Native Korean numbers (하나…열)

Counters for age (살), objects, hours (native hour system).

What you will learn

Pair native numbers with counters, use short forms, express age and o’clock time.

Steps

Drill 하나…열 until automatic.
한 개/두 명/세 마리 before counters.
…살 for age (note 스무 살).
한 시… with 시; minutes often Sino.

Tasks

Inventory room with counters; write three family sentences.

Common mistakes

일 개 vs 한 개.
Mixing number systems.

Study rhythm: Skim “Native Korean numbers (하나…열)” for structure, then re-read aloud. Fifteen-minute sessions usually beat one long cram when you are learning Korean from scratch.

Hands-on: Write three new sentences (do not copy the examples) using this pattern. When you learn Korean, forcing fresh sentences shows gaps early.

Listening: Pair this lesson with any short clip whose Korean subtitles reuse the same grammar. Notice endings in interviews versus narrators — the same rule may sound softer or stiffer.

Examples & practice: mini conversation

Read across: English meaning → Korean sentence → romanization (Konglish-style pronunciation guide, not official MR).

Speaker	English	Korean	Romanization
시장 아주머니	귤 다섯 개에 천 원만 받을게.	gyul daseot gae-e cheon won-man badeulgge.	gyul daseot gae-e cheon won-man badeulge.
손님	Daseot… that’s native five before 개?	다섯이 ‘하나 둘’ 쪽 숫자죠?	daseot-i hana dul jjok sudsjayo?
시장 아주머니	Right—사과 두 개, 연어 한 명, 그런 식.	네, 두 개, 세 명—그렇게 써요.	ne, du gae, se myeong—geureoke sseoyo.
손님	So I don’t say 일 개 for one apple?	사과 한 개 말고 ‘일 개’ 안 해요?	sagwa han gae malgo il gae an haeyo?
시장 아주머니	Usually 한 개. 일 개 sounds like math class.	보통 한 개. 일 개는 시험 문제 같아요.	botong han gae. il gaeneun siheom munje gatayo.
손님	Throw in six more tangerines—여섯 개요?	귤 여섯 개 더 주세요!	gyul yeoseot gae deo juseyo!