Asking 'What time is it?'

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TL;DR 🦄

🕐 지금 몇 시예요? [ji-geum myeot si-ye-yo?] — "What time is it now?"

🔢 ~시 ~분이에요 [si ~bun-i-e-yo] — "It's ~:~ (hour:minute)"

⏳ ~시 반이에요 [si ban-i-e-yo] — "It's half past ~"

🌅 오전/오후 [o-jeon / o-hu] — "AM / PM"

🕛 정오 / 자정 [jeong-o / ja-jeong] — "Noon / Midnight"

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🎧 Iru Helper Note — Head to the Korean Helper Widgets and listen to the hour numbers (한 시, 두 시, 세 시...) until they're automatic — Korean clock-time is one of the trickiest number systems to get fluent with! ⏰

🌈 The Big Picture

Telling time in Korean uses TWO different number systems at once! Hours use native Korean numbers (한, 두, 세, 네... + 시), while minutes use Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼, 사... + 분). So 2:05 is 두 시 오 분 [du si o bun] — "two" is native (두), but "five" is Sino-Korean (오). This mix trips up almost everyone at first, so don't worry if it takes practice! 🕐

🎭 Special Time Words

A few time expressions don't follow the regular pattern and are worth memorizing on their own:

반 [ban] — "half," used for :30 → 세 시 반 = 3:30 ⏳

정오 [jeong-o] — noon (12:00 PM) ☀️

자정 [ja-jeong] — midnight (12:00 AM) 🌙

거의 ~시예요 [geo-ui ~si-ye-yo] — "it's almost ~" 🔜

~시가 다 됐어요 [si-ga da dwae-sseo-yo] — "it's nearly ~ o'clock" (idiomatic, slightly more natural) ⌛

🧳 Essential Phrase Kit

지금 몇 시예요? [ji-geum myeot si-ye-yo?] — What time is it now? 🕐

~시예요 [si-ye-yo] — It's ~ o'clock 🔢

~시 ~분이에요 [si ~bun-i-e-yo] — It's ~:~ ⏱️

~시 반이에요 [si ban-i-e-yo] — It's half past ~ ⏳

오전/오후 [o-jeon / o-hu] — AM / PM 🌅

정오예요 [jeong-o-ye-yo] — It's noon ☀️

자정이에요 [ja-jeong-i-e-yo] — It's midnight 🌙

거의 ~시예요 [geo-ui ~si-ye-yo] — It's almost ~ 🔜

~시가 다 됐어요 [si-ga da dwae-sseo-yo] — It's nearly ~ o'clock ⌛

시간 좀 봐 주세요 [si-gan jom bwa ju-se-yo] — Please check the time for me 👀

🛠️ Putting It Together

A: 지금 몇 시예요? B: 두 시 십 분이에요. [A: ji-geum myeot si-ye-yo? B: du si sip bun-i-e-yo.]

A: "What time is it now?" B: "It's 2:10." 🕐 — 두 (native) for hours, 십 (Sino-Korean) for minutes.

A: 회의가 몇 시예요? B: 오후 세 시 반이에요. [A: hoe-ui-ga myeot si-ye-yo? B: o-hu se si ban-i-e-yo.]

A: "What time is the meeting?" B: "It's at 3:30 PM." 📅 — 반 makes "thirty minutes" easy!

A: 시간 좀 봐 주세요. B: 음... 거의 열두 시예요. 곧 자정이네요! [A: si-gan jom bwa ju-se-yo. B: eum... geo-ui yeol-du-si-ye-yo. got ja-jeong-i-ne-yo!]

A: "Please check the time for me." B: "Hmm... it's almost 12. Midnight is coming soon!" 🌙 — 거의 = "almost," and 자정 = midnight specifically.

🗣️ Speaking Practice: Mini Dialogue

Read both roles out loud, then switch roles!

민수: 지은 씨, 지금 몇 시예요? 버스 시간 확인해야 해요.

[Minsu: ji-eun ssi, ji-geum myeot si-ye-yo? beo-seu si-gan hwa-gin-hae-ya hae-yo.]

Minsu: "Jieun, what time is it now? I need to check the bus schedule."

지은: 잠깐만요... 지금 여덜 시 사십오 분이에요.

[Jieun: jam-kkan-man-yo... ji-geum yeo-deol si sa-si-bo bun-i-e-yo.]

Jieun: "One moment... it's 8:45 now."

민수: 헐, 버스가 아홉 시에 와요! 거의 시간이 다 됐어요.

[Minsu: heol, beo-seu-ga a-hop-si-e wa-yo! geo-ui si-ga-ni da dwae-sseo-yo.]

Minsu: "Oh no, the bus comes at 9! It's almost time."

지은: 빨리 가요! 십오 분밖에 안 남았어요.

[Jieun: ppal-li ga-yo! si-bo bun-ba-kke an na-ma-sseo-yo.]

