Korean Native Number Pronunciation - A Comprehensive Guide62

Korean has two sets of number words: native Korean numbers and Sino-Korean numbers. Native Korean numbers are used for counting small numbers, while Sino-Korean numbers are used for counting larger numbers and for mathematical operations.

Native Korean Numbers

The native Korean numbers are:

Number
Hangul
Pronunciation


1
하나
hana


2
둘
dul


3
셋
set


4
넷
net


5
다섯
daset


6
여섯
yeoseot


7
일곱
ilgop


8
여덟
yeodeol


9
아홉
ahop


10
열
yeol

The numbers 11 to 19 are formed by adding the native Korean numbers for 1 to 9 to the word "열" (yeol), which means "ten". For example, 11 is "열하나" (yeol hana), 12 is "열둘" (yeol dul), and so on.

The numbers 20 to 99 are formed by multiplying the native Korean numbers for 2 to 9 by the word "십" (sip), which means "ten". For example, 20 is "이십" (isip), 30 is "삼십" (samsip), and so on.

The numbers 100 to 999 are formed by multiplying the native Korean numbers for 1 to 9 by the word "백" (baek), which means "hundred". For example, 100 is "백" (baek), 200 is "이백" (ibaeg), and so on.

The numbers 1,000 to 9,999 are formed by multiplying the native Korean numbers for 1 to 9 by the word "천" (cheon), which means "thousand". For example, 1,000 is "천" (cheon), 2,000 is "이천" (icheon), and so on.

Sino-Korean Numbers

The Sino-Korean numbers are based on the Chinese number words. They are used for counting larger numbers and for mathematical operations.

Number
Hangul
Pronunciation


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

The numbers 11 to 19 are formed by adding the Sino-Korean numbers for 1 to 9 to the word "십" (sip), which means "ten". For example, 11 is "십일" (siphil), 12 is "십이" (sibi), and so on.

The numbers 20 to 99 are formed by multiplying the Sino-Korean numbers for 2 to 9 by the word "십" (sip), which means "ten". For example, 20 is "이십" (isip), 30 is "삼십" (samsip), and so on.

The numbers 100 to 999 are formed by multiplying the Sino-Korean numbers for 1 to 9 by the word "백" (baek), which means "hundred". For example, 100 is "백" (baek), 200 is "이백" (ibaeg), and so on.

The numbers 1,000 to 9,999 are formed by multiplying the Sino-Korean numbers for 1 to 9 by the word "천" (cheon), which means "thousand". For example, 1,000 is "천" (cheon), 2,000 is "이천" (icheon), and so on.

Usage

Native Korean numbers are used for counting small numbers, such as the number of people in a room or the number of items on a table. Sino-Korean numbers are used for counting larger numbers, such as the number of people in a city or the number of kilometers in a road.

Native Korean numbers are also used in some expressions, such as "하나님" (hananim), which means "God", and "둘째" (duljjae), which means "second child".

Conclusion

Korean has two sets of number words: native Korean numbers and Sino-Korean numbers. Native Korean numbers are used for counting small numbers, while Sino-Korean numbers are used for counting larger numbers and for mathematical operations.

2024-10-31

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