Numbers and age are common and important topics in Korean conversations, especially when meeting new people. Talking about your age politely and understanding number words will help you connect better and avoid confusion. In this lesson, you’ll learn essential vocabulary, grammar, cultural notes, and practice sentences about numbers and age.
Essential Vocabulary for Numbers and Age
- 몇 (myeot) – How many / what number
- 몇 살이에요? (myeot sar-ieyo?) – How old are you?
- 살 (sal) – Age / years old
- 나이 (nai) – Age (more formal word)
- 같아요 (gat-ayo) – Looks like / seems like
- 어리다 (eori-da) – To be young
- 많다 (man-ta) – To be many / much / old (in age context)
- 하나 (ha-na) – One
- 둘 (dul) – Two
- 셋 (set) – Three
- 넷 (net) – Four
- 다섯 (da-seot) – Five
- 열 (yeol) – Ten
- 스물 (seu-mul) – Twenty
- 서른 (seo-reun) – Thirty
Understanding Korean Numbers
Korean has two sets of numbers: native Korean numbers and Sino-Korean numbers. For counting age, native Korean numbers like 하나, 둘, 셋, etc., are mostly used together with the word 살. For example, 스물다섯 살 (25 years old). Knowing these numbers is important to communicate age correctly.
On the other hand, Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼, 사, 오, ...) are often used for dates, money, addresses, and phone numbers. Mixing these two sets correctly will help you sound natural.
Example Sentences
A: 몇 살이에요?
B: 저는 스물다섯 살이에요.
A: 나이가 많아 보여요!
B: 아니에요, 아직 어려요!
A: 제가 몇 살 같아요?
B: 스물여섯 살 같아요!
A: 올해 몇 살이에요?
B: 올해 서른 살이에요.
Grammar Tips
The phrase “몇 살이에요?” is the standard polite question for asking someone's age. The word “몇” means “how many” or “what number” and is used before “살” to indicate age.
When stating your age, use native Korean numbers plus “살이에요”. Notice that when the noun ends with a consonant, use “이에요”; if it ends with a vowel, use “예요”. For example, “스물다섯 살이에요” (ends with consonant), but “스물여섯 살이에요” is also correct as “살” ends with a consonant.
Cultural Notes About Age
Asking age in Korea is very common and expected in social settings because age affects how people speak to each other, which honorifics to use, and the level of formality.
However, foreigners are often given some flexibility, and Koreans usually don’t expect perfect etiquette from learners. Still, it’s polite to be considerate when asking age, especially for older people.
Also, Koreans use their own age system (한국 나이) which is often one or two years older than international age because they consider the time spent in the womb as age 1 and everyone gains a year on New Year's Day, not on birthdays. For now, just focus on the international age for easier communication.
Useful Expressions and Practice
- 몇 살이에요? – How old are you?
- 저는 스물다섯 살이에요. – I am 25 years old.
- 나이가 많아요. – You look older.
- 아직 어려요. – I’m still young.
- 제가 몇 살 같아요? – How old do I look?
- 스물여섯 살 같아요! – You look 26 years old!
Try to practice these sentences by asking and answering questions with Korean friends or language partners. Use the phrase “몇 살이에요?” often, and don’t be afraid to try guessing ages with “몇 살 같아요?”
Tips for Memorizing Numbers
Learning Korean numbers might seem hard at first because of the two sets, but focusing on native Korean numbers for age will help simplify things. Flashcards, songs, and counting games can be fun ways to memorize numbers quickly.
Watch Korean dramas or variety shows and listen for numbers in conversations to get used to how they are used naturally.
Next Up
In the next lesson, we’ll learn how to talk about time and dates—key for making appointments and scheduling plans.
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