안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo)! Whether you’re scheduling a meeting, making travel plans, or just talking about your daily routine, knowing how to tell time is fundamental in any language, including Korean. While telling time might seem straightforward, it presents unique nuances in Korean, involving a mix of both Native Korean and Sino-Korean number systems, and specific cultural conventions.
In Korean, the way hours, minutes, and even parts of the day are expressed can be quite different from English or other languages. This difference not only lies in the words and numbers used but also in the structure of time-telling expressions. Understanding these nuances is essential for anyone looking to navigate daily life in Korea, engage in conversations, or even watch Korean media without subtitles!
In this blog post, we will dive into the intricacies of telling time in Korean. We’ll explore the different number systems used, the basic structure for expressing time, and some key phrases for asking and telling time. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your Korean language skills, mastering the art of telling time is a step towards greater fluency and cultural understanding.
So, let’s get started and unlock the secrets of telling time in Korean, an essential skill for any Korean language learner!
Telling the time
To tell time in Korean, you need to understand the Korean numbering system and the words used to denote hours, minutes, and seconds. Telling time in Korean requires a grasp of both Native Korean and Sino-Korean number systems, as each plays a distinct role in the time-telling process. Understanding when and how to use these number systems is the first step in accurately conveying time in Korean. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to tell time in Korean but firstly, let’s review the numbers. If you want to review the full lesson on Korean numbers, check out this lesson here.
Native Korean Numbers
| 하나 | One |
| 둘 | Two |
| 셋 | Three |
| 넷 | Four |
| 다섯 | Five |
| 여섯 | Six |
| 일곱 | Seven |
| 여덟 | Eight |
| 아홉 | Nine |
| 열 | Ten |
| 열하나 | Twenty |
| 열둘 | Thirty |
For an ease of pronunciation, the following changes when talking about hours:
- 하나 –> 하
- 둘 –> 두
- 셋 –> 세
- 넷 –> 네
- 열하나 –> 열한
- 열둘 –> 열두
- The Native Korean number system is typically used for counting hours.
- Numbers from 1 to 12 are used to represent the hours of the clock.
- Example: “한 시” (han si) for 1 o’clock, “두 시” (du si) for 2 o’clock, up to “열두 시” (yeoldu si) for 12 o’clock.
Sino-Korean numbers
| 일 | One |
| 이 | Two |
| 삼 | Three |
| 사 | Four |
| 오 | Five |
| 육 or 륙 | Six |
| 칠 | Seven |
| 팔 | Eight |
| 고 | Nine |
| 십 | Ten |
After 10, it is just a combination of these numbers.
- For minutes and seconds, the Sino-Korean number system is used.
- This system is similar to the Chinese numeral system and is used for counting minutes from 1 to 59.
- Example: “삼십 분” (samsip bun) for 30 minutes, “사십오 초” (sasipo cho) for 45 seconds.
Hours
- Start by stating the hour. In Korean, the word for “hour” is “시” (shi – remember if ㅅ is followed by ㅣ it creates shi sound rather than si sound).
- Use the native Korean numbering system to express the hour. For example, 1 o’clock is “한 시”, 2 o’clock is “두 시”, and so on, up to 12 o’clock.
- 한 시 – 1 o’clock
- 두 시 – 2 o’clock
- 세 시 – 3 o’clock
- 네 시 – 4 o’clock
- 다섯 시 – 5 o’clock
- 여섯 시 – 6 o’clock
- 일곱 시 – 7 o’clock
- 여덟 시 – 8 o’clock
- 아홉 시 – 9 o’clock
- 열 시 – 10 o’clock
- 열한 시 – 11 o’clock
- 열두 시 – 12 o’clock
Minutes
- To express the minutes, use the word “분”, which means “minute.”
- Use the Sino-Korean numbers for minutes. For example, 10 minutes past the hour is “십 분”, 25 minutes past the hour is “이십오 분”, and so on.
- 오 분 – 5 Minutes
- 십 분 – 10 Minutes
- 십오 분 – 15 Minutes
- 이십 분 – 20 Minutes
- 이십오 분 – 25 Minutes
- 삼십 분 – 30 Minutes
- 삼십오 분 – 35 Minutes
- 사십 분 – 40 Minutes
- 사십오 분 – 45 Minutes
- 오십 분 – 50 Minutes
- 오십오 분 – 55 Minutes
Combining Hours and Minutes
- To combine hours and minutes, simply put the hour first, followed by “시”, and then the minutes followed by “분” .
- For example, to say “2:30,” you would say “두 시 삼십 분”.
Optional seconds
- If you want to include seconds, use the word “초”, which means “second.”
- Similar to hours and minutes, use the Sino-Korean number system to express the seconds. For example, 15 seconds is “십오 초”.