Jieun: "Let's go quickly! Only 15 minutes left."

민수: 네! 고마워요, 지은 씨.

[Minsu: ne! go-ma-wo-yo, ji-eun ssi.]

Minsu: "Okay! Thanks, Jieun."

🧭 Speaking Tip

Remember the split: hours = native Korean (한, 두, 세, 네, 다섯, 여섯, 일곱, 여덜, 아홉, 열, 열한, 열두 + 시), minutes = Sino-Korean (일, 이, 삼, 사, 오... + 분). A handy trick: practice counting just the hours 1-12 in native Korean until it's second nature, since that's the part most learners mix up. 🕐

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

❌ Saying 일 시 (Sino-Korean) instead of 한 시 for "1 o'clock" → ✅ Hours always use native numbers: 한 시, 두 시, 세 시...

❌ Saying 하나 분 (native) instead of 일 분 for "1 minute" → ✅ Minutes always use Sino-Korean: 일 분, 이 분, 삼 분...

❌ Forgetting 반 and saying "삼십 분" when "반" is more natural → ✅ Both work, but 반 ("half") is more common in casual speech: 세 시 반.

❌ Mixing up 정오 (noon) and 자정 (midnight) → ✅ 정오 = 12 PM (daytime), 자정 = 12 AM (nighttime).

Great job — you can now ask for and tell the time like a true Korean speaker! 🕐✨

Try this exercise

Instructions: Choose the best phrase or answer for each situation.

1. Translate: "What time is it now?" ＿＿＿＿

Answer

지금 몇 시예요? [ji-geum myeot si-ye-yo?]

2. Translate: "1 o'clock" ＿＿＿＿

Answer

한 시 [han si] (native Korean number)

3. Translate: "5 minutes" ＿＿＿＿

Answer

오 분 [o bun] (Sino-Korean number)

4. Fill in: 세 시 ＿＿＿＿이에요. ("It's 3:30.")

Answer

반 [ban]

5. True or False: Hours and minutes use the same number system in Korean.

Answer

False → hours use native numbers, minutes use Sino-Korean.

6. Translate: "Noon" ＿＿＿＿

Answer

정오 [jeong-o]

7. Translate: "Midnight" ＿＿＿＿

Answer

자정 [ja-jeong]

8. Fill in: ＿＿＿＿ 열두 시예요. ("It's almost 12 o'clock.")

Answer

거의 [geo-ui]

9. Translate: "Please check the time for me." ＿＿＿＿

Answer

시간 좀 봐 주세요 [si-gan jom bwa ju-se-yo]

10. Practice saying this out loud: 지금 오후 네 시 이십 분이에요. [ji-geum o-hu ne si i-sip bun-i-e-yo.]

Answer

"It's 4:20 PM now." → 네 (native, hours) + 이십 (Sino-Korean, minutes)!

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Vocabulary Box

지금 [ji-geum] → now

몇 시 [myeot si] → what time

한/두/세/네 시 [han/du/se/ne si] → 1/2/3/4 o'clock

일/이/삼/사 분 [il/i/sam/sa bun] → 1/2/3/4 minutes

반 [ban] → half (:30)

정오 [jeong-o] → noon

자정 [ja-jeong] → midnight

거의 [geo-ui] → almost

오전/오후 [o-jeon / o-hu] → AM/PM

남았어요 [na-ma-sseo-yo] → there's ~ remaining

Pitfalls 💡

Hours = native numbers

Minutes = Sino-Korean numbers

정오 ≠ 자정

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Want more reps? Visit the Practice Hub when you're ready! 🚀

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🎯 Practice Hub — Asking 'What Time Is It?' (몇 시예요?)

안녕하세요! [an-nyeong-ha-se-yo] Let's master telling time! 🕐✨

🔊 Audio reminder: Use the Korean Helper Widgets to hear any phrase.

Exercise 1 — Reading the Clock 🕰️

A. Translate: "It's 1:00." ＿＿＿＿

Answer

한 시예요 [han si-ye-yo]

B. Translate: "It's 7:15." ＿＿＿＿

Answer

일곱 시 십오 분이에요 [il-gop si si-bo bun-i-e-yo]

C. Fill in: 아홉 시 ＿＿＿＿이에요. ("It's 9:30.")

Answer

반 [ban]

D. True or False: 하나 시 is correct for "1 o'clock."

Answer

False → it should be 한 시.

E. Translate: "It's 10:50 PM." ＿＿＿＿

Answer

오후 열 시 오십 분이에요 [o-hu yeol si o-sip bun-i-e-yo]

F. Fill in: ＿＿＿＿ 시예요? (Asking what time)

Answer

몇 [myeot]

G. True or False: 자정 means 12:00 PM.

Answer

False → 자정 means 12:00 AM (midnight); 정오 is 12:00 PM.

