Korean Numbers: Money and Prices (Sino-Korean)

Money always uses Sino-Korean + 원 (won). Korean currency groups by 만 (10,000), not 1,000. So 50,000₩ = 오만 원, not '50 thousands.'

The Rule

Money always uses Sino-Korean + 원 (won). Korean currency groups by 만 (10,000), not 1,000. So 50,000₩ = 오만 원, not '50 thousands.' Korean has TWO completely separate number systems — Native Korean (하나, 둘, 셋) and Sino-Korean (일, 이, 삼). English speakers must learn WHEN to use which system, because mixing them up is a common and noticeable mistake.

Why English Speakers Get It Wrong

English has one number system. Korean has two, and you must pick the RIGHT one depending on what you're counting. Using Sino-Korean where Native Korean is required (or vice versa) sounds as wrong to Koreans as saying "I have three-th cats" sounds in English. Key numbers for this topic: • 천 (cheon) = 1,000 • 만 (man) = 10,000

How It Works

Money always uses Sino-Korean + 원 (won). Korean currency groups by 만 (10,000), not 1,000. So 50,000₩ = 오만 원, not '50 thousands.' Examples: • 이거 얼마예요? (igeo eormayeyo?) — "How much is this?" • 오천 원이에요. (ocheon wonieyo.) — "It's 5,000 won." • 삼만 오천 원이요. (samman ocheon woniyo.) — "It's 35,000 won." The biggest hurdle: Korean counts in 만 (10,000) units. English says '50 thousand' but Korean says '5만.' To convert: divide by 10,000 to get the 만 count. A ₩50,000 bill is 오만 원 (o-man won).

Real Examples

• 이거 얼마예요? (igeo eormayeyo?) — "How much is this?" • 오천 원이에요. (ocheon wonieyo.) — "It's 5,000 won." • 삼만 오천 원이요. (samman ocheon woniyo.) — "It's 35,000 won."

Common Mistakes

❌ Using the wrong number system for the context ✅ Money and Prices (Sino-Korean) uses Sino-Korean numbers → Each context has a fixed number system. Memorize which system goes with which context. ❌ Forgetting the shortened forms (하나→한, 둘→두, etc.) ✅ Native Korean numbers 1-4 change form before counters → This is mandatory, not optional. 하나 개 is wrong; 한 개 is correct.

Quick Tip

The biggest hurdle: Korean counts in 만 (10,000) units. English says '50 thousand' but Korean says '5만.' To convert: divide by 10,000 to get the 만 count. A ₩50,000 bill is 오만 원 (o-man won). Practice tip: Pick one number context (like ordering food or telling time) and drill it until it's automatic. Don't try to learn both systems at once — master one usage scenario at a time.

The biggest hurdle: Korean counts in 만 (10,000) units. English says '50 thousand' but Korean says '5만.' To convert: divide by 10,000 to get the 만 count. A ₩50,000 bill is 오만 원 (o-man won).

Examples

이거 얼마예요? — igeo eormayeyo? — How much is this?

오천 원이에요. — ocheon wonieyo. — It's 5,000 won.

삼만 오천 원이요. — samman ocheon woniyo. — It's 35,000 won.