Korean Numbers: Sino-Korean and Native Korean
Korean has two number systems: Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼…) and native Korean numbers (하나, 둘, 셋…). Tap any number to hear it, then learn which system to use for time, age, money and counting.
Sino-Korean numbers 0–10
Native Korean numbers 1–10
Numbers 11–100
| Number | Sino-Korean | Native Korean |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | 십일 (sibil) | 열하나 (yeolhana) |
| 12 | 십이 (sibi) | 열둘 (yeoldul) |
| 15 | 십오 (sibo) | 열다섯 (yeoldaseot) |
| 20 | 이십 (isip) | 스물 (seumul) |
| 30 | 삼십 (samsip) | 서른 (seoreun) |
| 40 | 사십 (sasip) | 마흔 (maheun) |
| 50 | 오십 (osip) | 쉰 (swin) |
| 60 | 육십 (yuksip) | 예순 (yesun) |
| 70 | 칠십 (chilsip) | 일흔 (ilheun) |
| 80 | 팔십 (palsip) | 여든 (yeodeun) |
| 90 | 구십 (gusip) | 아흔 (aheun) |
| 99 | 구십구 (gusipgu) | 아흔아홉 (aheunahop) |
| 100 | 백 (baek) | — |
Native Korean numbers only go up to 99. From 100 on, Korean uses Sino-Korean numbers only.
Big numbers
| Number | Korean |
|---|---|
| 100 | 백 (baek) |
| 1,000 | 천 (cheon) |
| 10,000 | 만 (man) |
| 100,000 | 십만 (simman) |
| 1,000,000 | 백만 (baengman) |
| 10,000,000 | 천만 (cheonman) |
| 100,000,000 | 억 (eok) |
Korean groups large numbers by 10,000 (만), not by 1,000. So 100,000 is “ten 만” (십만) and 1,000,000 is “one hundred 만” (백만).
Which number system to use
- Native Korean: counting things and people (사과 세 개 – three apples, 두 명 – two people), age (스무 살 – 20 years old), hours (세 시 – 3 o'clock) and number of times (한 번 – once).
- Sino-Korean: minutes and seconds (삼십 분 – 30 minutes), money (만 원 – 10,000 won), dates, months and years, phone numbers, floors (삼 층 – 3rd floor) and math.
Changes before counters
- 하나 → 한 (한 개 – one item)
- 둘 → 두 (두 명 – two people)
- 셋 → 세 (세 시 – 3 o'clock)
- 넷 → 네 (네 살 – 4 years old)
- 스물 → 스무 (스무 살 – 20 years old)
- Two months are irregular: June is 유월 (not 육월) and October is 시월 (not 십월).
- In phone numbers, 0 is usually read 공: 010 = 공일공.