Korean Numbers: Saying Your Age (Native Korean)

Ages use Native Korean numbers + 살 (sal, years old). The tens have special forms: 스물(20), 서른(30), 마흔(40), 쉰(50), 예순(60), 일흔(70), 여든(80), 아흔(90).

The Rule

Ages use Native Korean numbers + 살 (sal, years old). The tens have special forms: 스물(20), 서른(30), 마흔(40), 쉰(50), 예순(60), 일흔(70), 여든(80), 아흔(90). 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: • 스물 (seumul) = 20 • 서른 (seoreun) = 30 • 마흔 (maheun) = 40 • 쉰 (swin) = 50

How It Works

Ages use Native Korean numbers + 살 (sal, years old). The tens have special forms: 스물(20), 서른(30), 마흔(40), 쉰(50), 예순(60), 일흔(70), 여든(80), 아흔(90). Examples: • 저는 스물다섯 살이에요. (jeoneun seumurdaseot sarieyo.) — "I'm 25 years old." • 몇 살이에요? (myeot sarieyo?) — "How old are you?" In Korean age culture, your age determines how people talk to you. Koreans ask age early to set the right politeness level. The special tens forms (스물, 서른...) must be memorized — they don't follow a pattern.

Real Examples

• 저는 스물다섯 살이에요. (jeoneun seumurdaseot sarieyo.) — "I'm 25 years old." • 몇 살이에요? (myeot sarieyo?) — "How old are you?"

Common Mistakes

❌ Using the wrong number system for the context ✅ Saying Your Age (Native Korean) uses Native 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

In Korean age culture, your age determines how people talk to you. Koreans ask age early to set the right politeness level. The special tens forms (스물, 서른...) must be memorized — they don't follow a pattern. 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.

In Korean age culture, your age determines how people talk to you. Koreans ask age early to set the right politeness level. The special tens forms (스물, 서른...) must be memorized — they don't follow a pattern.

Examples

저는 스물다섯 살이에요. — jeoneun seumurdaseot sarieyo. — I'm 25 years old.

몇 살이에요? — myeot sarieyo? — How old are you?