Beginner Korean Series EP 3: "Numbers and Time in Korean"

[1: The Two Number Systems in Korean ]

“In Korean, there are two numbering systems:

1. Sino-Korean numbers – Used for dates, money, phone numbers, and measurements.
2. Native Korean numbers – Used for counting objects, people, and age.

Let’s start with the Sino-Korean numbers. ”

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Sino-Korean Numbers (1 to 10):

• 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)

For example, if your phone number is 010-1234-5678, you’d say:
공일공 (gong-il-gong), 일이삼사 (il-i-sam-sa), 오육칠팔 (o-yuk-chil-pal).

Now let’s move on to Native Korean numbers.”

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Native Korean Numbers (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)

These numbers are used when counting items, like saying, ‘I have three apples’—사과 세 개 있어요 (sagwa se gae isseoyo). 

[2: Telling Time in Korean ]

Here’s how to say ‘o’clock’ and ‘minutes’:

• 시 (si) – Used after the hour (e.g., 3시 = 3 o’clock).
• 분 (bun) – Used after the minutes (e.g., 30분 = 30 minutes).

For example, ‘It’s 3:30’ would be:

• 세 시 삼십 분 (se si samsip bun).

Let’s practice some examples together:

1. 1:15 – 한 시 십오 분 (han si sibo bun).
2. 4:45 – 네 시 사십오 분 (ne si sasibo bun).
3. 7:00 – 일곱 시 (ilgop si).

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[3: Practice Dialogue]

A: 지금 몇 시예요? (Jigeum myeot siyeyo?) – What time is it now?

B: 지금 다섯 시 삼십 분이에요. (Jigeum daseot si samsip bun-ieyo.) – It’s 5:30.

See you next time! 감사합니다.