Remember, when telling time in Korean, it is common to use the 12-hour clock system. However, the 24-hour clock system is also used in formal or official contexts.
Here are a few examples of how to tell time in Korean:
- 1:00: “한 시”
- 8:45: “여덟 시 사십오 분”
- 11:30: “열한 시 삼십 분”
- 3:20: “세 시 이십 분”
If you need to clarify whether it is in the morning or in the afternoon you are talking about you can use one of the following words:
| 오전 | Before noon |
| 오후 | Afternoon |
| 아침 | Morning |
| 저녁 | Evening |
Here are few more words for you to remember:
| 몇 | What |
| 지금 | Now |
| 반 | Half |
| 시간 | Time |
| 시작하다 | Start |
| 끝나다 | End |
| 후 | After |
| 전 | Before |
When asking the time as in “What time is it?”, there are few expressions Korean people use.
- 지금 몇 시예요? – What time is it now? (Literally – What hour is it now?)
- 지금 몇 시 몇 분이에요? – What time is it now? (Less commonly used, perhaps only really used when you need the other person to tell you the exact time right now i.e. not round up or down).
Koreans do not use the word “사간” to ask what time it is. They use this word to ask about someone’s time. For example:
- 지금 시간 있어요? – Do you have time now?
- 내일 시간 있어요? – Do you have time tomorrow?
- 내일 시간 없어요. – I don’t have time tomorrow.
Examples
- 내일 아침에 아홉 시 만나요. – Let’s meet tomorrow morning at 9 o’clock.
- 오후에 네 시 미팅 있어요. – I have a meeting at 4 o’clock in the afternoon.
- 금요일 저녁 일곱 시 삼십 분에 약속이 있어요. – I have an appointment Friday evening at 7:30.
- 지금 몇 시예요? – What time is it?
- 지금 다섯 시 이십 분이에요. – It is 5:20 right now.
- 저녁 여덟 시에 시작해요. – It starts at 8 o’clock in the evening.
- 열 시에 끝나요. – It finishes at 10 o’clock.
Please note how we add the “에” which acts as a time marking or location marking particle. If you want to go through the particle again please check out this lesson here.
With practice, telling time in Korean will become more natural. Keep in mind that pronunciation and intonation are essential in conveying the correct meaning, so pay attention to the accents and rhythm while speaking.
Activity 1
Translate the following times from English to Korean.
- It’s 9:15.
- It’s 2:45.
- It’s 6:20.
- It’s 11:55.
- It’s 4:10.
Activity 2
Translate the following times from Korean to English.
- 열한 시 삼십 분이에요.
- 다섯 시 십오 분입니다.
- 여덟 시 사십 분 전이에요.
- 일곱 시 이십오 분이에요.
- 한 시 반입니다.
Activity 1 Answers
- It’s 9:15. – 아홉 시 십오 분이에요.
- It’s 2:45. – 두 시 사십오 분이에요.
- It’s 6:20. – 여섯 시 이십 분이에요.
- It’s 11:55. – 열한 시 오십오 분이에요.
- It’s 4:10. – 네 시 십 분이에요.
Activity 2 Answers
- 열한 시 삼십 분이에요. – It’s 11:30.
- 다섯 시 십오 분입니다. – It’s 5:15
- 여덟 시 사십 분 전이에요. – It’s before 8:40.
- 일곱 시 이십오 분이에요. – It’s 7:25.
- 한 시 반입니다. – It’s half past 1.
Wrap up
Mastering the skill of telling time in Korean is more than just a linguistic achievement; it’s a practical necessity for anyone immersing themselves in Korean culture, whether for travel, work, or daily interactions. By understanding the nuances of Korean numbers, the structure of time expressions, and how to ask and respond to time-related questions, you’ve added an essential tool to your Korean language toolkit. This knowledge not only aids in your day-to-day activities but also opens up new avenues for engaging with native speakers and understanding Korean media more deeply.
The journey of learning a language is filled with moments of realization and practical application. Telling time in Korean is a perfect example of how language learning connects directly to real-life use, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and everyday communication.
We hope this guide has provided you with a clear and comprehensive understanding of how to tell time in Korean. Practice these skills, listen to how native speakers use them, and soon, you’ll be handling time-related conversations with ease and confidence.
We’d Love to Hear from You:
- How do you practice telling time in Korean?
- Are there any aspects of telling time in Korean that you find particularly challenging or interesting?
- Do you have any tips or experiences to share with fellow learners about learning and using time expressions in Korean?
Your insights and experiences are incredibly valuable. Please share your thoughts, questions, or any interesting anecdotes about your journey in learning to tell time in Korean in the comments below. Let’s continue to learn, share, and grow together in our pursuit of mastering the Korean language.
감사합니다 (Gamsahamnida) for joining us on this journey through time in Korean, and as always, 화이팅 (Hwaiting) in your language learning adventures!