TOPIK I Core Vocabulary · Numbers & Order ①

Counting one to five — 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷, 다섯

Korean uses two number systems. This post covers native Korean numbers. You use them to count things and tell the hour.

01하나hana

one · the native Korean number for one.

Note Before a counter (a word used for counting) it becomes 한: 한 개, 한 명, 한 시. Alone it stays 하나.

Examples 하나만 주세요 (just one, please) · 하나씩 (one at a time)

이거 하나만 주세요. Just one of these, please.  |  -만 = only  |  No counter follows, so it stays 하나

02둘dul

two · the native Korean number for two.

Note Before a counter it becomes 두: 두 개, 두 명, 두 시.

Examples 둘이 가다 (the two of us go) · 둘 다 (both)

커피 두 잔 주세요. Two coffees, please.  |  잔 is the counter for drinks  |  It's 두 잔, not 둘 잔

03셋set🔊 [섿]

three · the native Korean number for three.

Pronunciation [섿]. The final consonant ㅅ sounds like ㄷ.

Note Before a counter it becomes 세: 세 개, 세 명, 세 시.

Examples 셋이 함께 (the three of us together) · 세 시 (three o'clock)

사과 세 개만 주세요. Three apples, please.  |  개 is the general counter for objects

04넷net🔊 [넫]

four · the native Korean number for four.

Note Before a counter it becomes 네. This sounds the same as 네 meaning yes. If a counter follows, it is the number.

Examples 네 명 (four people) · 네 시 (four o'clock)

우리 가족은 네 명이에요. There are four people in my family.  |  명 counts people  |  It's 네 명, not 넷 명

05다섯daseot🔊 [다섣]

five · the native Korean number for five.

Note Most native Korean numbers from 다섯 up do not change before a counter: 다섯 개, 다섯 명. But 스물 becomes 스무, as in 스무 살.

Forms that change 하나→한, 둘→두, 셋→세, 넷→네, 스물→스무.

다섯 시에 만나기로 했어요. We agreed to meet at five.  |  -기로 하다 = to arrange to  |  Hours use the native Korean numbers

Quick check3 questions

Put each number into the right form.

1. 커피 __________ 잔 주세요. (둘)
2. 사과 __________ 개만 주세요. (셋)
3. 우리 가족은 __________ 명이에요. (넷)

Show answers

1. 두   2. 세   3. 네

All three change shape before a counter

Study tip Korean has two number systems. Use native Korean numbers (하나·둘·셋) to count objects and tell the hour. Use Sino-Korean numbers (일·이·삼), the set borrowed from Chinese, for dates, minutes, and money. Both can appear in one phrase, as in 세 시 삼십 분.