If you're learning Korean, you might be surprised to discover that there are two ways to express numbers: native Korean numbers and Sino-Korean numbers.
Where do the two Korean number systems come from?
Native Korean numbers (하나, 둘, 셋…) are part of the language's own vocabulary and were used before Chinese numbers were introduced.
Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼…), on the other hand, come from Chinese and entered the Korean language through China's cultural and linguistic influence.
Both systems have remained in use, with each becoming common in different contexts.
What are the numbers from 1 to 10?
Each system has its own words for numbers. Here are the numbers from 1 to 10 in both.
| Number | Native Korean | Sino-Korean |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 하나 (hana) | 일 (il) |
| 2 | 둘 (dul) | 이 (i) |
| 3 | 셋 (set) | 삼 (sam) |
| 4 | 넷 (net) | 사 (sa) |
| 5 | 다섯 (daseot) | 오 (o) |
| 6 | 여섯 (yeoseot) | 육 (yuk) |
| 7 | 일곱 (ilgop) | 칠 (chil) |
| 8 | 여덟 (yeodeol) | 팔 (pal) |
| 9 | 아홉 (ahop) | 구 (gu) |
| 10 | 열 (yeol) | 십 (sip) |
Native Korean numbers
Native Korean has its own words for multiples of ten. To form the numbers in between, we combine the word for the multiple of ten with a number from 1 to 9. For example:
14: 열 (10) + 넷 (4) = 열넷 (yeolnet)
| Number | Native Korean |
|---|---|
| 20 | 스물 (seumul) |
| 30 | 서른 (seoreun) |
| 40 | 마흔 (maheun) |
| 50 | 쉰 (swin) |
| 60 | 예순 (yesun) |
| 70 | 일흔 (ilheun) |
| 80 | 여든 (yeodeun) |
| 90 | 아흔 (aheun) |
From 20 onward, each multiple of ten has its own name. To form the other numbers, we combine this multiple of ten with a number from 1 to 9, just as with the numbers from 11 to 19.
For example:
- 25 → 스물 (20) + 다섯 (5) = 스물다섯 (25) (seumuldaseot)
- 51 → 쉰 (50) + 하나 (1) = 쉰하나 (51) (swinhana)
From 100 onward, Sino-Korean numbers are generally used instead of native Korean numbers.
Sino-Korean numbers
Sino-Korean numbers are used to read and express numbers rather than for general counting. For example, they are used for dates, prices, and phone numbers.
| Number | Sino-Korean |
|---|---|
| 1 | 일 (il) |
| 2 | 이 (i) |
| 3 | 삼 (sam) |
| 4 | 사 (sa) |
| 5 | 오 (o) |
| 6 | 육 (yuk) |
| 7 | 칠 (chil) |
| 8 | 팔 (pal) |
| 9 | 구 (gu) |
| 10 | 십 (sip) |
Sino-Korean numbers follow a decimal system in which tens and ones combine to form larger numbers.
To form the numbers from 11 to 19, combine 십 (10) with the relevant number from 1 to 9.
For example:
17 → 십 (10) + 칠 (7) = 십칠 (17) (sipchil)
From 20 onward, start with the number of tens, followed by 십 (10). For example, 20 is 이 (2) + 십 (10): 이십 (isip), literally "two tens." If there is a nonzero ones digit, add it at the end.
| Number | Sino-Korean |
|---|---|
| 20 | 이십 (isip) |
| 30 | 삼십 (samsip) |
| 40 | 사십 (sasip) |
| 50 | 오십 (osip) |
| 60 | 육십 (yuksip) |
| 70 | 칠십 (chilsip) |
| 80 | 팔십 (palsip) |
| 90 | 구십 (gusip) |
| 100 | 백 (baek) |
27 → 이십 (20) + 칠 (7) = 이십칠 (27) (isipchil)
Hundreds follow the same principle.
- 150 → 백 (100) + 오십 (50) = 백오십 (baegosip)
- 527 → 오백 (500) + 이십 (20) + 칠 (7) = 오백이십칠 (obaegisipchil)
To form larger numbers, combine digits with units such as 천 (1,000) and 만 (10,000). Each digit acts as a prefix, telling you how many hundreds, thousands, or ten-thousands there are.
| Number | Sino-Korean |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | 천 (cheon) |
| 10,000 | 만 (man) |
| 100,000 | 십만 (simman) |
| 1,000,000 | 백만 (baengman) |
| 10,000,000 | 천만 (cheonman) |
| 100,000,000 | 억 (eok) |
1,250 → 천 (1,000) + 이백 (200) + 오십 (50) = 천이백오십 (cheonibaegosip)
In Korean, large numbers are grouped into tens of thousands, 10,000 (만, man), unlike in English, where they are grouped into thousands.
For example, 13,000 is 만 삼천 (man samcheon): 10,000 (만, man) + 3,000 (삼천, samcheon) rather than "thirteen thousand."
When are Sino-Korean numbers used?
Sino-Korean numbers appear in many everyday situations. Here are some of their most common uses.
Phone numbers
When reading a phone number, say each digit separately. For example, 123-456-789 is read as:
| Digits / Korean / Romanization |
|---|
|
123 일, 이, 삼 (il, i, sam) |
|
456 사, 오, 육 (sa, o, yuk) |
|
789 칠, 팔, 구 (chil, pal, gu) |
Dates
Sino-Korean numbers are also used for dates. To form a date, add 년 (nyeon, year), 월 (wol, month), and 일 (il, day) to the numbers.
- The year 2026 → 2026 (이천이십육, icheonisimnyuk) + 년 (nyeon) → 2026년 (icheonisimnyungnyeon)
- December → 12 (sibi) + 월 (wol) → 12월 (sibiwol)
- The 25th → 25 (isibo) + 일 (il) → 25일 (isiboil)
In Korean, dates follow the order year → month → day, from the most general to the most specific.
December 25, 2026:
2026년 12월 25일
Prices and amounts of money
Sino-Korean numbers are used when talking about money. South Korea's currency is the won, written 원 (won).
In South Korea, commas separate thousands, just as they do in English: 1,000, 10,000, and 100,000.
For example:
| Korean / Romanization / Amount |
|---|
|
천 원 (cheon won) 1,000원 |
|
삼만 오천 원 (samman ocheon won) 35,000원 |
|
십이만 원 (sibiman won) 120,000원 |
|
백오십만 원 (baegosimman won) 1,500,000원 |
100 and 0 in Korean
The Sino-Korean number 백 (baek) is commonly used to express 100. As for 0, it has two forms in Sino-Korean: 공 (gong), mainly used when reading phone numbers – like when we say "oh" instead of "zero" – and 영 (yeong), more commonly used in mathematics.
Frequently asked questions about Korean numbers
How many number systems does Korean have?
There are two: native Korean numbers and Sino-Korean numbers.
Which system is used to count people or objects?
Native Korean numbers.
Which system is used to state numbers, such as dates, prices, and phone numbers?
Sino-Korean numbers.
|
Free download
If you've made it this far, you're serious. Turn that momentum into real progress with Chinesimple and make every study session count.
Native audio
Games
Flashcards
Exams
Pronunciation
|
|
