Numbers in Korean
한국어 / 조선말
Numbers in Korean follow a primarily decimal system with some unique features in forming compound numbers. Spoken by approximately 77.2 million people, Korean is a language isolate with distinct counting rules. Its numbers in Korean combine native Korean words and Sino-Korean numerals, making it a fascinating system. The language is used in both South and North Korea, with dialectal variations. The counting system's structure reflects both native and Chinese influences, creating a hybrid pattern. This makes learning numbers in Korean both challenging and intriguing for language enthusiasts and learners alike.
Number system
Korean numbers are primarily based on a decimal system. Numbers 1-9 are unique native Korean words: 하나 (hana) [1], 둘 (dul) [2], 셋 (set) [3], 넷 (net) [4], 다섯 (daseot) [5], 여섯 (yeoseot) [6], 일곱 (ilgop) [7], 여덟 (yeodeol) [8], 아홉 (ahop) [9]. Tens are formed with specific words: 열 (yeol) [10], 스물 (seumul) [20], 서른 (seoreun) [30], 마흔 (maheun) [40], 쉰 (swin) [50], 예순 (yesun) [60], 일흔 (ilheun) [70], 여든 (yeodeun) [80], 아흔 (aheun) [90]. Compound numbers combine these: 16 is 십육 (sipyuk), formed by 십 (sip, 10) + 육 (yuk, 6). For example, 42 is 사십이 (sasip-i): 사 (sa, 40) + 이 (i, 2). 78 is 칠십팔 (chil-sip-pal): 칠 (chil, 70) + 팔 (pal, 8). Hundreds are formed with 백 (baek, 100), e.g., 300 is 삼백 (sambaek). Thousands use 천 (cheon), e.g., 1,000 is 천 (cheon). Larger numbers combine these elements systematically, following the decimal pattern.
Number list (29)
Counting rules
Number formation from 1 to 9
Numbers 1-9 are native Korean words: 1- 하나 (hana), 2- 둘 (dul), 3- 셋 (set), 4- 넷 (net), 5- 다섯 (daseot), 6- 여섯 (yeoseot), 7- 일곱 (ilgop), 8- 여덟 (yeodeol), 9- 아홉 (ahop).
Forming tens
Tens are formed with specific words: 10- 열 (yeol), 20- 스물 (seumul), 30- 서른 (seoreun), 40- 마흔 (maheun), 50- 쉰 (swin), 60- 예순 (yesun), 70- 일흔 (ilheun), 80- 여든 (yeodeun), 90- 아흔 (aheun). For example, 16 is 십육 (sip-yuk), combining 십 (sip, 10) and 육 (yuk, 6).
Constructing compound numbers
Compound numbers are formed by combining tens and units. For example, 58 is 십팔 (sip-pal): 십 (sip, 10) + 팔 (pal, 8). 42 is 사십이 (sa-sip-i): 사 (sa, 40) + 이 (i, 2). 78 is 칠십팔 (chil-sip-pal): 칠 (chil, 70) + 팔 (pal, 8).
Hundreds and thousands
Hundreds are formed with 백 (baek, 100). For example, 300 is 삼백 (sambaek): 삼 (sam, 3) + 백 (baek). Thousands use 천 (cheon), e.g., 1,000 is 천 (cheon). Larger numbers combine these elements, such as 1,234 as 천이백삼십사 (cheon-i-baek-sam-sip-sa).
Large numbers
Numbers beyond 1,000 are formed by combining 천 (cheon) with larger units, following the decimal pattern. For example, 10,000 is 만 (man), which is not listed here but follows the same pattern of systematic combination.
Unique features
Korean uses both native Korean and Sino-Korean numerals, e.g., 십 (sip, 10) and 이 (i, 2), combined to form numbers like 십이 (12).
Compound numbers like 16 (십육) and 58 (십팔) are formed by directly combining tens and units, unlike in English.
The number 6 (육) and 7 (칠) are formed from native words, but the tens are Sino-Korean, creating a hybrid system.
Large numbers are built systematically with 백 (baek, 100) and 천 (cheon, 1000), following the decimal pattern.
Korean also has unique native words for certain numbers, such as 쉰 (swin, 50) and 예순 (yesun, 60), which are culturally significant.
Cultural context
Korean is spoken primarily in South Korea and North Korea, with a total of about 77.2 million speakers. It is deeply embedded in daily life, from commerce to education, with numbers appearing in traditional rituals, trade, and modern technology. Certain numbers, like 3 (삼) and 7 (일곱), hold cultural significance, while others like 4 (사) are considered unlucky in some contexts. The use of native Korean and Sino-Korean numerals reflects historical Chinese influence and cultural integration. Numbers are often used in traditional celebrations, such as birthdays and festivals, where specific numbers are considered auspicious or inauspicious.
