Korean NumbersSino & Native — a free 1–100 list with romanization
Korean has two number systems. Sino-Korean (일, 이, 삼…) is used for dates, money, minutes and phone numbers; Native Korean (하나, 둘, 셋…) is used for counting things, age and the hour. This free guide lists both with romanization, plus the counters and the time rule that trip up most beginners — written by a certified Korean teacher (한국어교원 2급).
1. Sino-Korean numbers (한자어 수)
Dates · money · minutes · phone numbers · counting above 99.
| # | Korean | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 영 / 공 | yeong / gong |
| 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 |
| 100 | 백 | baek |
| 1,000 | 천 | cheon |
| 10,000 | 만 | man |
| 100,000,000 | 억 | eok |
| 1,000,000,000,000 | 조 | jo |
Build bigger numbers by stacking: 23 = 이십삼 (i-sip-sam), 100 = 백 (baek), 1,000 = 천 (cheon), 10,000 = 만 (man).
2. Native Korean numbers (고유어 수)
Counting things · age · the hour. Tops out at 99 — above that, use Sino.
| 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 |
| 20 | 스물 | seumul |
| 30 | 서른 | seoreun |
| 40 | 마흔 | maheun |
| 50 | 쉰 | swin |
| 60 | 예순 | yesun |
| 70 | 일흔 | ilheun |
| 80 | 여든 | yeodeun |
| 90 | 아흔 | aheun |
⚠️ Before a counter, five numbers change shape
하나 → 한 · 둘 → 두 · 셋 → 세 · 넷 → 네 · 스물 → 스무
e.g. 한 개 (one item), 두 시 (two o’clock), 세 명 (three people), 스무 살 (twenty years old).
3. Common counters (단위 명사)
Korean counts with a counter word, like "two cups of coffee". Each counter takes either native or Sino numbers.
| Counter | Rom. | Used for | Number type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 개 | gae | general items / things | Native |
| 명 / 분 | myeong / bun | people (분 = polite) | Native |
| 마리 | mari | animals | Native |
| 살 | sal | years of age | Native |
| 시 | si | o'clock (hour) | Native |
| 시간 | sigan | hours (duration) | Native |
| 권 | gwon | books | Native |
| 잔 | jan | cups / glasses | Native |
| 병 | byeong | bottles | Native |
| 대 | dae | vehicles / machines | Native |
| 분 | bun | minutes | Sino |
| 원 | won | won (money) | Sino |
| 월 | wol | month (of year) | Sino |
| 일 | il | day (of month) | Sino |
| 번 | beon | number / times | Sino |
| 층 | cheung | floor | Sino |
4. Telling the time — the mixed rule
The hour uses native numbers + 시 (si); the minute uses Sino numbers + 분 (bun). So 3:30 is 세 시 삼십 분 (se si samsip bun). Practise this mix early — it is the most common beginner slip.
FAQ
- Does Korean have two number systems?
- Yes. Sino-Korean (일, 이, 삼…) is used for dates, money, minutes, phone numbers and counting above 99. Native Korean (하나, 둘, 셋…) is used for counting things, age and the hour. Both appear in the tables above.
- How do you count from 1 to 10 in Korean?
- Native: 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷, 다섯, 여섯, 일곱, 여덟, 아홉, 열 (hana, dul, set, net, daseot, yeoseot, ilgop, yeodeol, ahop, yeol). Sino: 일, 이, 삼, 사, 오, 육, 칠, 팔, 구, 십 (il, i, sam, sa, o, yuk, chil, pal, gu, sip).
- How do you tell the time in Korean?
- The hour uses native numbers + 시 and the minute uses Sino numbers + 분 — e.g. 3:30 = 세 시 삼십 분 (se si samsip bun). This mix is the single most common beginner mistake, so practise it early.
- Is this Korean numbers guide free?
- Yes — free with no sign-up, written by a certified Korean teacher (한국어교원 2급). Open the linked lessons to practise numbers in real sentences.
Written by Alvin Lim Certified Korean Language Teacher (Level 2)