The Korean language has two kinds of number systems. One is the native Korean number and the other is the Chinese-influenced, Sino-Korean number. The Sino-Korean number system is a little bit easier than the native Korean number system. So we will begin with the easy one first!
Each section will provide you with listening clips and a worksheet. You can download the quiz at the end too! So, please follow me and master the Sino-Korean number!
<Table of Contents>
1. 1~10
Let's begin with from one to ten. You must remember those numbers to continue the lesson. So, please take your time and memorize these ten numbers first! You can watch my video to listen and repeat twice or use the chart below to follow each word! I'll also provide you the worksheet, so make sure to master these 1~10 in Korean!
1: 일 | |
2: 이 | |
3: 삼 | |
4: 사 | |
5: 오 | |
6: 육 | |
7: 칠 | |
8: 팔 | |
9: 구 | |
10: 십 |
2. 11~20
The reason why the Sino-Korean number is easy to learn is because you can use from one to ten to read numbers higher than 10. It is just like an expanded form in math. You can read the numbers from left to right. I'll show you some examples, listening clips, and a worksheet!
11 십일
11 is 10+1. So, you read ten first "십" and add one "일". 11 is 십일. You read it as [시빌].
⚐ Pronunciation Tip!
To read 십일, you have to move the final consonant ㅂ[b] to the right next empty consonant spot (ㅇ). That is why even though we write 11 as 십일, you should read it like [시빌, si-bil]. This phenomenon is called the linking sound. It is a very important pronunciation rule in Korean! If you want to know more about it, please click here to read my related post!
12 십이
12 is 10+2. Read ten 십 and say 2 이. 12 is 십이.
20 이십
20 is 2 tens; 2 X 10. This time you read two 이 first and then add 10 십. 20 = 이십.
Does it make sense? 12 is 십이 and 20 is 이십 because you have to read numbers from left to right. Just like that 30, 40, 50, and more are the same! Here, I will show you from 11 to 20.
11: 십일 | |
12: 십이 | |
13: 십삼 | |
14: 십사 | |
15: 십오 | |
16: 십육 | |
17: 십칠 | |
18: 십팔 | |
19: 십구 | |
20: 이십 |
3. 10~100
10 to 100 in every 10.
10: 십 | |
20: 이십 | |
30: 삼십 | |
40: 사십 | |
50: 오십 | |
60: 육십 | |
70: 칠십 | |
80: 팔십 | |
90: 구십 | |
100: 백 |
<⚠️ Watch out!>
One thing you should be careful of is that 10 is 십, not 일십. So as 100. Unlike English 100 is "one" hundred, Korean doesn't say "일"! It is only 백 not 일백.
Reading the number in two digits
You briefly saw it above. Just like you read 12 as 십이, other numbers follow the same way too. Read from left to right like you read the expanded form of the number.
24 = 20 + 4 = 2 X 10 + 4 = 이십사
35 = 30 + 5 = 삼십오
58 = 50 + 8 = 오십팔
79 = 70 + 9 = 칠십구
Reading the number in three digits
Even though the numbers are getting higher, no worries! It's still the same way. I will show you some examples below.
101 = 100 + 1 = 백일
110 = 100 + 10 = 백십
111 = 100+ 10 + 1 = 백십일
200 = 2 X 100 = 이백
257 = 200 + 50 + 7 = 이백오십칠
832 = 800 + 30 +1 = 팔백삼십이
999 = 900 + 90 + 9 = 구백구십구
The Sino-Korean numbers make pretty sense well, right? As long as you remember the basic 1~10, it shouldn't be too difficult! Here, before you move on, check out these quiz worksheets. With repetitive practice, you can master the Korean number soon!
4. 1,000~10,000
Ok, the numbers are getting really high! I recommend learning this part after you understand how to read up to three-digit numbers.