Fun facts
Fact 1: The number 16 is 십육 (sip-yuk), combining 십 (sip, 10) and 육 (yuk, 6), illustrating the systematic formation of compound numbers.
Fact 2: Unlike English, Korean uses native words for numbers 1-9 but Sino-Korean for tens and larger units, e.g., 30 is 삼십 (samsip).
Fact 3: The pattern of combining tens and units in Korean resembles the vigesimal system but is primarily decimal, with specific native words for certain multiples.
Fact 4: Historically, the use of native Korean numbers was more common in everyday speech, while Sino-Korean numerals were used for formal and official contexts.
Fact 5: Large numbers like 1,000 (천) and beyond are formed systematically, allowing for the construction of very large numbers such as 1,234,567, which follows the same pattern.
Frequently asked questions
How do you count to 10 in Korean?
1- 하나 (hana), 2- 둘 (dul), 3- 셋 (set), 4- 넷 (net), 5- 다섯 (daseot), 6- 여섯 (yeoseot), 7- 일곱 (ilgop), 8- 여덟 (yeodeol), 9- 아홉 (ahop), 10- 열 (yeol).
What number base does Korean use?
Korean primarily uses a decimal (base-10) system, evidenced by the words for 10 (열), 20 (스물), and 100 (백). Compound numbers like 16 (십육) and 58 (십팔) combine tens and units systematically, confirming the decimal base.
How do you say 42 in Korean?
42 is 사십이 (sa-sip-i): 사 (sa, 40) + 십 (sip, 10) + 이 (i, 2). It combines the word for 40 with the units 2, following the pattern of tens plus units.
How do you say 100 in Korean?
100 is 백 (baek). Larger hundreds are formed by combining the native number with 백, e.g., 300 is 삼백 (sam-baek).
How many people speak Korean?
Approximately 77.2 million people speak Korean, primarily in South Korea and North Korea, with communities in China and around the world.
Is Korean related to other languages?
Korean is a language isolate, meaning it has no confirmed genetic relationship to other language families, though it has historical influences from Chinese and some distant links to Altaic theories.
What makes Korean counting unique?
Korean uses a hybrid system of native Korean and Sino-Korean numerals, with compound formation that combines native words for 1-9 and Chinese-derived words for tens and larger units, creating a distinctive pattern unlike many other languages.
Sources
- The Sino-Korean digits from one to nine are: 일 (一, il) [1], 이 (二, i) [2], 삼 (三, sam) [3], 사 (四, sa) [4], 오 (五, o) [5], 육 or 륙 (六, yuk or ryuk) [6], 칠 (七, chil) [7], 팔 (八, pal) [8], and 구 (九, gu) [9].
- The tens are formed starting with the multiplier digit directly followed by the unit, except for ten: 십 (十, sip) [10], 이십 (二十, isip) [20], 삼십 (三十, samsip) [30], 사십 (四十, sasip) [40], 오십 (五十, osip) [50], 육십 or 륙십 (六十, yuksip or ryuksip) [60], 칠십 (七十, chilsip) [70], 팔십 (八十, palsip) [80], and 구십 (九十, gusip) [90].
- Compound numbers are formed starting with the ten directly followed by the unit (e.g.: 십육 (sipyuk) [16], 오십팔 (osippal) [58]).
- The hundreds are formed starting with the multiplier digit directly followed by the word for hundred (백, baek), except for one hundred: 백 (百, baek) [100], 이백 (二百, ibaek) [200], 삼백 (三百, sambaek) [300], 사백 (四百, sabeak) [400], 오백 (五百, obeak) [500], 육백 (六百, yukbaek) [600], 칠백 (七百, chilbaek) [700], 팔백 (八百, palbaek) [800], and 구백 (九百, gubaek) [900].
- The thousands are formed starting with the multiplier digit directly followed by the word for thousand (천, cheon), except for one thousand: 천 (千, cheon) [1,000], 이천 (二千, icheon) [2,000], 삼천 (三千, samcheon) [3,000], 사천 (四千, sacheon) [4,000], 오천 (五千, ocheon) [5,000], 육천 (六千, yukcheon) [6,000], 칠천 (七千, chilcheon) [7,000], 팔천 (八千, palcheon) [8,000], and 구천 (九千, gucheon) [9,000].
- Higher scale numbers follow the same pattern, using the myriad system where big numbers have a new name each 10,000 multiplier (digits are thus grouped by four): 만 (萬, man) [10,000, 104], 억 (億, eok) [100 millions, 108], 조 (兆, jo) [trillion, 1012], 경 (京, gyeong) [ten quadrillions, 1016], 해 (垓, hae) [hundred quintillion, 1020]…