Count on yourself
Start with five useful numbers.
Korean has two number systems. These are native Korean numbers used for counting. Before counters, 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷 become 한, 두, 세, 네. By the end, you will be able to recognize and practise 5 useful expressions for this situation.
5 expressions to use in context
Read the Korean first. Romanization is an approximate reading aid, so return to the Hangul spelling and use the Listen button in the interactive lesson when you want to hear your device’s Korean voice.
| Korean | Romanization | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 하나 | hana | One |
| 둘 | dul | Two |
| 셋 | set | Three |
| 넷 | net | Four |
| 다섯 | daseot | Five |
How to make this lesson stick
- Picture the situation. Korean has two number systems. These are native Korean numbers used for counting. Before counters, 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷 become 한, 두, 세, 네.
- Say one line at a time. Read the Hangul, check the meaning, then repeat without looking at the English.
- Change the order. Recall the Korean from a randomly chosen English meaning instead of memorizing the table sequence.
- Use the interactive lesson. Listen, save useful expressions, and answer the short review questions.
Check your recall
Try to say each Korean expression before opening the answer. A correct answer means more when you can also picture when you would use it.
One
하나
hana
Two
둘
dul
Three
셋
set
Four
넷
net
Five
다섯
daseot
Language note
English meanings describe the use in this lesson rather than every possible translation. Politeness and nuance can change with the relationship and situation. For dictionary pronunciation, definitions and more examples, consult the National Institute of Korean Language Korean–English Learners’ Dictionary.
Use the phrase before you forget it.
Open the interactive version to listen and test yourself. No account is required.
Practise this lesson →