흔

Examples of Usage

Native Korean numbers are used to indicate time (hours) and quantities. They are typically used with unit nouns that specify the noun being counted. When this occurs, the numbers from 1 4 20 (하나, 둘, 셋, and 넷 스물) have their final consonants removed to form a new ending, as demonstrated in the chart below.

한	두	세	네
1	2	3	4
열한	스물두	서른세
11	21	33

몇- how many?

When counting, the following quantifiers are necessary:

Objects/products	Age	People	bottle
개	살	명/분	병
Glass/Mugs	Books	Clothes	Cars
잔	권	벌	대
Paper Sheets	Time (On the dot)	Months	Pieces
장	시	달	조각
Animals	Plates, Portions	Shoes	Flowers
마리	그릇	켤래	송이

Constructing or composing your sentences in Korean

Asking:

Noun + 이/가 + 몇 + Quantifier + 이다/있다?

Nouns+이/가/은/는+Number+Quantifier+ 이다/있다.

Examples:

1. APPLE 사과

   사과가 몇 개 있어요? How many apples are there?

   사과가 한 개 있어요. There is ONE apple.

2. Family 가족

   가족이 몇 명이에요? -How many people are in your family?

   우리 가족은 네 명이에요. We are a family of four.

3. Sibling (Younger Brother or Sister) 동생

   동생이 몇 살이에요? - How old is your sibling?

   우리 동생은 스물두 살이에요 - My sibling is 22 years old.