Important units
1: 일 | |
10: 십 | |
100: 백 | |
1,000: 천 | |
10,000: 만 |
Reading numbers in four-digits
You probably can guess how to! Yes, we read the same way. From left to right! 1,000 in Korean is 천. You just use this new unit word and do the same. Watch out! 1000 is not 일천. Even though in English it is "one" thousand, in Korean it is just 천!
1009 = 1000 + 9 = 천구
1013 = 1000 + 10 +3 = 천십삼 (Make sure you read just 십, not 일십!)
2024 = 2000 + 20 +4 = 2 X 1000 + 20 + 4 = 이천이십사
9876 = 9000 + 800 70 + 6 = 구천팔백칠십육
Reading numbers in five-digits
This will be the most tricky part for English users. 10,000 in Korean is 만. Even though Koreans mark a comma (,) after every three digits just like in other countries, 10,000 is a unit that works like 1,0000. Take a look at the examples to understand what this means.
10,001 = 10,000 + 1 = 만일
56,000 = 50,000 + 6,000 = 5 X 10000 + 6 X 1000 = 오만 육천
Do you get what I mean? If it were English, 56,000 would be fifty-six thousand, as where the comma is. But in Korean, 10,000 is a unit, so you have to read 5 and 6 separately; 오만육천, not 56천.
Here are more examples below.
11,000 = 10,000 + 1,000 = 만천
10,058 = 10,000 + 50 + 8 = 만오십팔
56,934 = 50,000 + 6,000 + 900 + 30 + 4 = 오만육천구백삼십사
5. When to use the Sino-Korean number system
The Sino-Korean numbers are used in many situations. Here are some examples.
번호 [beon-ho] number
일 번 no. 1, 이 번 no.2, ...
번호 can be used to say quiz number, student number, and so on.
날짜 [nal-jja] date
일 월 일 일 January 1st - You'll learn about it next lesson!
전화번호 [jeon-wha-beon-ho] phone number
453-555-7899 사오삼-오오오-칠팔구구
You read the phone number by using the Sino-Korean numbers. Just like English, read one number at a time.
돈 [don] money
백 원 100 won, 천 원 1000 won
Korean currency is 원. If you want to know about Korean money, please click here to see my reading material.
쪽 [jjock] page
일 쪽 page 1, 이 쪽 page 2
수학 [su-hak] math
In math class, people use the Sink-Korean numbers.
온도 [on-do] temperature degree
삼십 도 30°C
Koreans use Celsius, not Fahrenheit.
There are more use of the Sino-Korean numbers! They have many uses in different areas of life. As you go through the lessons, you will encounter these numbers again.
6. About zero (0)
Koreans have many ways to say 0 (zero). 영, 공, and 빵. Koreans naturally realize which one to use as they grow up. But to you, it can be a confusing matter. It is good to memorize the situations for what to use as you encounter them.
1) 영
영 |
It is a Sino-Korean number 'zero'. So it can be used when the Sino-Korean numbers are needed like in a math class or reading temperature like 0° 영 도.
2) 공
공 |
It is technically considered a Chinese character-based word, not a number, meaning empty. People used to read phone numbers with 영, but many people say with 공 these days.
3) 빵
빵 |
It is more close to slang. It is just a casual way to say in daily conversation, not a professional or technical term. 빵 actually means bread, imagine a round bread looks like a zero.
나 빵 원 있어. I have zero money.
8. Wrap-up & Materials: Korean number
There are two ways to say the number in Korean. The Sino-Korean and native Korean.
The Sino-Korean numbers can be used in many areas of life: math, numbers, temperature degrees, and more!
You have to memorize 1 일, 2 이, 3 삼, 4 사, 5 오, 6 육, 7 칠, 8 팔, 9 구, 10 십, 100 백, 1000 천, 10000 만
You read the numbers from left to right!
Here are some materials you can utilize! Once you study and solve my worksheets throughout this lesson, solve this quiz to see your understanding.
You can also use the Quizlet Flashcards I created! Of course, you can make the actual paper cards to study!
Next lesson, you'll learn how to read dates in Korean using the Sino-Korean numbers you just studied! I'll also show you the days of the week as well!
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