The Korean language uses special measure or counting words for specific objects and events.[1] These suffixes are called subullyusa (수분류사; 數分類詞) in Korean. They are similar to the ones employed in the Chinese and the Japanese languages.

In English it is "two sheets of paper", not "two papers". Analogously, in Korean jang (장/) is used to count sheets or anything that is a paper-like material, for example "ten bus tickets" is beoseu pyo yeol jang (버스 표 열 장 / 버스 票 열 張), literally, "bus ticket ten 'sheets'". In fact, the meanings of counter words are frequently extended in metaphorical or other image-based ways. For instance, in addition to counting simply sheets of paper, jang in Korean can be used to refer to any number of thin, paper-like objects. Leaves (namunnip 나뭇잎) are counted using this count word. In this way, a particular count word may be used generally in a very open-ended manner 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, and usually count the number of an object, while Sino-Korean numerals are generally used for indicating a specific object in series, such as a specific lesson in a book, as well as monetary units and scientific measurements. Sometimes both types of numerals may be used, usually native Korean numerals indicating a quantity and Sino-Korean numerals indicating an ordinal. For example, yeol gwa (열 과 / 열 課) would mean 'ten lessons' while sip gwa (십과/十課) would mean 'lesson ten.' There are exceptions, such as native Korean numbers being used with , meaning "hour of the day". Additionally some counters (mostly those associated with traditional units) modify the pronunciation and spelling of the numerals that precede it, most notably 6월 is 유월 and 10월 is 시월.

List of count words

Some count words take native Korean numerals:

HangulHanjaRRMRUsage
가구家口gagukakufamilies (ie. 10 households live on this cul-de-sac)
gaekae'things' in general, often used as a coverall when the specific count word is unknown (for example, by children)
개국個國gaegukkaegukcountries
개소個所gaesokaesoplaces
geonkŏncases, matters, documents
고랑gorangkorangridges/furrows made for planting crops
gwakwalessons (if paired with Sino-Korean numeral, lesson number)
gukucorpses
군데gundekundeplaces
gwonkwŏnbooks
그루geurukŭrutrees, shrubs
다발dabaltabalbunches of flowers or plants
dantanbunches of Welsh onions, green onions, newspaper columns
daetaevehicles (cars, airplanes, etc.) and machinery (incl. computers)
dongtongbuildings
마리marimarianimals
maemaesheets of paper, photos, stamps, etc.
myeongmyŏngpeople (informal)
모금mogeummogŭmmouthfuls (of liquid or gas)
munmuncannons, big guns
바퀴bakripak'witimes circling around an area
balpalbullets, shells, arrows, etc.
발짝baljjakpaljjaksteps
bangpangshots fired from a gun or cannon; number of times explosives are set; jabs; photos shot; farts
baepaeglass of (usually alcoholic) beverages
beonpŏntimes a task is done
beolpŏlitems of clothing
bupucopies of printed material
bunpunpeople (honorific)
ppyeomppyŏmhand spans
salsalyears old (generally avoided when using honorifics)
송이song-isongipicked flowers, bunches of fruit (grapes, bananas, etc.)
susuturns taken in Janggi or Go
susupoems, songs; also animals
sulsulspoonfuls of food
sisihour (of the day)
시간時間sigansiganhours (in length)
alalsmall, round objects (especially fruits) or grains
옴큼omkeumomk'ŭmhandfuls
자루jarucharuthings with long handles (writing instruments, shovels, swords, and rifles), and by extension, knives and pistols
jangchangthin, flat objects (such as sheets of paper, glass, steel)
jeongchŏngtablets of medicine
jeomchŏmartworks, very small amounts, pieces of sliced or ripped-off flesh, drops of rain, stones in the game of Go on the board or captured from the opponent, or wisps of clouds or wind
jechedosage of traditional medicine
julchullines or things aligned in a row (kimbap, desks, chairs, etc.)
jjokjjokpieces
chaech'aehouses (also buildings, large objects, furniture, blankets)
cheokch'ŏkboats and ships
cheopch'ŏppacks of Korean herbal medicine
tangt'angnumber of times doing something, especially number of trips made
tolt'olgrains
tongt'ongletters, telegrams, telephone calls, e-mails, documents
tongt'ongwatermelons
panp'annumber of games won or lost
pyeonp'yŏnbooks, literary works, movies, plays, etc.
포기pogip'ogiChinese cabbages
punp'unpennies
pilp'iluncut fabric, horses
필지筆地piljip'iljifields, housing sites, etc.
haehaeearth's revolutions around the sun

Some count words take Sino-Korean numerals:

HangulHanjaRRMRUsage
개년個年gaenyeonkaenyŏnyears
개월個月gaewolkaewŏlmonths
gwakwalesson number (native Korean for number of lessons)
gyokyonumber of times a draft has been proofread
교시校時gyosikyosiclass number, class period number
nyeonnyŏnyear (for dates; 2014년, 1998년)
mumuties (in a game)
beompŏmpenalties for a major crime
bunpunminute (of an hour)
bulpuldollar
seoksŏkseats
seonsŏnnumber of times elected to office; which term in a sequence a person has been in office
seungsŭngvictories (in sports)
silsilrooms
wonwŏnwon
wolwŏlmonth (for dates; 일월: January, 이월: February, ...; note that 6월 is written/pronounced 유월 and 10월 is likewise 시월)
wiwiof rank or order (e.g. 1위 = first rank or order)
ililday (for dates)
jeomchŏmgrade (100점)
jochoarticle or clause
주기周忌jugichugiyears since a person's death (used on that death's anniversary)
주일週日ju-ilchuilweeks
jipchippublication number (e.g. Opus number, album, magazine issue)
choch'osecond (of a minute)
chokch'okcandela
chonch'ondegree of kinship; also a short unit of measurement, comparable to an inch
tant'annumber of a work in a series
hohohouses
hoehoenumber of times

Some nouns can also function as counter words:

HangulHanjaRRMRUsage
gokkoksongs
그릇geureutkŭrŭtbowls
byeongpyŏngbottles
마디madimadiphrases, joints, musical measures, words
사람saramsarampeople (informal)
상자箱子sangjasangjaboxes
janchancups and glasses
cheungch'ŭngfloors (of a building), layers
tongt'ongcontainers, buckets

Some words are used for counting in multiples:

HangulHanjaRRMRUsage
geupkŭp20 fish
다스daseutasŭdozen (abbreviated from English)
보루boruporubundle of 10 packs of cigarettes[notes 1]
바리baripari2,000 fish
sonsonhandfuls of fish (2 large, 4-5 small), typically mackerels or yellow croakers
우리uriuri2,000 tiles
jeopchŏp100 fruits (for example, dried persimmons), radishes, cabbages, or bulbs of garlic
jokchokpairs (for items likes socks, shoes, gloves, etc.)
chukch'uk20 cuttlefish
켤레kyeollek'yŏllepairs of socks, shoes, gloves
kok'otwenty dried pollock
tat'adozen
tott'otone hundred sheets of laver
panp'anthirty eggs

See also

Notes

  1. Typically, there are 20 cigarettes in a pack, and 10 packs in a bundle. 담배 스무 개비 = 담배 한 갑(匣), 담배 열 갑 = 담배 한 보루

References

  1. Martin, Samuel Elmo (2006). A reference grammar of Korean = Hanguo yu wen fa zong jian = Hanʼgugŏ munpŏp chʻongnam : a complete guide to the grammar and history of the Korean language. Clarendon, Vt.: Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 0-8048-3771-6. OCLC 496704267.


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