Korean measure words - Definition and Overview

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

In English, one might 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 열장), literally, "bus ticket ten 'sheets'".

There are two systems of numerals in Korean: Sino-Korean native Korean. Each counter word takes numerals from one of these systems. For instance, Sino-Korean numbers are used with sip gwa (십 과) for 'ten lessons', but native Korean is used with yeol dae (열 대) for 'ten vehicles'. To say yeol gwa (열 과) or sip dae (십 대) would be incorrect.

A few counter words:

• gae (개) -- 'things' in general, can be used if you're not sure which specific counting word to use.
• mari (마리) -- animals
• bun (분) -- people (polite),
• myeong (명),saram (사람) -- people (informal)
• cheung (층) -- floors (of a building)
• gwa (과) -- lessons
• dae (대) -- vehicles, cars
• jan (잔) -- cups and glasses
• byeong (병) -- bottles

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• Chinese measure word
• Japanese counter word