How can we count in Korean? It is not that difficult, but there are some words you need to know. Here, I'll explain to you and provide the free worksheets you can use!
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1. Numbers
There are two kinds of number systems in Korea. One is Chinese-influenced, Sino-Korean numbers and the other is native Korean numbers.
To count, we must know the native Korean numbers. If you want to learn detailed native Korean numbers, please click here to read my lesson! For your quick review, here are from one to ten.
2. Korean Counting Words?
Native Korean numbers are usually used for counting. You can count things, people, or animals, by pointing to them and saying 하나, 둘, 셋.
But when you say the result of counting such as "There are four people." or "I drank two cups of coffee!" you have to use the counting words. They are also called quantifiers or counting units.
In English, you have quantifiers only for something you can't count like "a piece of paper" or "two cups of water." But in Korean, you always have to use the quantifiers and there are many quantifiers depending on what you count.
First, I'll show you some commonly used words to explain how to count in this lesson. Make sure to memorize these words! In the later part of the lesson, I'll show you more counting words. If you want to go to check various counting words, click here.
A counting word for (general) things | |
A counting word for people | |
A counting word for animals |
개 is for general things(objects). For example, you can use it to count apples, chairs, purses, wallets, etc. For objects that don't have the specific counting word, you'll use 개.
⚐ Studying Tips!
One tip for you is to keep these quantifiers. As you go through the lesson you will encounter new quantifiers! So organize them in your notebook or download the free worksheet.
3. How to Count
A. Number + Quantifier
The native Korean numbers are used like "number + quantifier". You'll put a space between the two words. Here are some examples.
five (things) | |
six (animals) | |
seven (people) |
It's not that difficult, right? However, some numbers need your extra attention. They are 1, 2, 3, 4. Those numbers change their forms when they meet a quantifier. Take a look.
Do you see how 하나, 둘, 셋, and 넷 changes their forms? When these numbers meet any counting words, they become 한, 두, 세, 네. Don't say 하나 개. You must say 한 개. It's very important! For other numbers, from 5 to 10, you don't have to worry about this change.
Then, now, guess how we can read 11 things or 12 people. Will it be 열하나 개 or 열한 개. The answer is 열한 개!
The number that directly meets the quantifier gets influence. So, the numbers that end with 1~4 will be changed.
Here are some examples for you to show the pattern. Focus on the look of the last numbers that are followed by the counting words! If you don't know the native 20, 30, 50, etc., I recommend you read my native number post.
Does it make sense so far? There is one number that you have to pay attention to. That is 20. It is 스물 in native Korean. However, when it is followed by a counting unit, it becomes 스무.
B. Noun + Number + Quantifier
In English, you say the number first and then add a noun, for example, seven dogs or two apples. However, it is the opposite in the Korean language!
When a noun is counted, the right order is "noun + number + quantifier" with spaces between words. Let's take a look at "two apples".
An apple or apples in Korean is 사과. Since the apple is a general object, we need to count using the counting word(quantifier) 개. Two is 둘, but when we add the counting unit, it becomes 두.
The order is "noun + number + quantifier." So, we need to say 사과(apple) + 두 (2) + 개 (object counting word); 사과 두 개.
You will see these patterns for all counting words. Here are some more examples for you! This time, I'll use the different counting words as well.
five chairs | |
ten friends | |
two cats | |
seven dogs |
⚐ Language Tip!
Yes, you may notice. A dog in Korean is 개. A quantifier for counting an object is also 개. They are homonyms!
C. Question Form
몇 is a word to use in a question to ask numbers like "how many". It comes in front of a quantifier. Look how 몇 and quantifiers combine.
How many (things)? | |
How many (people)? | |
How many (animals)? |
⚐ Pronunciation Tips!
Watch out for the pronunciation of 몇 개. The final consonant "ㅊ" of 몇 affects 개 and makes ㄱ into a stronger sound ㄲ. So, even though we write it as 몇 개, we read it like [며 깨]. This phenomenon is called the fortis. It happens even though there is a space between the words.
