Mastering Korean Numbers: 'Hana, Dul' vs. 'Il, I' – When to Use Which?

 

Mastering Korean Numbers: 'Hana, Dul' vs. 'Il, I' – When to Use Which?

Imagine you are at a bustling market in Seoul, or perhaps a cafe here in Suwon. You want to order two coffees. Do you say "Il" coffee? Or "Dul" coffee? Or maybe "I" coffee? For English speakers, numbers are simple: one, two, three. But in Korean, you have to memorize two entirely separate sets of numbers: the Native Korean system (Hana, Dul, Set...) and the Sino-Korean system (Il, I, Sam...).

Mixing them up is the most common mistake foreigners make. As of November 2025, getting this right is the fastest way to level up your Korean from "tourist" to "speaker." Why are there two systems, and more importantly, when do you use which? Let's break it down.

1. The Native Korean System: Counting Physical Objects

The Native Korean system is the language of everyday life. It is used primarily for counting tangible things—items, people, animals, and age. Think of this system as the one you use when you are physically pointing at things and counting them 1, 2, 3 using your fingers. The numbers are Hana, Dul, Set, Net, Daseot...

You use this system when you are asking for "two apples" (sagwa du-gae) or saying there are "three people" (se-myeong). It is also used for counting your age (seumul-daseot sal for 25 years old) and for counting the hours when telling time. A crucial tip is that the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 20 change slightly when attached to a counter (e.g., Hana becomes Han), making the pronunciation smoother.

2. The Sino-Korean System: Math, Money, and Data

The Sino-Korean system is derived from Chinese characters and sounds more formal. Generally, this system is used for "official" data, mathematics, money, measurements, and dates. If the number feels like a statistic, a code, or a formal address, you almost certainly need Sino-Korean. The numbers are Il, I, Sam, Sa, O...

You must use this system for prices ("10,000 won" is man-won), dates ("November 24th" is sibil-wol isipsa-il), phone numbers, and counting minutes and seconds. Essentially, if the number is written on a price tag, a calendar, or a bus stop sign, read it in Sino-Korean.

3. The Ultimate Challenge: Mixing Both for Time

This is the part that makes learners panic. To tell the time in Korean, you have to use both systems in a single sentence. The rule is absolute: the hour uses the Native Korean system, while the minute uses the Sino-Korean system.

For example, to say 3:30 ("Three-thirty"), you say Se-si (Native '3' for the hour) and Samsip-bun (Sino '30' for the minute). It sounds confusing at first, but there is a rhythm to it. Just remember the mantra: "Native Hours, Chinese Minutes." Once you get used to this pattern, it becomes second nature.

4. The Rule for Big Numbers (Over 100)

Here is some good news to relieve your brain. While the Native Korean system technically goes up to 99, in modern Korea, people rarely use it for numbers larger than roughly 50 or 60. For anything 100 and above, the Sino-Korean system takes over completely.

You don't need to learn a Native Korean word for 100. You just use the Sino-Korean Baek (100). Whether you are counting 100 apples or saying someone is 102 years old, you switch to the Sino system (Baek-gae, Baek-i sal). So, focus your energy on mastering the Native numbers 1 through 20 first—that covers 90% of your daily conversation needs!

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