Practice
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Native ReferenceSino ReferenceCounter ReferenceNumber System UsageWhen counting things in Korean, a counter word is included after the number. This word changes based on what is being counted. The general word order is noun → number → counter.
e.g. 12 apples is 사과 열두 개
There are hundreds of counter words. If a more specific counter isn't known, 개 is the most commonly substituted.
When spelling out a number, a space is used between the number and the counter. When digits are used there is no space.
Things | 개 (gae) |
People | 명 (myeong) |
Actions | 번 (beon) |
Animals | 마리 (mari) |
Vehicles and Machines | 대 (dae) |
Books | 권 (gwon) |
Glasses / Cups | 잔 (jan) |
Degrees (temperature) | 도 (do) |
Floor Number | 층 (cheung) |
House Number | 번지 (beonji) |
Years | 년 (nyeon) | Sino |
Month Names | 월 (wol) | Sino |
Months | 개월 (gaewol) | Sino |
Months | 달 (dal) | Native |
Weeks | 주일 (juil) | Sino |
Days | 일 (il) | Sino |
Hours (o'clock) | 시 (si) | Native |
Hours | 시간 (sigan) | Native |
Minutes | 분 (bun) | Sino |
Seconds | 초 (cho) | Sino |