What about 명 and 마리? You don't have to worry! They are not changing. Their first consonant of 명 and 마리 are "ㅁ". This letter doesn't have the double consonant form.
4. Examples
Alright! How was the lesson so far? Now, let's see how we can apply. Here are some examples for you! We will use the expression "N이/가 있어요 (have N / There is N / There are N).
1
고양이 한 마리 One cat
고양이 is a cat or cats. To count animals, we need to use the word 마리. 한 came from the number 하나 (1). When 하나 meets any counting word (quantifier) it changes its form!
2
고양이 두 마리가 있어요.
고양이가 두 마리 있어요.
There are two cats. / (I) have two cats.
Without context, these sentences can have two meanings. You may explain "There are two cats." Or it can be you are saying about yourself "I have two cats." The subject marker can be attached either to "cat 고양이" or "two cats 고양이 두 마리".
3
저는 고양이가 두 마리 있어요. (As for me,) I have two cats.
When you talk about yourself, we need the topic marker "은/는". Especially 는 will be used here because it is attached to 저, the word without a final consonant. With the topic provided, we can definitely be sure this sentence means "I have two cats."
4
방에 친구가 세 명 있어요. There are three friends in the room.
One more example with the context. 방 means a room. With the place marker 에, we can tell this sentence means "There are three friends in the room."
5
가: 사과가 몇 개 있어요? How many apples do you have?
나: 네 개가 있어요. I have four apples.
To ask how many things we combine the word 몇 to the quantifier 개. When you answer, we already know the answer is about "사과apple". So, we can skip mentioning that part!
You can answer "네 개가 있어요" using the full 이/가 있어요 expression, or omit "이/가" and just say "네 개 있어요." This omitting happens often in daily conversation.
6
Here is a funny story for you. One Korean asked a foreign friend how many siblings he had.
가: 형제가 몇 명 있어요? How many siblings do you have?
나: 한 마리있어요.
가: Oh, you use "명" to count people!
나: I know :).
Did you get the joke? 😉 What about you? 형제가 몇 명 있어요?
5. Various Counting Words
Once you understand how to count, please proceed with this part. This time, I'll show you various Korean counting words! As I mentioned above, there are tones!
Counting Words | Use | Example |
paper | 종이 한 장 a piece of paper | |
book | 책 두 권 two books | |
pencil, pen | 연필 세 자루 three pencils | |
clothes | 옷 네 벌 four clothes | |
(pairs) socks, shoes | 신발 다섯 켤레 five pairs of shoes | |
bowl | 냉면 한 그릇 a bowl of cold noodles | |
cup, glass | 커피 두 잔 two cups of coffee | |
bottle | 콜라 한 병 a bottle of coke | |
tree | 나무 여섯 그루 six trees | |
flower | 꽃 일곱 송이 seven flowers | |
buildings | 집 열 채 ten houses | |
handful of | 콩 한 줌 one handful of beans | |
age | 서른 두 살 32 years old |
Yes, you may see. Countable or uncountable doesn't matter in the Korean language. As singular or plural didn't matter at all. You just need to use appropriate counting words.
You may think I showed you too many. But there are more words 😂! However, don't feel overwhelmed. You don't have to memorize them all at once. Memorize the first three 개, 마리, and 명. Then, you can memorize the new words as you encounter them during the lessons!
6. Wrap-up & Materials
In this post, you learned how to count in Korean. Here is the summary of the lesson.
To count, you use the native Korean numbers; 하나, 둘, 셋.
You need to use the appropriate count words depending on what you count.
개 for general objects, 명 for people, 마리 for animals.
Some numbers change their forms when they are followed by the quantifier.
If you want to study further, please download these printable free and printable PDF Korean worksheets.
Counting Words Practice
Number + Counting Words Practice
You can also practice with the flashcards set on Quizlet. Please click here to get the quantifier studying set.
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