Numbers, also a Sino-Korean pain

NOTE: This post is based on Chapter 6 of Shin's textbook (see section on resources).


If only learning a new language were easy, if only that language at least belonged to the same linguistic clan as my own, if only numbers were my forte to start with... if only Korean fulfilled all this criteria I would pretty fluent by now but NO! In addition to having to get acquainted with a new language family, Korean is now forcing me to also memorise two numeric systems. Low blow, real low! Anyway... 화이팅!!

There must be someone capable of appreciating the reference.

When to use

Sino-Korean numbers are used when reading off numerals, for abstract counting such as mathematics, decimals, fractions, distances and money. I should also add measurements since its associated counters are followed by Sino-Korean numbers (litre, metre, kilogram, etc.)

0. 공 (is this not the same word as ball?)

1. 일

2. 이 (same as subject particle)

3. 삼

4. 사

5. 오 (also a verb, 오다)

6. 육

7. 칠

8. 팔

9. 구

10. 십

11. 십일

20. 이십

21. 이십일

30. 삼십

40. 사십

50. 오십

60. 육십

70. 칠십

80. 팔십

90. 구십

Basically only need to memorise 백, 촌, 만 and 억

백 - 100

천 - 1,000

만 - 10,000

십만 - 100,000 (10 x 10,000)

백만 - 1,000,000 (100 x 10,000)

촌만 - 10,000,000 (1,000 x 10,000)

억 - 100,000,000

Pronunciation notes!

11. 십일 (si-bil)

12. 십이 (si-bi)

15. 십오 (si-bo)

16. 십육 (sim-nyuk)

100,000. 십만 (sim-man)

1,000,000. 백만 (baeng-man)