Native Korean Numbers in Korean

Overview

Korean has two number systems, and native Korean numbers (고유어 수사) are one of the first numerical concepts at the CEFR A1 level. These numbers go from 1 to 99 and are used for counting, telling age, and expressing hours. They originated from pure Korean vocabulary, as opposed to the Sino-Korean numbers borrowed from Chinese.

The native system is essential for everyday tasks like ordering food (두 개 주세요 — two please), telling your age (스물다섯 살 — 25 years old), and reading the hour on a clock (세 시 — 3 o'clock). Some native numbers change form when followed by a counter, which is a crucial detail to learn early.

While native Korean numbers only go up to 99 (after which Sino-Korean numbers are used), they appear constantly in daily life and must be mastered alongside counters for practical communication.

How It Works

Numbers 1-10

Number	Full form	Before counter	Romanization
1	하나	한	hana / han
2	둘	두	dul / du
3	셋	세	set / se
4	넷	네	net / ne
5	다섯	다섯	da-seot
6	여섯	여섯	yeo-seot
7	일곱	일곱	il-gop
8	여덟	여덟	yeo-deol
9	아홉	아홉	a-hop
10	열	열	yeol

Tens (11-99)

Number	Korean	Romanization
10	열	yeol
20	스물 (스무 before counter)	seu-mul / seu-mu
30	서른	seo-reun
40	마흔	ma-heun
50	쉰	swin
60	예순	ye-sun
70	일흔	il-heun
80	여든	yeo-deun
90	아흔	a-heun

Combine tens and ones: 스물하나 (21), 서른둘 (32), 마흔셋 (43).

Examples in Context

Korean	Romanization	English	Note
하나, 둘, 셋, 넷, 다섯	ha-na, dul, set, net, da-seot	1, 2, 3, 4, 5	basic counting
사과 세 개	sa-gwa se gae	three apples	셋 → 세 before counter
커피 한 잔	keo-pi han jan	one cup of coffee	하나 → 한 before counter
스물한 살	seu-mu-ran sal	21 years old	스물 → 스무
세 시	se si	3 o'clock	hours use native numbers
두 명	du myeong	two people	둘 → 두 before counter
열 개	yeol gae	ten items	no change for 열
서른다섯 살	seo-reun-da-seot sal	35 years old	compound number
한 번 더	han beon deo	one more time	하나 → 한
여덟 시 반	yeo-deol si ban	8:30	native number for hours

Common Mistakes

Forgetting shortened forms before counters

• Wrong: 하나 개, 둘 명
• Right: 한 개, 두 명
• Why: Numbers 1-4 and 20 have special shortened forms that must be used before counters.

Using native numbers above 99

• Wrong: Trying to say 100 with native numbers
• Right: Switch to Sino-Korean: 백 (100), 천 (1000)
• Why: Native Korean numbers only go to 99. For 100 and above, Sino-Korean numbers are always used.

Mixing up the two number systems

• Wrong: 일 시 (using Sino-Korean for hours)
• Right: 한 시 (using native Korean for hours)
• Why: Hours use native numbers, while minutes use Sino-Korean. This mixing is one of the trickiest aspects for learners.

Usage Notes

Native Korean numbers sound increasingly archaic above 50, and many modern speakers prefer Sino-Korean numbers for larger quantities even within the 1-99 range. However, for age, hours, and small counts, native numbers remain standard. In markets and casual settings, native numbers are the default for small quantities.

Practice Tips

• Practice counting objects around you using the pattern "object + native number + counter": 책 세 권, 사과 두 개, 커피 한 잔.
• Memorize the shortened forms (한, 두, 세, 네, 스무) as a separate set since they appear far more frequently than the full forms.
• Practice telling the time using native numbers for hours combined with Sino-Korean for minutes: 두 시 삼십 분 (2:30).

Related Concepts

• Next steps: Sino-Korean Numbers — learn the Chinese-origin number system for dates, money, and minutes
• Next steps: Basic Counters — learn the classifier words that pair with numbers