Korean numbers are fun to learn. At first they look confusing because Korean actually uses two number systems. Yes, two. But do not worry. They are easy if you understand how they work.
You use them when you count things, tell time, shop, give your age, read prices, order food, or talk to friends. Knowing numbers helps you to speak better. You also understand daily conversations better.
This guide teaches you Korean numbers the easy way. No hard grammar. No complex terms. Just simple steps, clear rules, real examples, and lots of practice.
Ready to learn Korean numbers? Let’s start.
Two Number Systems in Korean
Korean uses:
- Native Korean numbers
- Sino Korean numbers
Both are important. You use them for different things.
Native Korean numbers
These are the old Korean numbers. Used for:
- Age
• Counting people
• Counting things
• Counting animals
• Saying hours (time)
• Counting in daily life
Sino Korean numbers
These came from China a long time ago. Used for:
- Dates
• Money
• Phone numbers
• Minutes
• Seconds
• Months
• Prices
• Addresses
• Large numbers
Do not get scared. You will learn step by step.
Native Korean Numbers 1 to 10
These are very common. Learn them first.
1 hana
2 dul
3 set
4 net
5 daseot
6 yeoseot
7 ilgop
8 yeodeol
9 ahop
10 yeol
Very simple sounds. Practice saying them out loud.
Examples
hana meokda
Eat one
dul saram
Two people
yeol si
Ten o’clock when using native numbers for hours
Native Korean Numbers 11 to 19
Just add 10 (yeol) before numbers.
11 yeolhana
12 yeoldul
13 yeolset
14 yeolnet
15 yeoldaseot
16 yeolyeoseot
17 yeolilgop
18 yeolyeodeol
19 yeolahop
The pattern is easy.
Native Korean Numbers 20 to 100
Here are the tens:
20 seumul
30 seoreun
40 maheun
50 swinhun
60 yesun
70 ilheun
80 yeodeun
90 aheun
100 on
To make numbers like 21 or 35:
21 seumul hana
25 seumul daseot
32 seoreun dul
49 maheun ahop
87 yeodeun ilgop
Pattern: tens + single number.
Sino Korean Numbers 1 to 10
These are also simple.
1 il
2 i
3 sam
4 sa
5 o
6 yuk
7 chil
8 pal
9 gu
10 sip
Pronounce them slowly. They sound short and sharp.
Sino Korean Numbers 11 to 19
Use 10 (sip) plus the number.
11 sipil
12 sipi
13 sipsam
14 sipsa
15 sipo
16 sipyuk
17 sipchil
18 sippal
19 sipgu
Sino Korean Numbers 20 to 100
Tens are easy. Each one is a pattern.
20 isi
30 samsip
40 sasip
50 osip
60 yuksip
70 chilsip
80 palsip
90 gusip
100 baek
Numbers like 22 or 48:
22 isipi
25 isipo
36 samsipyuk
48 sasippal
99 gusipgu
Very simple pattern.
Differences at a Glance
Here is the easy idea:
Native Korean
• hours
• age
• counting things
• counting people
• small daily numbers
Sino Korean
• minutes
• seconds
• dates
• months
• prices
• phone numbers
• big numbers
After some practice your brain switches automatically.
How to Say Age in Korean
Age uses native Korean numbers.
I am 20 years old
na neun seumul sal
He is 15
geu neun yeoldaseot sal
She is 29
geu nyeo neun seoreun ahop sal
Simple pattern: number + sal
How to Tell Time in Korean
Hours = native Korean
Minutes = Sino Korean
5:20
daseot si iship bun
five hours twenty minutes
10:45
yeol si sasip o bun
1:15
hana si sip o bun
Pattern: hour + si + minute + bun
How to Say Date in Korean
Dates always use Sino Korean numbers.
September 7
gu wol chil il
November 25
sib il wol isipo il
January 1
il wol il il
Very simple.
How to Count Things in Korean
You use native Korean numbers plus a counter.
Common counters:
- gae for things
• myeong for people
• mari for animals
• chaek for books
• jang for papers
Examples:
three people
se myeong
five apples
daseot gae apple
two animals
dul mari
seven books
ilgop chaek
Counters are very important in Korean.
Korean Numbers for Money
Korean money uses Sino Korean numbers.
Prices follow this pattern:
2,000 won
i cheon won
5,500 won
o cheon obaek won
12,300 won
sip i cheon sam baek won
30,000 won
sam man won
Korean large numbers are based on units of 10,000 (man).
1 man = 10 thousand
10 man = 100 thousand
100 man = 1 million
Practice With Real Life Examples
Here are easy sentences to practice.
Native Korean sentences
hana isseoyo
I have one
daseot meogeoyo
I eat five
ilgop saram isseoyo
There are seven people
Sino Korean sentences
sip bun
ten minutes
samsip il
day thirty one
chilcheon won
seven thousand won
Korean Numbers From 1 to 100: Full List
Native Korean 1 to 20
1 hana
2 dul
3 set
4 net
5 daseot
6 yeoseot
7 ilgop
8 yeodeol
9 ahop
10 yeol
11 yeolhana
12 yeoldul
13 yeolset
14 yeolnet
15 yeoldaseot
16 yeolyeoseot
17 yeolilgop
18 yeolyeodeol
19 yeolahop
20 seumul
Also Read: German Numbers 1 to 100: Easy Guide for Beginners
Sino Korean 1 to 20
1 il
2 i
3 sam
4 sa
5 o
6 yuk
7 chil
8 pal
9 gu
10 sip
11 sipil
12 sipi
13 sipsam
14 sipsa
15 sipo
16 sipyuk
17 sipchil
18 sippal
19 sipgu
20 isi
Fun Tricks to Learn Korean Numbers
These small tricks help a lot.
Say them out loud
Your mouth learns faster.
Write them daily
Write 1 to 100 for one week.
Watch Korean dramas
You will hear numbers often.
Listen to Korean songs
Catch numbers in lyrics.
Count items around you
Count steps, bottles, pens, or pages.
Use flashcards
One card per number.
Practice with a friend
Learning becomes fun.
Common Mistakes Learners Make
People often make these mistakes:
- mixing native and Sino numbers
• saying “hana sal” instead of “hana sal-i aniya”
• using Sino numbers for age
• forgetting that hours use native numbers
• saying sipil wol (11th month) which is wrong
• saying ilbeon (one person) instead of han myeong
Do not worry. Everyone makes mistakes. Practice fixes everything.
Easy Practice Test
Fill the blanks:
- ____ si ____ bun (3:15)
- na neun ____ sal (I am 19)
- ____ gae (five items)
- ____ won (2000 won)
- ____ il (day 17)
Answers:
- sam si sip o bun
- yeolahop sal
- daseot gae
- i cheon won
- sipchil il
Great job.
Quick Review
What you learned:
- Korean has two number systems
• Native numbers for age, counting, hours
• Sino Korean numbers for dates, months, money, minutes
• Easy patterns for tens
• Real examples for daily life
• Common mistakes to avoid
• Tricks to learn fast
Now you can count in Korean easily.
Korean numbers are simple once you understand the two systems. Start small. Learn native numbers. Then learn Sino Korean numbers. Practice with time, age, and money. Use the examples in real life. Count objects daily. Watch Korean shows to hear numbers naturally.
With a little practice, Korean numbers will feel easy and natural. You can do it.