Korean Number Systems: Native and Sino-Korean Numerals
The Korean language employs a unique dual-system for numbering. Depending on what is being counted—whether it is a person, a date, or a sum of money—speakers must choose between the Native Korean system and the Sino-Korean system. Mastering the distinction between these two is essential for accurate communication in Korean.
Key Facts
- Native Korean: Used for general counting (up to 99), people, hours, ages, and objects.
- Sino-Korean: Based on Chinese numerals; used for dates, money, minutes, addresses, phone numbers, and numbers above 99.
- Grouping: Large numbers follow the Chinese tradition of myriads (units of 10,000) rather than thousands.
- Construction: Teens (11–19) in both systems are formed by combining the word for ten with the ones place.
- Special Forms: Some native numbers change their form when placed before measure words.
Comparing the Two Systems
The choice between systems is strict; most items are counted using one or the other, but rarely both. For example, while native Korean is used for the number of times something happens (e.g., yeol beon for "ten times"), Sino-Korean is used for ordinal numbering (e.g., sip beon for "number ten").
Counting Age and Time
Age is a primary area where both systems appear, though they use different markers. Native Korean uses sal (살), while Sino-Korean uses se (세). For instance, a twenty-five-year-old can be described as seumul-daseot sal or i-sib-o se.
Timekeeping also splits between the two. Hours in a 12-hour system (and 0:00 to 12:00 in a 24-hour system) use native Korean. Minutes, however, always use Sino-Korean. In a 24-hour system, hours from 13:00 to 24:00 can be expressed using either system.
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Construction and Grammar
Native Korean Attributive Forms
Certain native Korean cardinals change their form when they precede a measure word (a word used to classify the object being counted). This usually involves dropping the final letter of the cardinal number.
| Number | Cardinal Form | Attributive Form | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | hana | han | han beon (once) |
| 2 | dul | du | du gae (two things) |
| 3 | set | se | se si (three o'clock) |
| 4 | net | ne | ne myeong (four people) |
| 20 | seumul | seumu | seumu mari (twenty animals) |
Counting Days
Native Korean uses a distinct set of words for counting days. For example, one day is haru, two days is iteul, and ten days is yeolheul. It is important to distinguish saheul (native Korean for three days) from sail (Sino-Korean for four days), as they sound similar but have different meanings.
Advanced Usage and Pronunciation
Sino-Korean Ordinals and Financials
Sino-Korean numbers often use specific suffixes to denote order or location, such as beon (번), ho (호), cha (차), and hoe (회). For example, ho is used for apartment or office numbers (e.g., 906호).
In financial or commercial sectors, standard Hanja (Chinese characters) are sometimes replaced with complex "Financial Hanja" to prevent fraud or ambiguity through retouching.
Pronunciation Nuances
Korean pronunciation rules affect numerals. For example, consonants following native cardinals like yeodeol (eight) and yeol (ten) often become tensed. Additionally, long vowels in dul (two), set (three), and net (four) shorten when combined with other nouns or numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use Native Korean numbers instead of Sino-Korean?
Use Native Korean for general counting up to 99, counting people, objects, hours, and age. Use Sino-Korean for dates, money, minutes, phone numbers, addresses, and any number 100 or higher.
How are large numbers grouped in Korean?
Unlike the Western system that groups by thousands (1,000), Korean follows the Chinese tradition of grouping by myriads, or units of 10,000 (man).
Why do some numbers change when counting objects?
Certain native Korean numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, and 20) have attributive forms. These modified versions are used specifically when the number is followed by a measure word to make the phrase flow more naturally.
Can I use Native Korean numbers for phone numbers?
While phone numbers typically use Sino-Korean, people sometimes substitute native Korean numbers for 1 (hana) and 2 (dul) when speaking over the phone to avoid confusion between similar-sounding Sino-Korean digits.
What is the difference between 'sal' and 'se' when talking about age?
Both refer to age, but sal is the marker used with native Korean numerals, while se is the marker used with Sino-Korean numerals.