In this article, we will be learning about the Korean numbers 1-10.
Did you know that there are two number systems in Korean? Here are the ones you should start with:
- 일 (il) – One
- 이 (i) – Two
- 삼 (sam) – Three
- 사 (sa) – Four
- 오 (o) – Five
- 육 (yuk) – Six
- 칠 (chil) – Seven
- 팔 (pal) – Eight
- 구 (gu) – Nine
- 십 (ship) – Ten
Once you learn the first system, you can learn the second, as well as when to use each one.
In this article, we’ll teach you how to count from 1-10 using the two systems used in Korea. Let’s get to it!
Contents
What are Sino-Korean numbers?
Sino-Korean numbers are a set of numbers derived from Chinese characters. The words used for these numbers differ from native Korean words.
You can use Sino-Korean system primarily for dates, money, addresses, phone numbers, and minutes and seconds.
This system is also often used in formal or technical contexts, like banking and mathematics.
Sino-Korean Numbers 1-10
The system goes from one to ten and then builds on those basics. Learn each Korean word for the numbers one to ten in Sino-Korean below:
- 일 (il) – One
- 이 (i) – Two
- 삼 (sam) – Three
- 사 (sa) – Four
- 오 (o) – Five
- 육 (yuk) – Six
- 칠 (chil) – Seven
- 팔 (pal) – Eight
- 구 (gu) – Nine
- 십 (ship) – Ten
What are Native Korean numbers?
Native Korean numbers are the original numerical system used in the Korean language. They are commonly used for everyday counting, such as counting people and objects.
Native Korean Numbers 1-10
Here’s how you can count from 1-1o with the Native Korean number system.
- 하나 (hana) – One
- 둘 (dul) – Two
- 셋 (set) – Three
- 넷 (net) – Four
- 다섯 (daseot) – Five
- 여섯 (yeoseot) – Six
- 일곱 (ilgop) – Seven
- 여덟 (yeodeol) – Eight
- 아홉 (ahop) – Nine
- 열 (yeol) – Ten
How to pronounce Korean numbers 1-1-0
Learn how to pronounce the Korean numbers 1-10 through the video below. Listen carefully for the correct Korean pronunciation:
Which Korean numbers should I learn first?
We recommend learning the numbers in the Sino-Korean number system first. This Korean counting system is easier and is used more often in Korean.
Once you know them well, then you can focus on the Native Korean numbers.
Picking the right strategy will make learning Korean easier. This is one of the principles we use inside of our structured Inner circle courses.
How to say the Korean numbers 1-10
Below, we’ll show you two ways to say each number from 1-10 in Korean. We’ve also included sample sentences so you can pick up some new Korean words as you learn Korean numbers.
1 in Korean
하나 (hana) / 일 (il)
Native: 그녀는 사과 하나를 먹었다. (geunyeoneun sagwa hanareul meogeotda.)
She ate one apple.
Sino: 일 분만 기다려주세요. (il bunman gidaryeojuseyo.)
Please wait for 1 minute.
2 in Korean
둘 (dul) / 이 (i)
Native: 그들은 둘 다 좋은 친구입니다. (geudeureun dul da joeun chinguideyo.)
They are both good friends.
Sino: 이 번 출구로 나가세요. (i beon chulguro nagaseyo.)
Go out to exit number two.
3 in Korean
셋 (set) / 삼 (sam)
Native: 우리는 셋이서 영화를 봤어요. (urineun sesiseo yeonghwaleul bwasseoyo.)
We three watched a movie.
Sino: 그는 삼 년 동안 해외에 살았습니다. (geuneun sam nyeon dongan haewae salassseubnida.)
He lived abroad for three years.
4 in Korean
넷 (net) / 사 (sa)
Native: 넷이서 게임을 했습니다. (nesiseo geimeul haetseumnida.)
Four of us played a game.
Sino: 사무실은 사 층에 있어요. (samusireun sa cheunge issoyo)
The office is on the fourth floor.
5 in Korean
다섯 (daseot) / 오 (o)
Native: 그녀에게 다섯 마리의 강아지가 있습니다. (geunyeoege daseot mariui gangajiga issseubnida.)
She has five puppies.
Sino: 오 분 후에 만나요. (o bun hue mannayo)
Let’s meet in five minutes.
6 in Korean
여섯 (yeoseot) / 육 (yuk)
Native: 여섯 살 때 처음 학교에 갔어요. (yeoseot sal ttae cheoeum hakgyoe gasseoyo)
I went to school for the first time when I was six.
Sino: 그들은 육 개월 동안 여행했습니다. (geudeureun yuk gaewol dongan yeohaenghaetseumnida.)
They traveled for six months.
7 in Korean
일곱 (ilgop) / 칠 (chil)
Native: 일곱 개의 무지개 색깔이 있어요. (ilgop gae ui mujigae saekkkari isseoyo.)
There are seven colors in a rainbow.
Sino: 이사 온 지 칠 개월이 되었어요. (isa on ji chil gaewori dweossoyo.)
It’s been seven months since I moved in.
8 in Korean
여덟 (yeodeol) / 팔 (pal)
Native: 여덟 명이 파티에 초대되었습니다. (yeodeol myeong i patie chodaedoe eossseubnida.)
Eight people were invited to the party.
Sino: 그는 팔 개국어를 할 줄 압니다. (Geuneun pal gaegugeoreul hal jul amnida.)
He can speak eight languages.
9 in Korean
아홉 (ahop) / 구 (gu)
Native: 아홉 개의 행성이 태양계에 있습니다. (ahop gaeui haengseongi taeyanggyee itseumnida.)
There are nine planets in the solar system.
Sino: 구 월에 가을이 시작됩니다. (gu wole gaeuri sijakdoebnida.)
Autumn starts in September.
10 in Korean
열 (yeol) / 십 (ship)
Native: 열 명의 학생들이 수업에 참석했습니다. (yeol myeongui haksaengdeuri sueobe chamseokaetseumnida.)
Ten students attended the class.
Sino: 십 년 전에 이 일이 일어났습니다. (ship nyeon jeon e i iri ireonassseubnida.)
This happened ten years ago.
123 in Korean
You can use Native Korean numbers when counting in Korean. If you count 1,2,3, you can say it like this:
하나 (hana), 둘 (dul), 셋 (set)
This is also something you say before taking a picture.
Wrap Up
That’s it for the Korean number words for 1-10! As you learn how to count in Korean, taking it step-by-step makes learning numbers a lot easier, right?
As you’re speaking Korean more often, this also becomes a lot easier!
If you’re now ready to learn Korean numbers on a higher level, you can go to this article to start learning about double digit numbers next.
