하나, 둘… · 일, 이… – Korean native and Sino-Korean numbers
- Meaning
- the two Korean number systems
- Level
- Beginner
- Topic
- Numbers, counters & questions
Korean has two number systems: native Korean (하나, 둘, 셋…) for counting things, hours and age, and Sino-Korean (일, 이, 삼…) for dates, money, minutes and phone numbers.
Key rules
- Native counting
- Money always Sino
- Native numbers for counting
- Used with counters
- 하나→한 before counters
- 둘 → 두 + counter
- 셋 → 세 + counter
- 넷 → 네 + counter
Examples with 하나, 둘… · 일, 이…
The highlighted part is the grammar form.
- 사과 하나 주세요 Sagwa hana juseyo One apple please 하나 is 'one' in native Korean. Used with most counters.
- 책 둘 있어요 Chaek dul isseoyo There are two books 둘 is 'two' in native Korean.
- 의자 셋 필요해요 Uija set piryohaeyo I need three chairs 셋 is 'three' in native Korean.
- 컵 넷이 있어요 Keop nes-i isseoyo There are four cups 넷 is 'four' in native Korean.
- 연필 다섯 주세요 Yeonpil daseot juseyo Five pencils please 다섯 is 'five' in native Korean.
- 문제 열 풀었어요 Munje yeol pureosseoyo I solved ten questions 열 is 'ten' in native Korean.
- 사람 스물 왔어요 Saram seumul wasseoyo Twenty people came 스물 is 'twenty' in native Korean.
- 전화번호는 영이에요 Jeonhwabeonho-neun yeong-ieyo The phone number is 0... 영 is 'zero' in Sino-Korean, used for phone numbers.
- 일월이에요 Irwol-ieyo It's January 일 is 'one' in Sino-Korean. Months use Sino-Korean.
- 이천이십사년이에요 Icheon-isipsa-nyeon-ieyo It's 2024 Years use Sino-Korean numbers.
- 백원이에요 Baegwon-ieyo It's 100 won 백 is 'hundred' in Sino-Korean. Money uses Sino-Korean.
- 천원이에요 Cheonwon-ieyo It's 1,000 won 천 is 'thousand' in Sino-Korean.
Vocabulary in these examples
둘two
셋three
넷four
다섯five
열ten
스물20
개general counter
월month (Sino)
년year
백hundred
천thousand
만10,000
Use 하나, 둘… · 일, 이… in your own sentences
Write, fill in and build Korean sentences with instant feedback. Free to start, no account needed.
More: numbers, counters & questions
Keep practicing: All Korean grammar Korean grammar practice Korean fill in the blank Korean sentence builder Hangul chart Daily Korean quiz