Learn basic Korean number vocabulary and how to count to 10
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| 일 (il) |
| 이 (i) |
| 삼 (sam) |
| What do these words mean? Stick around. |
| In this quick lesson, you’ll learn Korean number vocabulary and how to count to 10. |
| Before we start, did you know that Korean has two number systems, which are used for different things? Do you know how they're used in daily life? |
| Keep watching for the answer at the end. |
| 영 (yeong) |
| "zero" |
| [SLOW] 영 (yeong) |
| 영 (yeong) |
| Did you know that in Korean you have many ways of saying zero? For James Bond’s 007 we would say 공공칠(gong gong chil). And when explaining you got zero points from a test, you would say 빵점(ppang jeom). |
| Susan comments on the weather before heading out with Lina. |
| Susan: 지금은 영도이고, 눈이 와요. (Jigeumeun yeongdoigo, nuni wayo.) |
| Lina: 그럼 제일 따뜻한 코트를 입어야겠어요. (Geureom jeil ttatteuthan koteureul ibeoyagesseoyo.) |
| 일 (il) |
| "one" |
| [SLOW] 일 (il) |
| 일 (il) |
| Did you know that 일 also means “work” in Korean? |
| That’s why 일하다 means “to work.” |
| One word, two meanings, number and daily life! |
| Steve informs Jack about his arrival time. |
| Steve: 일 분 뒤에 도착해요. (Il bun dwie dochakhaeyo.) |
| Jack: 좋아요. 기다릴게요. (Joayo, gidarilgeyo.) |
| 이 (i) |
| "two" |
| [SLOW] 이 (i) |
| 이 (i) |
| 이 is also used in many everyday words like 이층 for the 2nd floor. Koreans use these numbers all the time for counting various things like floors! |
| Susan and Lina talk about their favorite number. |
| Susan: 제가 제일 좋아하는 숫자는 이예요. (Jega jeil joahaneun sutjaneun iyeyo.) |
| Lina: 그렇군요. 저는 칠이에요. (Geureokunyo. Jeoneun chirieyo.) |
| 삼 (sam) |
| "three" |
| [SLOW] 삼 (sam) |
| 삼 (sam) |
| 삼 is everywhere in Korean culture. |
| Even your favorite food like 삼겹살! Three is often seen as a strong and lucky number! |
| Susan asks Tom the price of a product. |
| Susan: 이건 얼마예요? (Igeon eolmayeyo?) |
| Tom: 삼천 원이에요. (Samcheon wonieyo.) |
| 사 (sa) |
| "four" |
| [SLOW] 사 (sa) |
| 사 (sa) |
| In Korean, 사 sounds like the word for “death.” |
| That’s why it’s often viewed as an unlucky number, just like number 13 in the West! |
| Lina and Seul-gi chat about their favorite seasons. |
| Lina: 어떤 계절이 제일 좋아요? (Eotteon gyejeori jeil joayo?) |
| Seul-gi: 음... 사계절 다 너무 좋아요. (Eum... Sagyejeol da neomu joayo.) |
| 오 (o) |
| "five" |
| [SLOW] 오 (o) |
| 오 (o) |
| 오 is easy to remember because it sounds like “oh!” |
| Just imagine yourself getting surprised by something and saying OH while covering your mouth with one hand. See? Five fingers for the meaning five of Oh |
| Yu-seok and Seon-hui shop at a local supermarket. |
| Yu-seok: 가게가 곧 닫아요. (Gagega got dadayo.) |
| Seon-hui: 오 분 남았어요. (O bun namasseoyo.) |
| 육 (yuk) |
| "six" |
| [SLOW] 육 (yuk) |
| 육 (yuk) |
| 육 can be tricky because it sounds different depending on the word. |
| In June you would think it’s 육월 (yukwol) but it becomes 유월 (yuwol). |
| Steve and Jack meet at their office in the morning. |
| Steve: 다음 회의는 언제예요? (Daeum hoeuineun eonjeyeyo?) |
