Numbers

Native and Sino-Korean numbers with everyday uses

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Native vs Sino-Korean numbers

Korean has two number systems. Use the right one for counting, dates, money, and floors.

Before a counter, native numbers often shorten: 하나→한, 둘→두, 셋→세, 넷→네, 스물→스무 (20).

Used with counters for small counts (usually 1–99): people, hours, age, and items with native counters.

Used for dates, money, phone numbers, floors, minutes, and most numbers above 99.

몇 asks “how many?” Pair it with a counter and use native Korean numbers in the answer (e.g. 세 개, 다섯 명).

Pattern: [noun] + 몇 + [counter] + 이에요/예요? · Answer: [native number] + [counter].

Hangul	English	Examples
몇	how many	몇 개 있어요? How many are there? 1 / 1
몇 개	how many (things / general items)	사과 몇 개예요? How many apples? 1 / 1
몇 명	how many (people)	버스에 몇 명이에요? How many people are on the bus? 1 / 1
몇 병	how many (bottles)	맥주 몇 병이에요? How many bottles of beer? 1 / 1
몇 권	how many (books)	공책 몇 권이에요? How many notebooks? 1 / 1
몇 장	how many (pieces of paper)	해리 포터 표 몇 장이에요? How many tickets for Harry Potter? 1 / 1
몇 마리	how many (animals)	고양이 몇 마리예요? How many cats? 1 / 1
몇 송이	how many (flowers)	꽃 몇 송이예요? How many flowers? 1 / 1

Building floors use Sino-Korean numbers + the counter 층 (floor/story).

Ask with 몇 (how many): 몇 층이에요? · Answer: 삼 층이에요 (3rd floor).

Hangul	English	Examples
몇 층이에요?	Which floor is it? / What floor?
삼 층이에요.	It's the 3rd floor.

Ask 전화번호가 뭐예요? (What's your phone number?).

Read phone numbers digit by digit in Sino-Korean. Zero is usually 공 (not 영).

When dictating, the hyphen between groups is read 에 (e) — not “dash.”

Example: 010-1234-5678 → 공일공-일이삼사-오육칠팔 (say 에 at each dash).

Hangul	English	Examples
전화번호가 뭐예요?	What's your phone number?
공일공-일이삼사-오육칠팔	010-1234-5678 (read aloud digit by digit; dashes = 에)

Prices use Sino-Korean + 원 (won). 얼마 asks “how much?”

Hangul	English	Examples
얼마예요?	How much is it?
오천 원이에요.	It's 5,000 won.

Months and years use Sino-Korean: 월 (month), 년 (year).

July 2026 → 이천이십육년 유월 (year + month). See the Time topic for all month names.

Hangul	English	Examples
일월	january	일월에 가족들과 함께 한국에 왔어요. We came to Korea with our family in January. 1 / 1
유월	june	유월에 친구와 공원에서 산책할 거예요. I will take a walk in the park with my friend in June. 1 / 1
십이월	december	십이월에 가족들과 함께 한국에 돌아가요. In December, I return to Korea with my family. 1 / 1
이천이십육년	the year 2026

Ask with 언제 (when). The date uses Sino-Korean month + 일 (day).

Example answer: 유월 십오일 (July 15).

Hangul	English	Examples
생일	birthday	오늘이 제 생일이에요. Today is my birthday. 1 / 1
생일이 언제예요?	When is your birthday?
유월 십오일이에요.	It's July 15th.