TOPIK I Core Vocabulary · Questions ②

Counting & pointing — 어떻게, 몇, 개·명, 이것·그것·저것, 여기·거기·저기

Korean has three sets of pointing words. You choose the form by distance. Is the thing near you, near the listener, or far from you both?

01어떻게eotteoke🔊 [어떠케]

how · asks about a way of doing something, or about a state.

Pronunciation [어떠케]. The final consonant ㅎ joins the next ㄱ. Together they sound like ㅋ.

Examples 어떻게 가요? (how do I get there?) · 어떻게 해요? (what should I do?)

서울역에 어떻게 가요? How do I get to Seoul Station?  |  You can use this sentence just as it is to ask for directions

02몇myeot🔊 [멷]

how many, what · asks about a number.

Pronunciation [멷] when it stands alone. Before ㄴ or ㅁ it changes again. So 몇 명 sounds like [면명].

Note A counting word comes after it: 몇 개, 몇 명, 몇 시. English drops this word, but Korean keeps it.

Examples 몇 개예요? (how many?) · 몇 시예요? (what time is it?) · 몇 명이에요? (how many people?)

지금 몇 시예요? What time is it?  |  Hours use native Korean numbers like 하나·둘·셋. Minutes use Sino-Korean numbers, the set borrowed from Chinese, like 일·이·삼

03개 · 명gae · myeong

counters · 개 for objects, 명 for people.

Note The number in front also changes its shape. Say 한 개 and 두 명, not 하나 개 or 둘 명.

Examples 사과 세 개 (three apples) · 사람 네 명 (four people)

사과 세 개 주세요. Three apples, please.  |  사과 = apple  |  Use this pattern when you buy something in a shop

04이것 · 그것 · 저것igeot · geugeot · jeogeot

this, that · 이것, 그것 and 저것 point at things. There are three forms, one for each distance.

Note 이것 is near you. 그것 is near the listener. 저것 is far from you both. English usually says that for both 그것 and 저것.

Short forms In speech they become 이거 · 그거 · 저거.

이거 얼마예요? How much is this?  |  얼마 = how much  |  Just say it and point at the item

05여기 · 거기 · 저기yeogi · geogi · jeogi

here, there · 여기, 거기, 저기 use the same three distances, but for places.

Note 여기 is where you are. 거기 is where the listener is. 저기 is away from you both.

Examples 여기에 있다 (to be here) · 저기로 가다 (to go over there)

저기 앉을까요? Shall we sit over there?  |  앉다 = to sit  |  You also say 저기요 to call a server

Quick check3 questions

Fill in each blank in Korean.

1. 서울역에 __________ 가요? (______ do I get there?)
2. 지금 __________ 시예요? (______ time is it?)
3. 사과 세 __________ 주세요. (three ______ of apples)

Show answers

1. 어떻게   2. 몇   3. 개

People are counted with 명

Study tip The forms 이 · 그 · 저 show the three distances. Add 것 for things and 기 for places. Learn the thing form and the place form as pairs: 이것·여기, 그것·거기, 저것·저기.