4.2. Basic Korean Vocabulary: Numbers

Learning the Korean language can be a challenging task, but also a very rewarding one. One of the first things you need to learn when studying any language is basic vocabulary, and that includes numbers. In Korean, there are two number systems: the Sino-Korean system, which is based on Chinese, and the native Korean system. Both systems are used, but in different contexts.

Let's start with the Sino-Korean system:

One - 일 (il)
Two - 이 (i)
Three - 삼 (sam)
Four - 사 (sa)
Five - 오 (o)
Six - 육 (yuk)
Seven - 칠 (chil)
Eight - 팔 (pal)
Nine - 구 (gu)
Ten - 십 (ship)

This system is mainly used for dates, money, minutes of time, age and for counting things in general. For example, if you want to say "ten days", you would say "십일" (ship il).

Now, let's move to the Korean native system:

Um - 하나 (hana)
Two - 둘 (dul)
Three - 셋 (set)
Four - 넷 (net)
Five - 다섯 (daseot)
Six - 여섯 (yeoseot)
Seven - 일곱 (ilgop)
Eight - 여덟 (yeodeol)
Nine - 아홉 (ahop)
Ten - 열 (yeol)

This system is used to count things that don't have a specific physical unit, like people or animals. For example, if you want to say "three people", you would say "셋" (set).

Also, it's important to note that when counting things, Koreans often use a counter or a measurement word after the number. For example, to count books, you would say "두 권" (du gweon), where "두" is the number two and "권" is the counter for books.

Another interesting aspect of the Korean number system is that they have specific words for certain quantities. For example, "백" (baek) means one hundred, "천" (cheon) means one thousand, and "만" (man) means ten thousand. So to say "one hundred thousand", you would say "십만" (ship man), which literally means "ten ten thousand".

In summary, learning numbers in Korean may seem complicated at first, but with practice and patience, you will surely master this vital aspect of the language. Remember that constant practice is the key to learning any language, so keep practicing and don't get discouraged if you don't understand everything right away. Good luck on your Korean learning journey!

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7Basic Korean Vocabulary: Days of the Week

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