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Two Number Systems
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Sino-Korean for money and time, native Korean for people and things — plus counters and the 한・두・세 change.
Sino-Korean: 일, 이, 삼…
For money, dates, minutes, phone numbers: 일 이 삼 사 오 육 칠 팔 구 십 (il i sam sa o yuk chil pal gu sip). Then logic like Chinese: 십일 (11), 이십 (20), 구십구 (99), 백 (100), 천 (1,000), 만 (10,000 — Korea counts in ten-thousands!). Prices: 오천 원 (5,000 won). Time-minutes: 3시 15분 (samsi sibobun).
Native Korean: 하나, 둘, 셋…
For people, things, hours, age: 하나 둘 셋 넷 다섯 여섯 일곱 여덟 아홉 열. 11–19 compound: 열하나 (11), 열둘 (12); 20+ has special words (스물, 서른, 마흔…). Hours use native (3시 = 세 시), minutes use Sino (15분) — "3:15" mixes BOTH systems in one breath. Age: 스무 살 (20 years old).
Counters and the 한・두・세 change
Before counters, native numbers shorten: 하나→한, 둘→두, 셋→세, 넷→네, 스물→스무. 세 명 (three people), 두 개 (two things), 한 잔 (one glass). Counters: 명 (people), 개 (things), 잔 (cups), 병 (bottles), 마리 (animals), 권 (books). 개 is the universal rescue counter.
Money, time and age
Money: 얼마예요? (how much?) — answer in Sino + 원 (won). O'clock: native + 시 (세 시 — 3 o'clock); half: 반 (세 시 반). Age: native + 살 (스무 살). Asking age is normal among new acquaintances (it sets speech levels!): 나이가 어떻게 되세요? — answer proudly.
| System | Used for |
|---|---|
| Sino (일, 이, 삼…) | money, minutes, dates — 오천 원 |
| native (하나, 둘, 셋…) | people, things, hours, age — 세 시 |
| 3:15 | 세 시 십오 분 — mixed systems! |
| counters | 세 명 — three people |
| I am 20 | 스무 살 |
| How much? | 얼마예요? |