But wait - two number systems? That's right! While it may seem daunting, learning both systems is essential to mastering the language. Before Hangul was created, Korea used Chinese characters, the Sino-Korean number system is a remnant of that history. But don't worry, we've got you covered.
We'll take it one step at a time so you are not overwhelmed and can fit these bite-sized lessons into your busy life! Let's dive right into the first lesson and learn how to count from 0 - 10 in Sino-Korean!
| Number | Sino-Korean | Romanisation |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 영 (공) |
Yung (Gong) |
| 1 | 일 | il |
| 2 | 이 | ee |
| 3 | 삼 | sam |
| 4 | 사 | sa |
| 5 | 오 | oh |
| 6 | 육 | yuk |
| 7 | 칠 | chil |
| 8 | 팔 | pal |
| 9 | 구 | gu |
| 10 | 십 | sib |
Here is a recording of all the numbers from 0-10. Try reading along!