H. Translate: "It's 6 o'clock." ＿＿＿＿

Answer

여섯 시예요 [yeo-seot si-ye-yo]

I. Fill in: 두 시 ＿＿＿＿ 분이에요. ("It's 2:02.")

Answer

이 [i]

J. Practice saying this out loud: 지금 오전 여덜 시 삼십 분이에요. 곧 출근해야 해요. [ji-geum o-jeon yeo-deol si sam-sip bun-i-e-yo. got chul-geun-hae-ya hae-yo.]

Answer

"It's 8:30 AM now. I need to go to work soon." → A morning time-check!

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Quick Reference:

Hours (native): 한/두/세/네/다섯/여섯/일곱/여덜/아홉/열/열한/열두 시

Minutes (Sino): 일/이/삼/사/오... 분

:30 = 반

Exercise 2 — Asking and Responding 🗣️

A. Translate: "Excuse me, what time is it?" ＿＿＿＿

Answer

저기요, 지금 몇 시예요? [jeo-gi-yo, ji-geum myeot si-ye-yo?]

B. Fill in: A: 몇 시예요? B: ＿＿＿＿ 시예요. (5 o'clock)

Answer

다섯 [da-seot]

C. True or False: 거의 다 됐어요 can describe time almost arriving.

Answer

True

D. Translate: "The movie starts at 7:20 PM." ＿＿＿＿

Answer

영화가 오후 일곱 시 이십 분에 시작해요 [yeong-hwa-ga o-hu il-gop si i-sip bun-e si-ja-kae-yo]

E. Fill in: 지금 ＿＿＿＿ 열한 시예요. ("It's almost 11.")

Answer

거의 [geo-ui]

F. True or False: You should use Sino-Korean numbers for both hours and minutes for consistency.

Answer

False → hours and minutes use different systems.

G. Translate: "It's exactly noon." ＿＿＿＿

Answer

지금 정확히 정오예요 [ji-geum jeong-hwa-ki jeong-o-ye-yo]

H. Fill in: 기차가 ＿＿＿＿ 시에 떠나요. (10 o'clock)

Answer

열 [yeol]

I. True or False: 시간 좀 봐 주세요 is a polite request to check the time.

Answer

True

J. Practice saying this out loud: A: 지금 몇 시예요? B: 자정이 다 됐어요. 자야 해요! [A: ji-geum myeot si-ye-yo? B: ja-jeong-i da dwae-sseo-yo. ja-ya hae-yo!]

Answer

A: "What time is it now?" B: "It's almost midnight. I need to sleep!" → A late-night exchange!

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Quick Reference:

몇 시예요? = What time is it?

~시 ~분이에요 = It's ~:~

거의 ~ = almost ~

정오/자정 = noon/midnight

Exercise 3 — Full Scenarios ⏰

A. A friend asks the time and it's 4:45 PM. Respond fully. ＿＿＿＿

Answer

오후 네 시 사십오 분이에요 [o-hu ne si sa-si-bo bun-i-e-yo]

B. Ask someone what time their flight leaves. ＿＿＿＿

Answer

비행기가 몇 시에 떠나요? [bi-haeng-gi-ga myeot si-e tteo-na-yo?]

C. True or False: 한 시 반 means 1:30.

Answer

True

D. Translate: "We have to leave in 10 minutes." ＿＿＿＿

Answer

십 분 후에 가야 해요 [sip bun hu-e ga-ya hae-yo]

E. Someone asks the time at exactly midnight. Respond. ＿＿＿＿

Answer

지금 자정이에요 [ji-geum ja-jeong-i-e-yo]

F. True or False: 아홉 시 십 분 means 9:10.

Answer

True

G. Translate: "It's already past 11." ＿＿＿＿

Answer

벌써 열한 시가 넘었어요 [beol-sseo yeol-han si-ga neo-meo-sseo-yo]

H. Fill in: 지금 ＿＿＿＿ 시예요. (12, daytime → use noon vocabulary)

Answer

정오 / 열두 [jeong-o / yeol-du] → either "It's noon" or "It's 12 o'clock."

I. True or False: It's natural to say "벌써 (already) + time" when time passed faster than expected.

Answer

True

J. Practice saying this out loud: 시간이 벌써 이렇게 됐네요! 가야겠어요. [si-ga-ni beol-sseo i-reo-ke dwaet-ne-yo! ga-ya-ge-sseo-yo.]

Answer

"Wow, is it already this late! I should go." → A natural reaction to checking the time!

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Everyday Cheat Sheet:

지금 몇 시예요? = What time is it?

한 시, 두 시, 세 시... = 1, 2, 3 o'clock (native)

일 분, 이 분, 삼 분... = 1, 2, 3 minutes (Sino-Korean)

~시 반 = half past ~

🎉 잘했어요! [jal-haess-eo-yo] You can now ask for and tell the time confidently in Korean! 🕐✨