Korean Counters: 개, 명, 잔, 마리, and Other Essential Units

In English, you can say "three apples" or "two people" by placing a number directly before a noun. In Korean, you usually need a counter, a small unit word that tells what kind of thing you are counting. English has a few similar words, like "a cup of coffee" or "two sheets of paper," but Korean uses counters much more often.

The basic pattern

The standard order is: noun + number + counter.

• 사과 두 개

  [sagwa du gae]

  two apples

• 학생 세 명

  [haksaeng se myeong]

  three students

• 커피 한 잔

  [keopi han jan]

  one cup of coffee

Most everyday counters use native Korean numbers, in their shortened forms: 한, 두, 세, 네, 다섯, and so on.

The all-purpose counter: 개

개 counts general objects. When in doubt, many learners use 개, and it is often acceptable in casual speech.

• 이거 한 개 주세요.

  [igeo han gae juseyo]

  One of these, please.

• 가방이 두 개 있어요.

  [gabangi du gae isseoyo]

  I have two bags.

Counting people: 명 and 분

명 counts people. For respect, especially in restaurants and service situations, 분 is used instead.

• 친구 네 명이 왔어요.

  [chingu ne myeongi wasseoyo]

  Four friends came.

• 몇 분이세요?

  [myeot buniseyo]

  How many people are in your party? (staff to customers)

• 두 명이요.

  [du myeongiyo]

  Two people.

When staff ask 몇 분이세요, answering with 명 is natural, because you do not use honorific counters for your own group.

Drinks and food

• 잔: cups or glasses
• 병: bottles
• 그릇: bowls
• 인분: servings or portions (uses Sino-Korean numbers)

• 아메리카노 두 잔 주세요.

  [amerikano du jan juseyo]

  Two Americanos, please.

• 물 한 병 주세요.

  [mul han byeong juseyo]

  One bottle of water, please.

• 삼겹살 삼 인분 주세요.

  [samgyeopsal sam inbun juseyo]

  Three servings of pork belly, please.

Note that 인분 uses Sino-Korean numbers, so you say 이 인분, 삼 인분. At Korean barbecue restaurants, meat is often ordered this way, and many places require a minimum of two servings.

Animals, books, and more

• 마리: animals, fish
• 권: books, notebooks
• 장: flat things such as paper, tickets, photos
• 대: machines and vehicles
• 벌: sets of clothes
• 켤레: pairs of shoes or socks

• 강아지 한 마리를 키워요.

  [gangaji han marireul kiwoyo]

  I have one puppy.

• 책을 세 권 샀어요.

  [chaegeul se gwon sasseoyo]

  I bought three books.

• 표 두 장 주세요.

  [pyo du jang juseyo]

  Two tickets, please.

• 차가 한 대 있어요.

  [chaga han dae isseoyo]

  I have one car.

Time and frequency

• 번: times, occurrences
• 살: age in years
• 시간: hours of duration

• 한국에 두 번 가 봤어요.

  [hanguge du beon ga bwasseoyo]

  I've been to Korea twice.

• 세 시간 걸려요.

  [se sigan geollyeoyo]

  It takes three hours.

Counters without the noun

In conversation, when the noun is clear, Koreans drop it and use only the number and counter.

• 몇 개 필요해요?

  [myeot gae piryohaeyo]

  How many do you need?

• 다섯 개요.

  [daseot gaeyo]

  Five.

Tips for learning counters

• Learn the counter together with the thing: 커피 한 잔, 책 한 권, 표 한 장.
• Start with 개, 명, 잔, 병, 마리, and 장. They cover most daily situations.
• Notice the few counters that use Sino-Korean numbers, like 인분, 분 (minutes), and 층 (floors).

Counters may seem like an extra step, but they make Korean precise and expressive. With a few core counters, you will handle shopping, eating out, and small talk with ease.