How do you count people in Korean?

Use native counter forms + 명: 한 명, 두 명, 세 명. For 20 people say 스무 명.

How do you say 20 people?

Before a counter, 20 becomes 스무: 스무 명, 스무 살. Answer: 스무 명.

Phone numbers and money usually use which system?

Sino-Korean dominates phone numbers, money, minutes, and dates. Answer: Sino-Korean (일 이 삼…).

“Three o’clock” typically uses…

Hours use native + 시: 한 시, 두 시, 세 시… Answer: 세 시.

Free tool

Korean People Counting Practice

Q: How do you say “two people” with the native counter system?

People use 명 with native numbers: 한 명, 두 명, 세 명… Answer: 두 명.

Native Korean with 명 counter (한 명, 두 명…): plus time, money, age, and more.

Browse all number scenarios →

About Korean numbers

Korean uses two number systems: native Korean (하나, 둘, 셋… / counter forms 한, 두, 세…) and Sino-Korean (일, 이, 삼…). Mixing them is one of the most common beginner mistakes. This free tool drills the forms you need in real life: people, time, money, phone digits, floors, and more.

People (명)

Count people with native counter forms + 명: 한 명, 두 명, 세 명. For 20 people say 스무 명 (not 스물 명).

Time

Hours use native + 시 (한 시, 두 시). Minutes use Sino + 분 (십오 분). Combined: 세 시 십오 분.

Phone numbers

Read digit by digit with Sino-Korean. Zero is often 공 in phone numbers.

Money (원)

Prices use Sino-Korean + 원 with place values 십, 백, 천, 만 (삼천 원, 만 원).

Age (살)

Everyday age commonly uses native forms with 살: 한 살, 스무 살, 스물다섯 살. Practice the special counter forms for 1–4 and 20.

Objects and durations

General objects commonly use native + 개. Floors use Sino + 층. For durations, 개월 and 일 are useful Sino-Korean patterns, while everyday Korean also has forms such as 한 달, 하루, and 이틀.

Pick the scenario you actually need and practice that number system with its counter instead of memorizing one giant rule table.