How to Count Money in Korean | 90Day Korean
How to Count Money in Korean: Understanding the Two Number Systems
Learning how to count money in Korean can be valuable for those who want to travel to South Korea or conduct business with Koreans. However, it can be confusing for beginners since two kinds of number systems are used in the Korean language: the native Korean system and the Sino-Korean system.
The native Korean number system is usually used for counting items, while the Sino-Korean number system is used for counting money, time, and other numerical values. Understanding these two systems is crucial for anyone wanting to count Korean money.
This article will discuss the native Korean and Sino-Korean number systems and show you how to count money in Korean.
The Native Korean Number System
The Native Korean Number System, or the Korean numeral system, is the traditional numerical system used in Korea. It consists of unique numerals and counting units that differ from the Arabic numerals used in most Western countries.
The Korean numeral system is based on units of ten thousand rather than a thousand, as in the Western system. This means that there are different words for different powers of ten thousand, starting with “man” (ten thousand), “cheon” (one hundred million), “eok” (ten billion), and so on.
The Sino-Korean Number System
The Sino-Korean number system is a number system used in Korea that is based on Chinese characters. It is also known as the Hanja system, as Hanja refers to using Chinese characters in the Korean language.
The Sino-Korean number system is used for counting large numbers and for official documents. It is similar to the Chinese number system, and many of the characters used in the Sino-Korean system are the same as those used in Chinese.
While the Sino-Korean system is still used in Korea, particularly for more formal contexts, the native Korean number system is also widely used daily. Being familiar with both systems is important to fully understand Korean numbers and counting.
Steps on How To Count Money In Korean
If you’re traveling or living in South Korea, knowing how to count money in Korean is important. It will help you make purchases and handle transactions and is also a great way to practice your Korean language skills.
Here is the step-by-step on how to count money in Korean.
Step 1: Learn the Korean words for currency.
Before you start counting money in Korean, learning the Korean words for currency is important. The main currency in South Korea is the Korean won (원). Here are a few other important Korean words related to currency:
- Money: 돈 (don)
- Coin: 동전 (dong-jeon)
- Bill: 지폐 (ji-pye)
Step 2: Understand the Korean counting system.
There are two Korean number systems: the native Korean system and the Sino-Korean system. The native Korean system is commonly used for counting things, while the Sino-Korean system is used for counting money, time, and dates.
Here are the native Korean numbers from zero to ten:
- 0: 공 (gong)
- 1: 하나 (hana)
- 2: 둘 (dul)
- 3: 셋 (set)
- 4: 넷 (net)
- 5: 다섯 (daseot)
- 6: 여섯 (yeoseot)
- 7: 일곱 (ilgop)
- 8: 여덟 (yeodeol)
- 9: 아홉 (ahop)
- 10: 열 (yeol)
For numbers higher than ten, the native Korean system uses a combination of the numbers above. For example, 11 is 열하나 (yeolhana), which means ten-one.
The Sino-Korean number system uses Chinese characters and is more complex than the native Korean system. It is used for counting money, time, and other numerical values.
Here are the Sino-Korean numbers from zero to ten:
- 0: 영 (yeong)
- 1: 일 (il)
- 2: 이 (i)
- 3: 삼 (sam)
- 4: 사 (sa)
- 5: 오 (o)
- 6: 육 (yuk)
- 7: 칠 (chil)
- 8: 팔 (pal)
- 9: 구 (gu)
- 10: 십 (sip)
For numbers higher than ten, the Sino-Korean system follows the same pattern as the native Korean system. For example, 11 is 십일 (sipil), which means ten-one.
Step 3: Learn the counting pattern.
Counting money in Korean follows a specific pattern. For example, when counting won in the Sino-Korean system, you start with the highest unit and work your way down. Here’s the pattern:
- 만 (man) – 10,000
- 천 (cheon) – 1,000
- 백 (baek) – 100
- 십 (sip) – 10
- 원 (won) – 1
Here’s an example: To count 54,320 won, you would say “오만 사천 삼백 이십 원” (o-man sa-cheon sam-baek i-sip won).
Step 4: Practice counting with South Korean currency.
The best way to get comfortable counting money in Korean is to practice with Korean money. You can start with small amounts and work up to larger ones. Here are a few common amounts to practice with:
- 1,000 won: 천 원 (cheon won)
- 5,000 won: 오천 원 (o-cheon won)
- 10,000 won: 만 원 (man won)
- 50,000 won: 오만 원 (o-man won)
- 100,000 won: 십만 원 (sip-man won)
Step 5: Practice counting Korean phone numbers.
Another way to practice counting in Korean is by counting Korean phone numbers. Phone numbers in Korea are typically ten digits long and are read in pairs. For example, the phone number “02-123-4567” would be read.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to count money in Korean is essential if you plan on visiting or living in Korea. By mastering the Korean number system, counting system for Korean money, and phone numbers, you’ll be better equipped to navigate Korean society and communicate effectively with native Korean speakers.
If you want to learn more about counting in Korean, check out the resources available at 90Day Korean. Good luck on your Korean language learning journey!
