Numbers - Native

Category
Basic Grammar
Premium
Keyword #
숫자, 순우리말
Lesson
3

TL;DR

  • Native Korean numbers (하나, 둘, 셋...) are used for counting objects, people, and age 🎂
  • They only go up to 99, and they change form when used with counters (하나 → 한, 둘 → 두, 셋 → 세, 스물 → 스무) ✨
  • You'll use these way more often than Sino-Korean numbers in daily life! 🗣️

What are Native Korean Numbers? 🤔

Korean actually has two number systems! 😱 Native Korean numbers are the original Korean counting words, and they're super important for everyday conversations 💬
Here's the full list from 1-99: 📝
1 = 하나
2 = 둘
3 = 셋
4 = 넷
5 = 다섯
6 = 여섯
7 = 일곱
8 = 여덟
9 = 아홉
10 = 열
11 = 열하나
12 = 열둘
13 = 열셋
...and so on! 🎯
20 = 스물
30 = 서른
40 = 마흔
50 = 쉰
60 = 예순
70 = 일흔
80 = 여든
90 = 아흔
For numbers like 21, 35, 47, etc., just combine them! 🎨
21 = 스물하나
35 = 서른다섯
47 = 마흔일곱
99 = 아흔아홉

When Do We Use Them? 🕐

Native Korean numbers are used for:
1. Counting things with counters 📦
→ 사과 두 개 (two apples)
→ 친구 세 명 (three friends)
→ 강아지 한 마리 (one dog)
2. Telling age 👶👴
→ 저는 스물다섯 살이에요 (I'm 25 years old)
→ 동생은 열두 살이에요 (My younger sibling is 12 years old)
3. Telling hours (not minutes!) ⏰
→ 세 시 (3 o'clock)
→ 열한 시 (11 o'clock)

The Tricky Part: Number Changes! 😬

When you use native Korean numbers with counters, some of them change form! This is super important 🚨
Numbers that change:
하나 → 한
둘 → 두
셋 → 세
넷 → 네
스물 → 스무
Examples:
→ 한 개 (one item) — NOT 하나 개 ❌
→ 두 명 (two people) — NOT 둘 명 ❌
→ 세 마리 (three animals) — NOT 셋 마리 ❌
→ 네 시간 (four hours) — NOT 넷 시간 ❌
→ 스무 살 (20 years old) — NOT 스물 살 ❌
BUT! When you're counting without a counter, use the original form! 🎯
→ 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷! (One, two, three, four!)

Exceptions 🔍

1. Native Korean numbers only go to 99! 🛑
For 100 and above, you must switch to Sino-Korean numbers. You can't say "a hundred" using native Korean numbers!
2. When telling time, 20 o'clock uses the unchanged form 🕐
→ 스물 시 (20 o'clock) — NOT 스무 시
3. Some combination numbers with 20 also keep "스물" ✨
→ 스물한 살 (21 years old) — both 스물한 and 스무한 are acceptable
→ 스물두 개 (22 items) — both 스물두 and 스무두 are acceptable
(But using 스무 is more common in everyday speech! 💬)
You've got this! 💪 Native Korean numbers become second nature with practice, and you'll be using them constantly in real conversations! 🎉
 
Try the following exercise.
Fill in the blanks using native Korean numbers. 🔢
 
  • 저는 ___ 살이에요. (I am 20 years old.)
      • Answer
      스무
 
 
  • 사과 ___ 개 주세요. (Please give me five apples.)
      • Answer
      다섯
 
 
  • 동생이 ___ 명 있어요. (I have three younger siblings.)
      • Answer
      세
 
 
  • 지금 ___ 시예요. (It's one o'clock now.)
      • Answer
      한
 
 
  • 책을 ___ 권 샀어요. (I bought seven books.)
      • Answer
      일곱
 
 
  • 우리 가족은 ___ 명이에요. (Our family has four people.)
      • Answer
      네
 
 
  • 고양이 ___ 마리가 있어요. (There are two cats.)
      • Answer
      두
 
 
  • 친구를 ___ 시간 기다렸어요. (I waited for my friend for six hours.)
      • Answer
      여섯
 
 
  • 연필이 ___ 자루 필요해요. (I need nine pencils.)
      • Answer
      아홉
 
 
  • 오늘 ___ 명이 왔어요. (Eight people came today.)
      • Answer
      여덟
 
Vocabulary
살 - years old
사과 - apple
개 - counter for items
주세요 - please give
동생 - younger sibling
명 - counter for people
있어요 - have, there is/are
시 - o'clock
책 - book
권 - counter for books
샀어요 - bought
가족 - family
고양이 - cat
마리 - counter for animals
기다렸어요 - waited
시간 - hour(s)
연필 - pencil
자루 - counter for pens/pencils
필요해요 - need
왔어요 - came
Common mistakes
  • ⚠️ Don't confuse native Korean numbers with Sino-Korean numbers. Use native numbers for age, hours, and counting objects with counters.
  • 🕐 Remember that 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷 change to 한, 두, 세, 네 when used with counters (한 개, 두 명, 세 시, 네 살).
  • 🔄 Twenty is 스물, not 이십 when counting age or using native Korean numbers.
  • ✏️ Each counter has specific numbers it pairs with - 명 for people, 개 for objects, 마리 for animals, etc.