Korean Numbers: Sino-Korean Numbers (일, 이, 삼)

Sino-Korean numbers (한자어 숫자) come from Chinese characters. Used for dates, money, phone numbers, minutes, floors, and numbers above 99.

The Rule

Sino-Korean numbers (한자어 숫자) come from Chinese characters. Used for dates, money, phone numbers, minutes, floors, and numbers above 99. 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: • 일 (il) = 1 • 이 (i) = 2 • 삼 (sam) = 3 • 사 (sa) = 4 • 오 (o) = 5 • 육 (yuk) = 6 • 칠 (chil) = 7 • 팔 (pal) = 8 • 구 (gu) = 9 • 십 (sip) = 10

How It Works

Sino-Korean numbers (한자어 숫자) come from Chinese characters. Used for dates, money, phone numbers, minutes, floors, and numbers above 99. Examples: • 이천이십육년 삼월 (icheonisipyuknyeon samwor) — "March 2026" • 삼만 원이에요. (samman wonieyo.) — "It's 30,000 won." Sino-Korean numbers are logical: 11 = 십일 (ten-one), 25 = 이십오 (two-ten-five), 100 = 백 (hundred). If you know Chinese or Japanese numbers, these are almost identical.

Real Examples

• 이천이십육년 삼월 (icheonisipyuknyeon samwor) — "March 2026" • 삼만 원이에요. (samman wonieyo.) — "It's 30,000 won."

Common Mistakes

❌ Using the wrong number system for the context ✅ Sino-Korean Numbers (일, 이, 삼) 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

Sino-Korean numbers are logical: 11 = 십일 (ten-one), 25 = 이십오 (two-ten-five), 100 = 백 (hundred). If you know Chinese or Japanese numbers, these are almost identical. 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.

Sino-Korean numbers are logical: 11 = 십일 (ten-one), 25 = 이십오 (two-ten-five), 100 = 백 (hundred). If you know Chinese or Japanese numbers, these are almost identical.

Examples

이천이십육년 삼월 — icheonisipyuknyeon samwor — March 2026

삼만 원이에요. — samman wonieyo. — It's 30,000 won.