Lesson 6

Counting & Units: 개, 명, 잔, 병

Learn Sino-Korean numbers and counting units (classifiers) for everyday objects.

Native Korean Numbers with Counters

Counters use native Korean numbers (하나→한, 둘→두, 셋→세, 넷→네). The pattern is: Noun + Number + Counter. Note: 하나/둘/셋/넷 shorten before counters.

학생 네 명haksaeng ne myeongfour students

맥주 세 병maekju se byeongthree bottles of beer

Sino-Korean Numbers (일, 이, 삼...)

Sino-Korean numbers (일=1, 이=2, 삼=3, 사=4, 오=5, 육=6, 칠=7, 팔=8, 구=9, 십=10) are used for dates, money, phone numbers, and minutes. Native Korean numbers are used with most counters.

삼천 원이에요.samcheon wonieyoIt's 3,000 won.

이월 십오일이에요.iwol siboirieyoIt's February 15th.

개gaeunit (general objects)

Examples사과 세 개 주세요.sagwa se gae juseyoThree apples, please.

명myeongunit (people)

Examples두 명이에요.du myeongieyoThere are two people.

잔janunit (cups/glasses)

Examples커피 한 잔 마셨어요.keopi han jan masyeosseoyoI drank one cup of coffee.

병byeongunit (bottles)

Examples물 두 병 샀어요.mul du byeong sasseoyoI bought two bottles of water.

권gwonunit (books)

Examples소설 한 권을 읽었어요.soseol han gwoneul ilgeosseoyoI read one novel.

마리mariunit (animals)

Examples고양이 세 마리가 있어요.goyangi se mariga isseoyoThere are three cats.