Native Korean numbers and their modified forms before counters
I can count using native Korean numbers and use their modified forms before counters
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
사과 세 개 주세요.
Three apples, please.
저는 스무 살이에요.
I am 20 years old.
지금 한 시 삼십 분이에요.
It's 1:30 now.
열두 명이 왔어요.
Twelve people came.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Korean has two number systems. 고유어 숫자 (native Korean numbers) are used for counting objects, hours, and age.
| Number | Full form | Before counter |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 하나 | 한 |
| 2 | 둘 | 두 |
| 3 | 셋 | 세 |
| 4 | 넷 | 네 |
| 5 | 다섯 | 다섯 |
| 6 | 여섯 | 여섯 |
| 7 | 일곱 | 일곱 |
| 8 | 여덟 | 여덟 |
| 9 | 아홉 | 아홉 |
| 10 | 열 | 열 |
| 20 | 스물 | 스무 |
| 30 | 서른 | 서른 |
| 40 | 마흔 | 마흔 |
| 50 | 쉰 | 쉰 |
Key rule: 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷, 스물 become 한, 두, 세, 네, 스무 when placed directly before a counter (분류사). Numbers above 5 keep the same form.
Compound numbers: 열하나 (11), 열둘 (12), 스물하나 (21), 서른셋 (33).
Usage: hours (세 시 = 3 o'clock), age (스무 살 = 20 years old), counting with classifiers.
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesForget shortened forms (한/두/세/네/스무) before counters. Confuse native Korean with Sino-Korean in wrong contexts.
Used Sino-Korean numbers where native Korean was required
Native Korean for hours, age, counting with classifiers; Sino-Korean for dates, money, minutes, phone numbers
Used full form instead of shortened form before counter
하나→한, 둘→두, 셋→세, 넷→네, 스물→스무 before counters
사과 세 개 주세요.
Three apples, please.
셋 becomes 세 before the counter 개. Native Korean number + counter pattern.
저는 스무 살이에요.
I am 20 years old.
스물 becomes 스무 before 살 (age counter). Age always uses native Korean numbers.
지금 한 시 삼십 분이에요.
It's 1:30 now.
Hours use native Korean (한 시 = 1 o'clock), minutes use Sino-Korean (삼십 분 = 30 minutes).
열두 명이 왔어요.
Twelve people came.
열둘 = 12 (열 + 둘). Before counter 명, 둘 becomes 두 → 열두 명.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises