In Korean, there are two systems for using numbers. Previously, you learned about Sino-Korean numbers. In this lesson, you will be introduced to native Korean numbers!
Native Korean numbers can be a bit more challenging, but don't worry! We'll go through them step by step to ensure you master them. Each section comes with a free worksheet, so be sure to complete each one before moving on!
<Table of Contents>
1. 1~10
The native Korean number is also called the pure Korean number. Let's learn about the first ten numbers first! You can listen and repeat using my video or follow each number using the chart below!
Video
Each number
1 | |
2 | |
3 | |
4 | |
5 | |
6 | |
7 | |
8 | |
9 | |
10 |
⚐ Language Tip!
8 여덟 has two final consonants at the second syllable, ㄹ and ㅂ. The first ㄹ will be pronounced and ㅂ is a silent letter. So, even though we write it as 여덟, you have to read it as /여덜/ [yeo-dul]. There is a rule for this two-letter final consonant! If you want to learn more about it, please click here.
Worksheet
Before you continue, practice from one to ten in Korean using the free worksheet below! You will need to use them when you study the numbers bigger than 10.
2. 11~19
Principal
You can read the number from left to right, just like you did in the Sino-Korean number lesson. Take a look at these examples.
11 열하나
11 is 10 + 1. So, you read ten first 열 and add one 하나.
12 열둘
12 is 10 + 2. Read ten 열 and say 2 둘.
Not bad, right? By combining the words from 1~10, you can easily make 11~19.
Each number
Practice these before we move on! I will show you from 11 to 19.
11 | |
12 | |
13 | |
14 | |
15 | |
16 | |
17 | |
18 | |
19 |
Worksheet
Practice 11~19 as well to get used to reading Korean numbers!
3. 10~100
Unlike the Sino-Korean numbers which you could combine 1~10 to make two-digit numbers easily, the native Korean numbers are slightly different. In the native Korean way, there are new terms for every ten. Check the numbers below!
10~100 in every 10
10 | |
20 | |
30 | |
40 | |
50 | |
60 | |
70 | |
80 | |
90 | |
100 |
⚐ Language Tips!
Originally, the native 100 was 온. But these days, people just use the Sino-Korean way 백 instead of 온. So as the 1,000 and 10,000. For those big units, please use the Sino-Korean ones like below.
100: 백
1,000: 천
10,000 만
Two digits
You have to use the new words above to say two-digit numbers! But still, the method is the same. You have to read the numbers from left to right just like you read the expanded forms in math class.
24 스물넷
24 is 20 + 4. 20 is 스물 and 4 is 넷. So, read from left to right.
35 서른다섯
35 is 30 + 5. In native Korean, 30 is 서른 and 5 is 다섯. So, 35 is 서른다섯.
58 쉰여덟
58 is 50 + 8. Start reading from 50 which is 쉰. 8 is 여덟.
Three digits
You need to use the 백 for hundreds, even though it is the Sino-Korean number. Other part, from 1 to 99, you still use the native for other parts. Here are some examples for you.
101 = 100 + 1 = 백하나
110 = 100 + 10 = 백열
111 = 100 + 10 + 1 = 백열하나
257 = 200 + 50 + 7 = 이백쉰일곱
834 = 800 + 30 + 4 = 팔백서른둘
999 = 900 + 90 + 9 = 구백아흔아홉
4. Where to Use
Then, when can we use these native Korean numbers? Native Korean number system is used to count things, people, animals, etc.
When you count, you can point out and say "하나, 둘, 셋, ..." However, when you talk about the result, you have to use a quantifier.
For example, the counting word for people is 명. You can count students in the classroom by saying "..., 다섯, 여섯, 일곱,...." Of course, you can count them with the quantifier like "..., 다섯 명, 여섯 명, 일곱 명, ..."
There are numerous quantifiers and some interesting rules you have to know. It is a big matter, so you are going to learn how to count in the next lesson! For now, just to know, the native Korean numbers you learned today are for counting!
5. Wrap-up & Materials: Native Korean numbers
There are two ways to say the numbers in Korean; the Sino-Korean and native Korean. In this post, you learned about the native Korean numbers. Here is the summary for you!
The native Korean is used to count different nouns.
You have to memorize 1~10 and every 10 before 100.
1 하나, 2 둘, 3 셋, 4 넷, 5 다섯, 6 여섯, 7 일곱, 8 여덟, 9 아홉, 10 열
20 스물, 30 서른, 40 마흔, 50 쉰, 60 예순, 70 일흔, 80 여든, 90 아흔.
I hope you solved the worksheets that you could find in the middle of lessons! Here are the last ones. You can check your understanding by solving these quiz worksheets!
Native Korean numbers 1~50 Quiz
Native Korean numbers 51~ Quiz
In the next lesson, you'll learn how to use count with these native Korean numbers! Thank you for studying with My Korean Lesson! 🤗
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