Learning to count in Korean can seem daunting at first, but with a bit of practice, you'll be rattling off numbers like a pro. This guide breaks down the Korean number system, focusing on pronunciation from 1 to 110, and provides tips to help you master them. Whether you're a beginner or just need a refresher, this is your go-to resource for all things Korean numbers!

Two Systems: Sino-Korean and Native Korean

Before diving into the numbers themselves, it's crucial to understand that Korean uses two distinct number systems: Sino-Korean and Native Korean. Sino-Korean numbers are derived from Chinese, while Native Korean numbers are, well, native to Korea. The system you use depends on the context. Generally, Sino-Korean numbers are used for:

• Dates (years, months, days)
• Money
• Phone numbers
• Addresses
• Measurements (length, weight)
• Numbers greater than 100

Native Korean numbers are typically used for:

• Counting objects (people, things)
• Age
• Hours (when telling time)

Understanding which system to use is half the battle! Let's start with the Sino-Korean numbers as they're used for higher numbers, which is our ultimate goal.

Sino-Korean Numbers (1-10)

Here are the Sino-Korean numbers from 1 to 10, along with their pronunciations:

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)

Pronunciation Tips: These are pretty straightforward, but pay attention to the 받침 (batchim), or final consonant, in words like il, sam, yuk, chil, pal, and sip. The correct pronunciation of these final consonants is essential for clear communication.

Sino-Korean Numbers (11-19)

Now, let’s move on to numbers 11 through 19. These are formed by combining 10 (십, sip) with the numbers 1 through 9.

11: 십일 (shibil) – ten one 12: 십이 (shibi) – ten two 13: 십삼 (shipsam) – ten three 14: 십사 (shipsa) – ten four 15: 십오 (shibo) – ten five 16: 십육 (shimnyuk) – ten six 17: 십칠 (shipchil) – ten seven 18: 십팔 (shippal) – ten eight 19: 십구 (shipgu) – ten nine

Notice how each number simply adds onto the 'ten' (십). It's like saying 'ten-one,' 'ten-two,' and so on. This pattern makes it easier to memorize.

Sino-Korean Numbers (20-90)

Next, we'll tackle the tens: 20, 30, 40, and so on up to 90. These are constructed by combining the numbers 2 through 9 with 'ten' (십, sip).

20: 이십 (isip) – two ten 30: 삼십 (shipsam) – three ten 40: 사십 (sasip) – four ten 50: 오십 (osip) – five ten 60: 육십 (yuksip) – six ten 70: 칠십 (chilship) – seven ten 80: 팔십 (palship) – eight ten 90: 구십 (guship) – nine ten

Again, the pattern is consistent. For example, 20 (이십) is literally 'two ten,' and 30 (삼십) is 'three ten.' Keep practicing saying these aloud.

Sino-Korean Numbers (21-99)

Combining the tens with the numbers 1-9 allows us to form any number between 21 and 99. For example:

21: 이십일 (isipil) – two ten one 35: 삼십오 (shipsamo) – three ten five 42: 사십이 (sasibi) – four ten two 58: 오십팔 (oshipal) – five ten eight 69: 육십구 (yuksipgu) – six ten nine 74: 칠십사 (chilshipsa) – seven ten four 86: 팔십육 (palshimnyuk) – eight ten six 99: 구십구 (gushipgu) – nine ten nine

The structure remains consistent: [ten's digit] + 십 (sip) + [unit's digit]. Practice these combinations, and you'll quickly become comfortable with them.

Sino-Korean Numbers (100-110)

Now we are going to touch the grand number, 100. Let's go!

100: 백 (baek)

To get to 101-110, we simply combine 100 with the numbers we've already learned. Here’s how:

101: 백일 (baegil) - One hundred one 102: 백이 (baegi) - One hundred two 103: 백삼 (baegsam) - One hundred three 104: 백사 (baegsa) - One hundred four 105: 백오 (baego) - One hundred five 106: 백육 (baegyuk) - One hundred six 107: 백칠 (baegchil) - One hundred seven 108: 백팔 (baegpal) - One hundred eight 109: 백구 (baegu) - One hundred nine 110: 백십 (baeksip) - One hundred ten

Notice that 110 is literally “one hundred ten”.

Native Korean Numbers (1-10)

Now, let’s switch gears and look at the Native Korean numbers. As mentioned earlier, these are used for counting objects, age, and hours. Here are the Native Korean numbers from 1 to 10:

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)

Pronunciation Tips: These can be a bit trickier for English speakers because the pronunciations aren’t as straightforward. Pay close attention to the sounds and practice saying them aloud repeatedly.

