Korean count word

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Like Japanese and Chinese, Korean uses special measure or counting words to count objects and events.

In English, one must say, "two sheets of paper" rather than "two papers". In Korean, the term jang (장) is used to count sheets, or paper-like material in general. So "ten bus tickets" would be beoseu pyo yeol jang (버스 표 열 장), literally, "bus ticket ten 'sheets'".

There are two systems of numerals in Korean: native Korean and Sino-Korean. Native Korean numerals are used with most counter words. yeol gwa (열 과) would mean 'ten lessons' while sip gwa (십 과) would mean 'lesson ten.' Sino-Korean numerals are used with many time counters.

[edit] Examples

A few counter words:

beol (벌) -- items of clothing
bun (분) -- people (polite)
cheok (척) -- boats and ships
chae (채) -- houses
dae (대) -- vehicles (cars, airplanes) and machinery
dan (단) -- bunches of Welsh onions, green onions
gae (개) -- 'things' in general, can be used if you're not sure which specific counting word to use.
geuru (그루) -- trees
gwa (과) -- lessons
gwon (권) -- books
jang (장) -- paper
jaru (자루) -- things with long handles (writing instruments, shovels, swords, and rifles), and by extension, knives and pistols
kyeolle (켤레) -- gloves and socks
mari (마리) -- animals
myeong (명) -- people (informal)
pil (필) -- uncut fabric
pogi (포기) -- Chinese cabbages
pun (푼) -- pennies
song-i (송이) -- picked flowers
song-i (송이) -- bunches of grapes, bunches of bananas
tol (톨) -- grains of rice (not cooked)
tong (통) -- letters, telegrams, telephone calls, and e-mail
tong (통) -- watermelons