Learn Korean Numbers 1–10 and Count Everyday Objects
Master native Korean numbers 하나 to 열, learn when to use them, and practice counting fingers, books, and other items with simple sentences.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
Learn native Korean numbers one to ten, then use them with the counters in the recordings: 개 for individual objects such as apples, and 명 for people. Korean also has a Sino-Korean number system; the appropriate choice depends on what you count. This lesson focuses on small everyday quantities with these counters. Listen to the apple and friend questions, then answer with the exact recorded quantities.
By the end, you can…
- say the native Korean numbers 1 through 10.
- count common objects using basic counters like 개 and 명.
- ask 'how many' and answer with a number and counter.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
하나, 둘, 셋, 넷, 다섯
one, two, three, four, five
ha-na, dul, set, net, da-seot
The basic native Korean numbers 1–5. Use them when counting items in everyday speech.
여섯, 일곱, 여덟, 아홉, 열
six, seven, eight, nine, ten
yeo-seot, il-gop, yeo-deol, a-hop, yeol
The native Korean numbers 6–10. Together with the first five, these complete the set 1–10.
사과 세 개
three apples
sa-gwa se gae
Noun + number + counter. Here 개 is the general counter for objects. Note that 셋 becomes 세 before a counter.
친구 두 명
two friends
chin-gu du myeong
명 is the counter for people. 두 is the combining form of 둘 before a counter.
몇 개 있어요?
How many are there?
myeot gae i-sseo-yo?
A common question using 몇 (how many) + 개 (counter) + 있어요 (there are/exist).
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To count objects, use the pattern: noun + number + counter. The number comes before the counter, and the counter comes before the verb or at the end of the phrase. For example: 책 세 권 (three books), where 권 is the counter for books. When the number is 하나, 둘, 셋, or 넷, it changes form before a counter: 하나 becomes 한, 둘 becomes 두, 셋 becomes 세, 넷 becomes 네. So you say 사과 한 개 (one apple), not 사과 하나 개. For numbers 5–10, the form stays the same: 사과 다섯 개 (five apples).
When to use it
This lesson uses native Korean numbers with the everyday counters 개 for objects, 명 for people, 권 for books, 잔 for cups and 마리 for animals. The noun and context determine the counter. For example, 커피 두 잔 주세요 means two cups of coffee, please. Other counting tasks use the Sino-Korean system, including dates, money and minutes. Practice the apple and friend quantities here before moving to those separate topics.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
사과 몇 개 있어요?
How many apples are there?sa-gwa myeot gae i-sseo-yo?사과 세 개 있어요.
There are three apples.sa-gwa se gae i-sseo-yo.친구도 몇 명 있어요?
And how many friends are there?chin-gu-do myeot myeong i-sseo-yo?친구 두 명 있어요.
There are two friends.chin-gu du myeong i-sseo-yo.A little context goes a long way
Choose the number system for the thing you are counting: this lesson practices native numbers with everyday counters, while dates, money and minutes use Sino-Korean numbers. 명 is a standard counter for people. To count people respectfully, such as teachers or elders, use the honorific counter 분: 선생님 두 분 means two teachers. The counter and the polite sentence ending serve different purposes.
One thing to watch for
Using the number 하나 before a counter without changing it, as in 사과 하나 개.
Try this instead: Change the number to its combining form before a counter: 사과 한 개 (one apple). Similarly, 둘 becomes 두, 셋 becomes 세, 넷 becomes 네. So say 친구 두 명 (two friends), not 친구 둘 명.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'four books' in Korean? (Use the counter 권 for books.)
Show a sample answer
책 네 권
The number 넷 changes to 네 before the counter 권. The pattern is noun + number + counter. Alternative: 책 네 권이에요 is also correct in a full sentence.
2What is the native Korean number for 7?
Show a sample answer
일곱
일곱 is the native Korean number for 7. It does not change form before a counter, so you can say 사과 일곱 개 (seven apples).
3Translate: 'There are five apples.' Use the general object counter 개.
Show a sample answer
사과 다섯 개 있어요.
다섯 (five) stays the same before 개. The pattern is noun + number + counter + 있어요. Use 개 for individual apples; 잔 counts cups or glassfuls of a drink.
4Say the native numbers from one to ten without looking. Then give the forms of one, two, three and four before 개.
Show a sample answer
하나, 둘, 셋, 넷, 다섯, 여섯, 일곱, 여덟, 아홉, 열. Before 개: 한 개, 두 개, 세 개, 네 개.
Check your sequence with the first two recordings. When a counter follows, 하나, 둘, 셋 and 넷 change to 한, 두, 세 and 네. Count aloud once using the full forms, then say the four counter phrases.
5Listen to the four dialogue lines. How many apples and how many friends are mentioned? Answer in English, then say B’s two complete Korean replies after their matching questions.
Show a sample answer
Three apples and two friends. 사과 세 개 있어요. 친구 두 명 있어요.
A first asks 사과 몇 개 있어요? and B answers about apples. A then asks 친구도 몇 명 있어요? and B answers about friends. Match 세 개 to apples and 두 명 to friends. Replay each question before giving its answer; do not combine the quantities into one total. Use the existing dialogue buttons: play A’s question, pause, speak B’s reply yourself, then play B’s recorded line to check. No additional recording is needed.
Recall the native numbers one to ten, then use 한, 두, 세 and 네 before the taught counters. Finish by answering the recorded apple and friend questions: three apples with 세 개, and two friends with 두 명.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Korean into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr