Counting the Number of Days
Using Number Nouns
Now, we know how to count the days using a counter “일” such as 1일, 2일, 3일, etc. But there is another way to count the days using number nouns. It is typically used when the number of days is within 10 days. So it is easy and simple to count the days using a counter “일” as the number becomes a large number. The numbers marked in red are the nouns that are used commonly, and the others are actually hard to hear from native speakers in daily conversation.
1 = 하루 6 = 엿새
2 = 이틀 7 = 이레
3 = 사흘 8 = 여드레
4 = 나흘 9 = 아흐레
5 = 닷새 10 = 열흘
For example,
1. I studied during two days = 나는 이틀 동안 공부했다.
2. We visited Seoul for a day = 우리는 하루 동안 서울을 방문했습니다.
3. I only drank water for 10 days = 저는 열흘 동안 물만 마셨어요.
Using Sino-Korean numbers with the counter “일”
When you use the counter “일” to count the number of days, it is important to understand the context of the sentence and the case marker.
나는 오일 동안 집에 안 갔어
I did not go home for 5 days. (duration of time)
나는 오일에 집에 안 갔어
I didn’t go home on the fifth day of the month (case marker)
나는 오일을 집에 안 갔어
I did not go home for 5 days. (duration of time)
Also, if you want to express the number of nights, you can use a counter “박.” It can be used to show the length of a short trip.
우리는 1박 2일 동안 제주도에 있었다
(We were on Jeju Island for 1 night and 2 days)
나는 이번 달에 10박 11일 동안 미국으로 떠난다
(I will go to the U.S for 10 nights and 11 days this month)
Counting the Number of Hours, Minutes, and Seconds
As you already have seen in some sample sentences above when you count hours, minutes, and seconds, you usually use the expression “동안” to express the duration of time.
동안 = During, While
1. 10분 동안 = During 10 minutes
2. 5일 동안 = During 5 days
3. 나는 한 시간 동안 공부했다 = I studied for an hour
4. 너가 청소하는 동안 나는 공부할게 = I will study while you clean
5. 너를 기다리는 동안 잠이 들었다 = I fell asleep while I was waiting for you
Counting the Number of Months
We learned how to count January, February, March, etc, for months. But there are two more ways to count the number of months in Korean.
1. Using a counter “달” with the native Korean numbers
2. Using a counter “개월” with the Sino-Korean numbers
Both of them have the same meanings, but they are used differently depending on the situation. So, it is important to recognize and understand what they are and how they are used when you listen to those words in Korean. But, don’t worry, you can use either one in whatever situation. It won’t feel unfamiliar whether you use “달” or “개월”. When you hear some time-related words using “달” and “개월,” then you will notice that they are talking about months.
For example,
1. 3달 (=세 달) 동안 한국어를 배웠습니다
(I learned Korean during 3 months)
2. 3개월 (=삼 개월) 동안 한국어를 배웠습니다
(I learned Korean during 3 months)
3. 한 달만 여기서 지낼 거예요
(I will stay here only for a month)
Counting the Number of Years
Let’s use a counter “년” to count the number of years. You can simply put any number you want and then add the counter “년”.
For example,
1. 저는 5년 동안 친구가 없었어요
(I had not had any friends for 5 years)
2. 10년 동안 같은 집에서 살고 있어요
(I have lived in the same house for 10 years)
If you want to say last year, this year, or next year, you can use the form “지난 (last time), “이번 (this time)”, or “다음 (next time)”. It can also be applied to weeks and months as well such as “이번 주”, “다음 주”, “지난 달”, “다음 달”, etc.
But be careful, Koreans usually don’t say “지난 년”, “이번 년”, or “다음 년”. These forms have no problem grammatically, but Koreans use them with another form to say “last year, this year, and next year” as follows,
1. Last year = 작년
(작년에 멕시코 다녀 왔어 = I visited Mexico last year)
2. This year = 올해
(올해는 계획이 많아요 = I have a lot of plans this year)
3. Next year = 내년
(내년에 한국어 공부를 할 겁니다 = I will study Korean next year)
Counting the Number of Centuries
To count centuries, you can use a counter “세기”. It is not commonly used in daily conversation, but you can see it in some written texts like history books, or articles.
1세기 = 1st century (for one hundred years)
10세기 = 10th century (for one thousand years)
20세기 = 20th century (the year 1901 to 2000)
Instead of saying “1세기”, and “10세기,” Koreans use the equivalent time expression with the counter “년”. So, “1세기” can be used as “백 년” and “10세기” can be “천 년”.
Frequency of TIme
To express the frequency of time or an event, for example, once a week, twice a day, etc, Koreans use the time expressions with the numbers of how many times it is.
Pattern Order : Time expression + -에 (particle) + Number + -번 (counter)
1. 저는 하루에 한 번 운동을 합니다
(I do exercise once a day)
2. 메리는 일주일에 세 번 커피를 마십니다
(Mary drinks coffee three times a week)
3. 우리는 한달에 한 번 영화를 봅니다
(We watch a movie once a month)
Note:
매시간 = every hour
매일 = every day
매주 = every week
매달/매월 = every month
매년 = every year