Korean has two complete sets of numbers, and you need both. Native Korean numbers (하나, 둘, 셋) count things, people, age, and the hour. Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼) handle money, dates, minutes, and phone numbers. Learn which set goes where and the whole system clicks into place.
It sounds like double the work, but each system owns its own clear territory. Guess wrong and you'll still be understood — matching the right numbers to the right job is simply what makes you sound fluent.
Native Korean numbers (1 to 10)
Reach for these to count objects, people, your age, and the hour on a clock. They cover everyday counting up to 99.
| Number | Korean | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 하나 | hana |
| 2 | 둘 | dul |
| 3 | 셋 | set |
| 4 | 넷 | net |
| 5 | 다섯 | daseot |
| 6 | 여섯 | yeoseot |
| 7 | 일곱 | ilgop |
| 8 | 여덟 | yeodeol |
| 9 | 아홉 | ahop |
| 10 | 열 | yeol |
The first four numbers shrink in front of a counting word. Hana (하나) becomes han (한), dul (둘) becomes du (두), set (셋) becomes se (세), and net (넷) becomes ne (네). So "three o'clock" is 세 시 (se si), never 셋 시. Twenty, 스물 (seumul), shortens to 스무 (seumu) the same way.
Sino-Korean numbers (1 to 10)
These come from Chinese roots and stretch to any size. You'll use them for prices, calendars, and clocks.
| Number | Korean | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 일 | il |
| 2 | 이 | i |
| 3 | 삼 | sam |
| 4 | 사 | sa |
| 5 | 오 | o |
| 6 | 육 | yuk |
| 7 | 칠 | chil |
| 8 | 팔 | pal |
| 9 | 구 | gu |
| 10 | 십 | sip |
Which system, when
The fastest way to learn is by job, not by number. Here is the split that matters:
| Use it for | System | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Objects | Native | 세 개 (se gae) — three items |
| People | Native | 두 명 (du myeong) — two people |
| Age | Native | 스무 살 (seumu sal) — 20 years old |
| The hour | Native | 세 시 (se si) — three o'clock |
| Money | Sino | 만 원 (man won) — 10,000 won |
| Minutes | Sino | 삼십 분 (samsip bun) — 30 minutes |
| Dates and months | Sino | 오월 (owol) — May |
| Phone numbers | Sino | 공일공 (gongilgong) — 0-1-0 |
Age uses native numbers plus 살 (sal), and since a 2023 law that number is simply your international age. Our numbers and counting guide walks through the counter words in full.
Telling time mixes both
Here is the twist that catches every learner: a single clock time uses both systems at once. The hour is native Korean, and the minutes are Sino-Korean.
세 시 삼십 분
se si samsip bun
3:30 (three-thirty)
일곱 시 십오 분
ilgop si sibo bun
7:15
Read it as native hour plus Sino minutes every time, and you will never freeze up at a train platform again.
Big numbers and the won
Large numbers are Sino-Korean only. Three building blocks carry you a long way:
| Number | Korean | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 백 | baek |
| 1,000 | 천 | cheon |
| 10,000 | 만 | man |
The catch is that Korean bundles big numbers in units of ten-thousand, not thousand. So 30,000 won is 삼만 원 (samman won) — literally "three man." Prices come at you in man units all day, and once you hear 만 (man) as "ten-thousand," Korean money suddenly makes sense.
You may notice some elevators label the fourth floor "F" instead of 4. The Sino-Korean word for four, sa (사), sounds identical to the Chinese-derived word for death, so a handful of older buildings and hospitals quietly skip it — Korea's version of the missing 13th floor.
Keep learning Korean
Two number systems feel like a lot, but each one owns a clear lane, and a week of practice makes the choice automatic. Drill them with audio and spaced repetition in the Pretalk app, and pick up the words around them with our free essential Korean phrases.
