Lesson 4

Numbers & Age

Count from 1 to 10 and ask someone's age politely.

This lesson covers the basic counting numbers 1–10 in both Korean number systems and the cultural protocol around asking and stating ages. Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼, 사, 오, 육, 칠, 팔, 구, 십) are used for abstract counting, time, dates, money. Native Korean numbers (하나, 둘, 셋, 넷, 다섯, 여섯, 일곱, 여덟, 아홉, 열) are used for counting people, objects with counters, and crucially for age.

Age in Korean follows a specific format: 스무 살 (20 years old), 서른 살 (30), 마흔 살 (40), with the native number plus 살. Note the modification rule: 둘 becomes 두 when modifying, 스물 becomes 스무. As of 2023, Korea officially uses international age, but the cultural habit of asking age early in a first meeting is still alive — knowing someone's age determines which speech level you should use with them and which honorifics apply. Be prepared to answer 몇 살이에요? (how old are you?) within the first few minutes of meeting a new Korean acquaintance.

Sino-Korean vs. Native Numbers (Intro)

Here we practice native Korean numbers 1-10 for counting. Use 시 for hours and 명/개 for counters.

두 명이에요.du myeongieyoWe are two people.

여섯 시에 온 거예요?yeoseot sie on geoyeyoDid you come at six o'clock?

몇 + Counter (How many)

Use 몇 with counters to ask how many. Example: 몇 개?, 몇 명?

사과 몇 개예요?sagwa myeot gaeyeyoHow many apples?

인원은 몇 명이에요?inwoneun myeot myeongieyoHow many people are there?

하나hanaone

Examples사과 하나주세요.sagwa hanajuseyoPlease give me one apple.

둘dultwo

Examples저는 두 명이에요.jeoneun du myeongieyoWe are two people.

셋/세set/sethree (세 before counters)

Examples세 번째 역에서 내리세요.se beonjjae yeogeseo naeriseyoPlease get off at the third station.

넷/네net/nefour (네 before counters)

Examples이것은 네 개예요.igeoseun ne gaeyeyoThese are four items.

다섯daseotfive

Examples다섯 개 있어요.daseot gae isseoyoThere are five items.

여섯yeoseotsix

Examples여섯 시에 만나요.yeoseot sie mannayoLet's meet at six o'clock.

일곱ilgopseven

Examples일곱 시에 만나요.ilgop sie mannayoLet's meet at seven.

여덟yeodeoleight

Examples여덟 명이에요.yeodeol myeongieyoWe are eight people.

아홉ahopnine

Examples아홉 시에 시작해요.ahop sie sijakhaeyoIt starts at nine.

열yeolten

Examples열 개예요.yeol gaeyeyoThere are ten items.

몇 살myeot salhow old

Examples몇 살이세요?myeot saliseyoHow old are you?

Cultural & Language Note

Korean age is not just a number — it determines the speech level you use, what you call someone, and who pours the drinks. This is why 몇 살이에요? comes up so early with new acquaintances, a question that would feel intrusive in many Western contexts. Koreans are not being nosy; they are working out how to address you correctly, which they cannot do without knowing.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

셋 and 넷 change shape before a counter: 세 개 and 네 개, never 셋 개. This shortening also affects 하나 and 둘, which become 한 and 두. Learners memorise the standalone numbers and then use them unchanged in front of counters, which sounds noticeably wrong. Age uses native numbers with 살, so it is 스무 살, not 이십 살.