You've learned both Sino-Korean numbers and native Korean numbers! It is critical to know both of them because Koreans use both number systems to read time. In this post, I'll show you how to read time in Korean. You'll also learn how to ask and answer time as well.
<Table of Contents>
1. Hour: 시
You can read the hour part of the time by combining the native Korean numbers and 시[si]. 시 is a counting unit for an hour.
1:00 | |
2:00 | |
3:00 | |
4:00 | |
5:00 | |
6:00 | |
7:00 | |
8:00 | |
9:00 | |
10:00 | |
11:00 | |
12:00 |
Remember? When 1 하나, 2 둘, 3 셋, and 4 넷 meet a counting unit word (quantifier), they change forms to 한 [han], 두 [du], 세 [sae], 네 [nae]! 시 is also a counting unit, so we use this changed version!
By the way, you are supposed to put a space between the number and 시 like 열두 시. However, you are allowed to write them without a space like 열두시.
Here, I prepared the free PDF worksheet for you. Please download and practice reading time in Korean.
2. Minute: 분
You can read the minute part of the time by combining the Sino-Korean numbers and a minute counting unit word 분. Placing a space between is the principle, but you are allowed to write them without a space.
I can't give you all 60 minutes as an example, but as you know, reading Sino-Korean numbers is not difficult at all! So, with a little bit of practice, you'll be able to read the minutes without trouble! Here are some examples.
1 minute | |
2 minutes | |
3 minutes | |
4 minutes | |
5 minutes | |
6 minutes | |
7 minutes | |
8 minutes | |
9 minutes | |
10 minutes | |
20 minutes | |
30 minutes/half | |
40 minutes | |
50 minutes |
30 is 삼십. It is also half of the 60 minutes. So, you can say "반 half" instead.
Now, practice how to read minutes in Korean with the worksheet. When you write, try to read them aloud as well.
3. How to read time in Korean
Now let's combine the two and read the time! You say hour first and then minute. Here are some examples.
Hour(시) + Minute(분)
12:00 열두 시
When it is an hour sharp, you can only read the hour.
1:01 한 시 일 분
Read the hour part first and then the minute part.
2:05 두 시 오 분
3:10 세 시 십 분
4:30 네 시 반OR 네 시 삼십 분
When you read 삼십 분, the final consonant ㅂ of 십 affects the next syllable 분. So, even though we write it as 삼십 분, we have to read it like [삼십 뿐].
5:43 다섯 시 사십삼 분
Even though there are many numbers, don't worry! Just read the numbers from left to right!
6:59 여섯 시 오십구 분
The rule itself is not difficult, isn't it? You just need to memorize the numbers! What time is it now? Try to read time on your own!
4. Ask and Answer "What time is it?" in Korean
A. What time is it?
Now let's see how we can ask and answer "What time is it?" in Korean. "What time" in Korean is 몇 시. Even though you write it 몇 시, you'll read it as [며 씨]. The ㅊ affected ㅅ.
Just like using "is" in English, Koreans use the "be verb 이다" as well. The present tense form of 이다 is 이에요 or 예요.
To decide which one to use what do you have to see? Yes, you have to see the last syllable of a noun. Especially, you need to pay attention to the existence of the final consonant.
Since 시 from 몇 시(what time) doesn't have the final consonant, we will add 예요 with a question mark. Try to listen and repeat the expressions below!
What time is it? | |
What time is it now? |
B. Answers
To answer, we once again need to use the word 이다 (Korean "is"). Here are some examples. You read the time first and then attach 이에요 or 예요.
It's 7:00. | |
It's 3:05. | |
It's 5:30. |
Do you see the pattern? When you read O'clock times like "1:00, 2:00, 3:00, ...," it ends just with 시. Since 시 doesn't have the final consonant, you will add 예요.
When the time has the minute part, it will end with 분. It has the final consonant. So, you will need 이에요.
C. Adding optional time-related words
Here are some optional words you can attach when you read time!
A.M. | |
P.M. | |
O' clock |
In English, you read the time first and then add a.m. or p.m. In Korean, 오전 or 오후 comes first. 정각 comes at the end just like English.
오전 여덟 시예요. It's 8 a.m.
오후 다섯 시 반이에요. It's 5:30 p.m.
세 시 정각이에요. It's 3 O'clock.
5. Examples
1
가: 몇 시예요? What time is it?
나: 여섯 시예요. It's 6:00.
시 doesn't have the final consonant, so we will attach 예요 to make it a full polite answer.
2
다: 지금 몇 시예요? What time is it now?
라: 열두 시 반이에요. It's 12 and half.
watch out for not saying 열둘 시. Even though 12 itself is 열둘, with a counting word, it becomes 열두.
3
다: 지금 몇 시예요? What time is it now?
라: 열두 시 삼십분이에요. It's 12:30.
The example 3 shows you another way you can say of the example 2. For minute 30, you can say 삼십분 or the half (반).
4
마: 몇 시예요? What time is it?
바: 오후 네 시 오십이 분이에요. It's 4:52 p.m.
오전(a.m.) and 오후(p.m.) are optional words. They come at the beginning of the time.
5
사: 지금 몇 시예요? What time is it now?
아: 열두 시 정각이에요. It's 12:00 O'clock.
정각 is an optional word. You can attach it after the time.
6. Wrap-up & Materials: How to read time in Korean
You've learned how to read time in the Korean language! Let's review the important things!
To read an hour part of the time: The native Korean + 시.
To read a minute part of the time: The Sino-Korean + 분.
몇 시예요? What time is it?
Add 이에요/예요 to make a full polite sentence.
How was the lesson? Check your understanding with the quiz! Make sure to check your answers with the included answer sheet.
In the next lesson, you'll learn about the time marker "에" and utilize what you learned today. If you have any questions about this lesson, scroll down and use the comment box to leave a message! Thank you for studying with My Korean Lesson! 🤗
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