In general, the Korean number system can be quite complicated.\u00a0 What many people don’t realize is that the Korean number system has two distinct number systems.\u00a0 Each system is used for different purposes.\u00a0 Sounds complicated right?\u00a0 Don’t worry, I’m here to help everyone out.\u00a0 I’ll point out the differences between the two systems, when to use them and the irregularities or pitfalls you need to avoid when using the number system.<\/p>\n
Let’s begin with the native Korean numbers.\u00a0 Native Korean numbers are only used to express numbers 1-99.\u00a0 It should also be noted that numbers 1-49 are the most commonly used in native Korean numbers.\u00a0 For example, let’s say that someone asks “\uba87 \uc0b4\uc774\uc5d0\uc694<\/strong>?” (myot saliehyo?)\u00a0 \uba87<\/strong> means how many and \uc0b4\u00a0<\/strong>(sal)\u00a0is the counter for age or put in another way it means “years old” while \uc774\uc5d0\uc694<\/strong>\u00a0(iehyo) is the standard polite ending for nouns ending in a consonant.\u00a0 Altogether \uba87 \uc0b4\uc774\uc5d0\uc694<\/strong> (myot saliehyo) means ‘how old are you?’\u00a0 Since \uc0b4<\/strong> (sal) is the counter or classifier that requires a native Korean number, you would state your age in native Korean numbers.\u00a0 If you’re ages 1-49, you’ll probably use the native Korean numbers.\u00a0 You don’t have to, but most Koreans use the native Korean numbers\u00a0if they are 1-49 years old.<\/p>\n Let’s say that you’re aged 50-100.\u00a0 You will most likely use the Sino-Korean numbers instead of the native Korean numbers.\u00a0 Again, you don’t have to use the Sino-Korean numbers for ages 50-99.\u00a0 However, most Koreans prefer to use numbers 50-99 with Sino-Korean numbers.\u00a0 For the number 100 which is pronounced as bek (\ubc31<\/strong>), you must use Sino-Korean numbers.\u00a0 There is no native Korean number equivalent for the number 100.\u00a0 Also, if you’re going to state your age in Sino-Korean numbers, you have to use the counter or classifer \uc138<\/strong> (seh) instead of \uc0b4 <\/strong>(sal).<\/p>\n Ok, let’s review everything we learned so far.\u00a0 When you want to say I’m\u00a015 years old in native Korean numbers you would say \uc5f4\ub2e4\uc12f\u00a0\uc0b4\uc774\uc5d0\uc694<\/strong> (yol-dasot sal-i-eh-yo).\u00a0 However when you want to say I’m\u00a015 years old in Sino-Korean numbers you would say \uc2ed\uc624 \uc138\uc608\uc694<\/strong> (ship-o sehyeyo).\u00a0 As you’ve noticed, the counter determines whether you use native or Sino-Korean numbers.\u00a0 The counter for\u00a0minutes which is\u00a0\ubd84 <\/strong>\u00a0(bun) in Korean is always stated in Sino-Korean numbers.\u00a0 However the counter for hours which is \uc2dc<\/strong> (shi) is always stated in native Korean numbers.\u00a0 There if you want to say\u00a05 hours and\u00a05 minutes which is another way of saying 5:05, you would say \ub2e4\uc12f \uc2dc \uc624 \ubd84<\/strong> (dasot shi o bun).\u00a0<\/p>\n So why are there two number systems?\u00a0 The answer to that is controversial.\u00a0 Koreans have always had the native Korean number system.\u00a0\u00a0However the Sino-Korean number system was developed later in Korea’s history.\u00a0 Some say it was imposed upon the Koreans by the Chinese.\u00a0 Whatever the reason, having two numbers systems\u00a0can make things quite confusing.\u00a0 For example, telling time, as shown in the previous paragraph, is no easy feat.\u00a0<\/p>\n As a general rule, anything having to do with the calendar, such as the months, days and years are in Sino-Korean numbers.\u00a0 Anything with objects, such as animals, people, furniture are native Korean numbers.\u00a0 Initially you’ll have to memorize when to use the Sino-Korean and native numbers, but the more you practice the more intuitive it becomes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In general, the Korean number system can be quite complicated.\u00a0 What many people don’t realize is that the Korean number system has two distinct number systems.\u00a0 Each system is used for different purposes.\u00a0 Sounds complicated right?\u00a0 Don’t worry, I’m here to help everyone out.\u00a0 I’ll point out the differences between the two systems, when to…<\/p>\n