Korean Counter 마리: How to Count animals

Use native Korean numbers with 마리 to count dogs, cats, fish.

The Rule

마리 is the counter for animals: dogs, cats, fish. In Korean, you can't just say a number + noun. You MUST use a counter word between them. This is like English "two SHEETS of paper" or "three CUPS of coffee" — except Korean does this for EVERYTHING. Even "three apples" needs a counter: 사과 세 개.

Why English Speakers Get It Wrong

English only uses counters for uncountable nouns ("a glass of water", "a piece of cake"). Korean uses counters for ALL nouns — even ones English counts directly. The second trap: Korean has TWO number systems. 마리 uses native Korean (하나, 둘, 셋...) numbers. Using the wrong system is a common mistake that sounds immediately wrong to Korean ears.

How It Works

Pattern: Noun + Number + 마리 Native Korean numbers (shortened before counters): 한(1), 두(2), 세(3), 네(4), 다섯(5), 여섯(6), 일곱(7), 여덟(8), 아홉(9), 열(10) Note: 하나→한, 둘→두, 셋→세, 넷→네 when placed before a counter. The counter 마리 comes right after the number. The noun can come before or after the number+counter, but before is more natural in conversation.

Real Examples

• 고양이 두 마리를 키워요. (goyangi du marireur kiwoyo.) — "I raise two cats." [두 = native 2] • 물고기 한 마리를 잡았어요. (murgogi han marireur japateoyo.) — "I caught one fish." [한 = native 1]

Common Mistakes

❌ Using Sino-Korean numbers with 마리 ✅ Use native Korean numbers: 고양이 두 마리를 키워요. → 마리 always takes native Korean numbers. Mixing number systems is one of the most common counter mistakes. ❌ Saying the number without a counter (e.g., "사과 세") ✅ Always include the counter: 고양이 두 마리를 키워요. → Dropping the counter sounds incomplete in Korean, like saying "three of" without finishing the phrase in English.

Quick Tip

Start with the 5 most common counters: 개 (things), 명 (people), 마리 (animals), 잔 (cups), 병 (bottles). Once these are automatic, add 마리 to your toolkit. Practice counting things you see daily: "커피 두 잔", "사람 세 명". The more you use counters in real situations, the faster they become natural.

마리 = animals. Uses native Korean numbers.

Examples

고양이 두 마리를 키워요. — goyangi du marireur kiwoyo. — I raise two cats.

물고기 한 마리를 잡았어요. — murgogi han marireur japateoyo. — I caught one fish.