Native Korean Numbers (11-19)

Numbers 11 to 19 in the Native Korean system follow a similar pattern to the Sino-Korean system but with a slight twist. You combine 10 (열, yeol) with the numbers 1 through 9. However, there are some changes in the base form of the numbers.

11: 열하나 (yeolhana) - ten one 12: 열둘 (yeoldul) - ten two 13: 열셋 (yeolset) - ten three 14: 열넷 (yeolnet) - ten four 15: 열다섯 (yeoldaseot) - ten five 16: 열여섯 (yeolyeoseot) - ten six 17: 열일곱 (yeolilgop) - ten seven 18: 열여덟 (yeollyeodeol) - ten eight 19: 열아홉 (yeolahop) - ten nine

Native Korean Numbers (20-90)

For the tens in Native Korean numbers, things get a bit different. Here's how they look:

20: 스물 (seumul) 30: 서른 (seoreun) 40: 마흔 (maheun) 50: 쉰 (swin) 60: 예순 (yesun) 70: 일흔 (ilheun) 80: 여든 (yeodeun) 90: 아흔 (aheun)

These don't follow a simple additive pattern like the Sino-Korean system, so they require more memorization.

Native Korean Numbers (21-99)

Combining the tens with the numbers 1-9 to form numbers between 21 and 99 involves using the shortened forms of the numbers 1 to 9. Here are a few examples:

21: 스물하나 (seumulhana) 32: 서른둘 (seoreundul) 43: 마흔셋 (maheunset) 54: 쉰넷 (swinnet) 65: 예순다섯 (yesundaseot) 76: 일흔여섯 (ilheunyeoseot) 87: 여든일곱 (yeodeunilgop) 98: 아흔여덟 (aheunyeodeol) 99: 아흔아홉 (aheunahop)

Native Korean Numbers (100-110)

Native Korean doesn't commonly go beyond 99, especially in modern usage. Once you hit 100, Sino-Korean numbers are generally preferred. However, if you really needed to express these numbers using a Native Korean construct, you would likely still use Sino-Korean for '100' (백 - baek) and combine it with the Native Korean numbers for the rest. It's rare, but for the sake of completeness, here's a theoretical (and somewhat unusual) approach:

100: 백 (baek) - generally used 101: 백하나 (baekhana) 102: 백둘 (baekdul) 103: 백셋 (baekset) 104: 백넷 (baeknet) 105: 백다섯 (baekdaseot) 106: 백여섯 (baekyeoseot) 107: 백일곱 (baekilgop) 108: 백여덟 (baekyeodeol) 109: 백아홉 (baekahop) 110: 백열 (baekyeol)

Important Note: In most real-world scenarios, using Sino-Korean numbers for 100 and above is far more common and natural.

Tips for Mastering Korean Numbers

1. Practice Regularly: Repetition is key! Set aside time each day to practice saying the numbers aloud.
2. Use Flashcards: Create flashcards with the Korean numbers on one side and the English translations on the other. Quiz yourself regularly.
3. Listen to Native Speakers: Find audio resources or videos of native Korean speakers pronouncing the numbers. Pay attention to their pronunciation and intonation.
4. Incorporate Numbers into Daily Life: Try counting objects around you in Korean, telling the time, or using numbers when speaking to Korean-speaking friends.
5. Use Mnemonics: Create memory aids or associations to help you remember the numbers. For example, associate the sound of 'il' (1) with 'eel' to help you remember the number one.
6. Focus on One System at a Time: Don't try to learn both systems at once. Master one system before moving on to the other.
7. Use Online Resources: There are many websites and apps that can help you learn Korean numbers. Explore different resources to find what works best for you.
8. Watch Korean Media: Watching Korean dramas, movies, or TV shows can help you familiarize yourself with the sound of the numbers in context.
9. Don't be afraid to make mistakes: Everyone makes mistakes when learning a new language. The important thing is to keep practicing and learn from your errors.

Conclusion

Learning Korean numbers requires understanding two systems and a commitment to practice. By mastering the Sino-Korean and Native Korean numbers from 1 to 110, you'll build a strong foundation for further language learning. Remember to use the tips and resources mentioned in this guide, and don't be afraid to make mistakes along the way. With persistence and dedication, you'll be counting like a native Korean speaker in no time! Hwaiting!