Counter Reference

Notes

When 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.

Native Counters

Things개 (gae)
People명 (myeong)
Actions번 (beon)
Animals마리 (mari)
Vehicles and Machines대 (dae)
Books권 (gwon)
Glasses / Cups잔 (jan)

Sino Counters

Degrees (temperature)도 (do)
Floor Number층 (cheung)
House Number번지 (beonji)

Date and Time Counters

Years년 (nyeon)Sino
Month Names월 (wol)Sino
Months개월 (gaewol)Sino
Months달 (dal)Native
Weeks주일 (juil)Sino
Days일 (il)Sino
Hours (o'clock)시 (si)Native
Hours시간 (sigan)Native
Minutes분 (bun)Sino
Seconds초 (cho)Sino