| Jack: 오늘부터 육 일 뒤예요. (Oneulbuteo yuk il dwiyeyo.) |
| 칠 (chil) |
| "seven" |
| [SLOW] 칠 (chil) |
| 칠 (chil) |
| 칠 (chil) sounds like “chill” right? |
| One way to remember this one: |
| Most of the Koreans work an office job so imagine yourself getting off from work and by the time you get home and can relax and chill, it’s 7 o'clock |
| Steve asks Oscar about the number of weeks in a year. |
| Steve: 한 주는 칠 일인데, 그럼 일 년은 총 몇 주인가요? (Han juneun chil irinde, geureom il nyeoneun chong myeot juingayo?) |
| Oscar: 약 52주요. (Yak osibi juyo.) |
| 팔 (pal) |
| "eight" |
| [SLOW] 팔 (pal) |
| 팔 (pal) |
| Did you know 팔 means both “eight” and “arm” in Korean? |
| But when you say 팔팔하다 palpalhada it means “full of energy”— same word, totally different meaning! |
| Jack and Steve talk about lucky numbers over dinner. |
| Jack: 어떤 문화에서는 팔이 행운의 숫자예요. (Eotteon munhwaeseoneun pari haengunui sutjayeyo.) |
| Steve: 재밌네요. 왜 그런지 궁금해요. (Jaeminneyo. Wae geureonji gunggeumhaeyo.) |
| 구 (gu) |
| "nine" |
| [SLOW] 구 (gu) |
| 구 (gu) |
| 구 also means “save” or “rescue” in Korean and is used in everyday words like 구급차, meaning ambulance. |
| So nine doesn’t just count — it also protects! |
| Susan and Lina reminisce about their friend's wedding. |
| Susan: 그 친구가 언제 결혼했죠? (Geu chinguga eonje gyeolhonhaetjyo?) |
| Lina: 구 년 전에 결혼했어요. (Gu nyeon jeone gyeolhonhaesseoyo.) |
| 십 (sip) |
| "ten" |
| [SLOW] 십 (sip) |
| 십 (sip) |
| 십 is used to make bigger numbers, like 이십 and 삼십. |
| Once you know ten, you can count much higher easily! |
| Jack shares his parents' morning routine with Jil-li. |
| Jack: 저희 부모님은 매일 십 킬로미터를 걸어요. (Jeohui bumonimeun maeil sip killomiteoreul georeoyo.) |
| Jil-li: 대단하시네요. (Daedanhasineyo.) |
| Let's review. |
| You'll see the words in English and your job is to say the words in Korean. |
| Ready? |
| Do you remember how to say "zero"? |
| 영 (yeong) |
| 영 (yeong) |
| And how to say "one"? |
| 일 (il) |
| 일 (il) |
| How about "two"? |
| 이 (i) |
| 이 (i) |
| Do you remember how to say "three"? |
| 삼 (sam) |
| 삼 (sam) |
| And how to say "four"? |
| 사 (sa) |
| 사 (sa) |
| Let's try "five"! |
| 오 (o) |
| 오 (o) |
| What about "six"? |
| 육 (yuk) |
| 육 (yuk) |
| Now, let's see if you remember how to say "seven"! |
| 칠 (chil) |
| 칠 (chil) |
| What about "eight"? |
| 팔 (pal) |
| 팔 (pal) |
| Do you remember how to say "nine"? |
| 구 (gu) |
| 구 (gu) |
| And finally, do you remember how to say "ten"? |
| 십 (sip) |
| 십 (sip) |
| Do you know that Korea has two number systems, which are used for different things? Do you know how they're used in daily life? |
| In Korean, there are two counting methods: Sino-Korean and native Korean numbers. Sino-Korean numbers, which you learned in this lesson, come from Chinese and are used for things like dates, money, addresses, and phone numbers. Native Korean numbers are used for counting objects, telling someone’s age, and the hours when telling time. |
| Thanks for watching! Don't forget to practice these new words and phrases, and see you next time! |
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