Understanding Korean Numbers: Sino & Native Systems

Mastering Korean Numbers (Sino & Native)

Welcome to Lesson 3 of our Comprehensive Korean Grammar series! Today, we are diving into one of the most exciting yet unique aspects of the Korean language: Numbers.

In English, numbers are straightforward—1, 2, 3, 100, 1000. However, in Korean, there are two completely separate number systems:

1. Sino-Korean Numbers (Derived from Chinese)
2. Native Korean Numbers (Pure traditional Korean)

Understanding when to use which system, how to transition between them, and how to read large numbers can feel overwhelming at first. In this guide, we break down everything systematically with exact reading rules, pronunciation guides, and real-life conversational contexts!

Part 1: Sino-Korean Numbers (한자어 수)

When to Use Sino-Korean Numbers

Sino-Korean numbers are used for mathematical, precise, or objective measurements, such as:

• Telephone numbers
• Bus routes / Room numbers / Floor levels
• Height & Weight (cm, kg)
• Prices / Currency (Won – 원)
• Dates (Years, Months, Days) & Minutes/Seconds

The Basic Sino-Korean Number Chart (0–100)

Number	Korean	English Pronunciation	Number	Korean	English Pronunciation
0	영 / 공	yeong / gong	11	십일	sib-il
1	일	il	20	이십	i-sip
2	이	i	30	삼십	sam-sip
3	삼	sam	40	사십	sa-sip
4	사	sa	50	오십	o-sip
5	오	o	60	육십	yuk-sip
6	육	yuk	70	칠십	chil-sip
7	칠	chil	80	팔십	pal-sip
8	팔	pal	90	구십	gu-sip
9	구	gu	100	백	baek
10	십	sip	1,000	천	cheon

Advanced Units & Reading Large Numbers

In English, large numbers are grouped by thousands (3 zeros: 1,000 = one thousand, 1,000,000 = one million).

In Korean, numbers are grouped by ten-thousands (4 zeros: 만 [man]).

• 10,000 = 만 [man]
• 100,000 = 십만 [sim-man] (10 × 10,000)
• 1,000,000 = 백만 [baeng-man] (100 × 10,000)
• 10,000,000 = 천만 [cheon-man] (1,000 × 10,000)

💡 How to read large numbers like a native:

To read a large number, count 4 digits from the right and draw a line.

• Example 1:354,970 becomes 35 / 4970
  • 35 = 삼십오 (35) + 만 (unit) = 삼십오만
  • 4970 = 사천구백칠십
  • Full read: 삼십오만 사천구백칠십 [sam-sip-o-man sa-cheon-gu-baek-chil-sip]
• Example 2:6,354,790 becomes 635 / 4790
  • 635 = 육백삼십오 + 만 = 육백삼십오만
  • 4790 = 사천칠백구십
  • Full read: 육백삼십오만 사천칠백구십

Crucial Pronunciation & Application Rules

1. The Hidden “1” Rule: When a number larger than 1 begins with a 1, you do not say “일 (il)”.
   • 10 is read as 십 [sip] (Not 일십)
   • 110 is read as 백십 [baek-sip] (Not 일백일십)
   • 1,110 is read as 천백십 [cheon-baek-sip] (Not 일천일백일십)
   • 11,110 is read as 만 천백십 [man cheon-baek-sip]
2. The “16, 26, 36” Nasalization Rule: Due to Korean sound assimilation, combinations of 6 ending with 10 change phonetically:
   • 16 (십육) → Pronounced as [심눅 – sim-nuk]
   • 26 (이십육) → Pronounced as [이심눅 – i-sim-nuk]
3. Reading Telephone Numbers:
   • 0 is read as 공 [gong].
   • The hyphen - is read as 의, but it is uniquely pronounced as [에 – e].
   • Example: 010-4783-3275 → 공일공 의[에] 사칠팔삼 의[에] 삼이칠오

Part 2: Native Korean Numbers (고유어 수)

When to Use Native Korean Numbers

Native Korean numbers are used when counting concrete objects, people, age, and hour units in time-telling. These numbers only exist from 1 to 99. For any number 100 or above, Korean automatically switches back to the Sino-Korean system.

The Basic Native Korean Number Chart

Number	Standalone Form	Form Before Counters	Number	Korean	English Pronunciation
1	하나 (hana)	한 (han)	11	열하나	yeol-hana
2	둘 (dul)	두 (du)	20	스물 → 스무 (seumu)
3	셋 (set)	세 (se)	30	서른	seoreun
4	넷 (net)	네 (ne)	40	마흔	maheun
5	다섯 (daseot)	다섯 (no change)	50	쉰	swin
6	여섯 (yeoseot)	여섯	60	예순	yesun
7	일곱 (ilgob)	일곱	70	일흔	ilheun
8	여덟 (yeodeol)	여덟	80	여든	yeodeun
9	아홉 (ahop)	아홉	90	아흔	aheun
10	열 (yeol)	열	100	백	(Switches to Sino-Korean)

Essential Korean Counting Units (단위명사)

When counting things in Korean, you must use a specific noun counter matching the category of the item. The sentence structure is: [Noun] + [Native Korean Number (Modified)] + [Counter]

1. 명 [myeong] / 분 [bun] (Honorific): Used for people.
   • 3 students: 학생 세 명 [hak-saeng se myeong]
2. 마리 [mari]: Used for animals.
   • 2 dogs: 개 두 마리 [gae du maari]
3. 개 [gae]: A generic counter for solid objects (fruits, items, balls).
   • 1 apple: 사과 한 개 [sa-gwa han gae]
4. 권 [gwon]: Used for bound volumes like books, magazines, or notebooks.
   • 4 books: 책 네 권 [chaek ne gwon]
5. 병 [byeong]: Used for bottles.
   • 1 bottle of cola: 콜라 한 병 [kol-la han byeong]
6. 잔 [jan]: Used for cups/glasses.
   • 3 cups of coffee: 커피 세 잔 [keo-pi se jan]
7. 살 [sal]: Used for age.
   • 23 years old: 스물세 살 [seu-mul-se sal]

Part 3: Real-World Conversational Examples

🏢 Example 1: Floor & Numbers (Sino-Korean)

• A: 사무실이 몇 층이에요? (What floor is the office on?)
• B: 9층이에요. [구층] (It’s on the 9th floor.)

📞 Example 2: Asking for a Phone Number (Sino-Korean)

• A: 전화번호가 뭐예요? (What’s your phone number?)
• B: 019-8729-9509예요.(Read as: 공일구 에 팔칠이구 에 구오공구)

☕ Example 3: Ordering items (Native Korean)

• A: 여기 사과 세 개, 콜라 한 병 주세요. (Please give me three apples and one bottle of coke.)
• B: 네, 모두 오천육백 원입니다. (Okay, your total is 5,600 won – Note: prices use Sino-Korean numbers!)

Download Your Lesson 3 Practice Worksheet!

To help your students test their knowledge and apply these complex rules, download our formatted Korean_Grammar_Guide_Lesson_3_Worksheet. It contains tailored matching exercises, math conversion practices for large units, and real-life dialogue completion tasks!