Reading dates — 년, 월, 일, 주, 달

You need these words to read and write dates. Korean dates run from the largest unit to the smallest: year, then month, then day.

01년nyeon

year · the counter for years, the word you add after a number.

Note The numbers in front are Sino-Korean numbers, the set borrowed from Chinese: 이천이십육년 for 2026.

Related 작년 (last year) · 올해 (this year) · 내년 (next year)

Examples 몇 년이에요? (what year is it?) · 일 년 동안 (for a year)

한국에 온 지 이 년 됐어요. I have been in Korea for two years. | 올해 is an exception. It uses 해, not 년

02월wol

month · the name of a month, as in March.

Note Two months are said differently. June is 유월 and October is 시월. They are not 육월 or 십월.

Note Month names also use Sino-Korean numbers: 삼월 (March) and 팔월 (August).

Examples 몇 월이에요? (what month is it?) · 삼월에 시작하다 (to start in March)

한국 학교는 삼월에 시작해요. The Korean school year starts in March. | 삼월 = March

03일il

day · the counter for days of the month.

Note This sounds the same as 일 meaning work. When it comes after a number in a date, it means day.

Note Day numbers are Sino-Korean too: 십오일 (the fifteenth).

Note The pattern 년 → 월 → 일 gives 이천이십육년 오월 십오일 for May 15, 2026.

제 생일은 오월 십오일이에요. My birthday is May fifteenth. | The month comes before the day

04주ju

week · a block of seven days.

Related 지난주 (last week) · 이번 주 (this week) · 다음 주 (next week) · 주말 (weekend)

Examples 다음 주에 만나다 (to meet next week) · 일주일 동안 (for a week)

다음 주에 시험이 있어요. I have an exam next week. | A period of seven days is 일주일

05달dal

month · the counter for months; 달 also means moon.

Note Use 월 in month names, such as 삼월 (March). Use 달 to count months, as in 세 달 (three months). Do not say 세 월.

Note Numbers here are the native Korean numbers: 한 달, 두 달, 세 달.

Examples 한 달 동안 (for a month) · 이번 달 (this month) · 지난달 (last month)

한국에서 세 달 동안 공부했어요. I studied in Korea for three months. | 동안 = during, for

Quick check3 questions

Fill in each blank in Korean. Every answer appears above.

Show answers

1. 월 2. 주 3. 달

월 names, 달 counts

Study tip Learn 유월 (June) and 시월 (October) as the two months that are said differently. All the other months follow the usual pattern.

TOPIK I Core Vocabulary · Time & Dates ⑤