Korean count word
Like Chinese and Japanese, Korean uses special measure or counting words to count objects and events, in Korean: 수분류사 (數分類詞).
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'". In fact, the meanings of counter words are frequently extended in metaphorical or other image-based ways (Lakoff, 1987). For instance, in addition to counting simply sheets of paper, jang (장) in Korean can used to refer to any number of thin, paper-like objects. Leaves (namunnip 나뭇잎) are counted using this count word. In this way, the ways in which a particular count word can be used is generally very open-ended and up to the construal or creativity of the speaker.
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.
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 (incl. computers)
- dan (단) -- bunches of Welsh onions, green onions
- dong (동) -- buildings
- 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
- sal (살) -- years (with Native Korean cardinals)
- se (세) -- years (with Sino-Korean cardinals)
- song-i (송이) -- picked flowers, bunches of grapes, bunches of bananas
- tol (톨) -- grains of rice (not cooked), stones
- tong (통) -- letters, telegrams, telephone calls, and e-mail
- tong (통) -- watermelons
Some nouns can also function as counter words:
Some words are used for counting in multiples:
- jeop (접) -- one hundred dried persimmons
- jul (줄) -- ten eggs
- ko (코) -- twenty dried pollacks
- pan (판) -- thirty eggs
- son (손) -- two fish (typically mackerels or yellow croakers)
- taseu (다스) -- dozens of pencils
- tot (톳) -- one hundred sheets of lavers
See also