After getting down Sino-Korean and native numbers, another hurdle is right there for beginners- Korean counters. Counter particles have to be attached to the word you are counting and it isn’t as simple as a universal counter.
There are a lot of different counter particles to be used for animals, people, books, glasses, and more. Each is either paired with sino or native numbers. Today I’ll cover the most popular and widely used ones!
I know it seems a lot but in English we have something similar; slices of pizza, pairs of jeans, cups of coffee, portions of pasta, etc. It’s just that in Korean this is the default way to say multiple and to count multiple things.
Which Counters Uses Which Number System?
Of course with there being 2 number systems that adds an extra layer of complexity to learning the most popular Korean counters. Some use Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼…) and others use Native Korean numbers (하나, 둘, 셋…). I’ll note beside each counter which they use and have an example to make it easier!
Korean Counters
개: General counter for inanimate objects (Native)
사과 네 개: Four apples
대: Machines/vehicles/instruments (Native)
컴퓨터 한 대: One computer
층: Floors in a building (Sino)
십일 층: Eleventh floor
원: Won (Korean currency) (Sino)
3,000(삼천) 원: Three thousand won
줄: Things arranged in lines (sentences; desks) (Pure)
문장 열 줄: Ten lines of sentences
가지: Categories/groups/sets (Native)
반찬 네 가지: Four sets of sidedishes
조각: Pieces separated apart (Native)
빵 여섯 조각: Six slices of bread
Clocks and Calendars
년: Number of years (Sino)
오년 계획: Five-year plan
개월: Months (duration) (Sino)
삼개월: Three months
월: Month of the year (Sino)
삼월: March
주일: Number of weeks (Sino)
삼 주일: Three weeks
일: Measure of days (Sino)
칠일: Seven days
시: Hours on the clock (Native)
두시 오후: 2:00 PM
두시 오전: 2:00 AM
오전: AM
오후: PM
시간: Hours in duration (Native)
여섯 시간: Six hours
분: Minutes (Sino)
이십오 분: Twenty-five minutes
초: One second (Sino)
오 초: Five seconds
Papers and Books
과: Lessons (Native)
십삼 과: Thirteen lessons
권:Bound materials (books, magazines, journals) (Native)
책 일곱 권: Seven books
장: Thin flat objects (paper, pictures, glass, etc.) (Native)
종이 세 장: Three sheets of paper
Counters for People/Animals
마리: Animals/fish/insects (Native)
개 두 마리: Two dogs
명: Number of persons (Native)
직원 네 명: Four employees
살: Years of age (Native)
여덟 살: Eight years old
벌: Clothes (not footwear) (Native)
셔츠 다섯 벌: Five shirts
Food & Drinks
인분: Individual portions (Sino)
불고기 한 인분: One portion/serving of bulgogi
그릇: Bowls of food (Pure)
밥 두 그릇: Two bowls of rice
접시: Plates of food (Pure)
파스타 세 접시: Three plates of pasta
병: Bottles (Native)
맥주 여섯 병: Six bottles of beer
잔: Cups; glasses (for drinks) (Native)
커피 두 잔: Two cups of coffee
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