Korean count word

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

In English, one must 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 열 장), literally, "bus ticket ten 'sheets'".

There are two systems of numerals in Korean: native Korean and Sino-Korean. Native Korean numerals are used with most counter words. "yeol gwa" (열 과) would mean 'ten lessons' while "sip gwa" (십 과) would mean 'lesson ten.' Sino-Korean numerals are used with many time counters.

Examples

A few counter words:
* beol (벌) -- items of clothing
* bun (분) -- people (polite)
* cheok (척) -- boats and ships
* chae (채) -- houses
* dae (대) -- vehicles (cars, airplanes) and machinery
* dan (단) -- bunches of Welsh onions, green onions
* gae (개) -- 'things' in general, can be used if you're not sure which specific counting word to use.
* geuru (그루) -- trees
* gwa (과) -- lessons
* gwon (권) -- books
* jang (장) -- paper
* jaru (자루) -- things with long handles (writing instruments, shovels, swords, and rifles), and by extension, knives and pistols
* kyeolle (켤레) -- gloves and socks
* mari (마리) -- animals
* myeong (명) -- people (informal)
* pil (필) -- uncut fabric
* pogi (포기) -- Chinese cabbages
* pun (푼) -- pennies
* song-i (송이) -- picked flowers
* song-i (송이) -- bunches of grapes, bunches of bananas
* tol (톨) -- grains of rice (not cooked)
* tong (통) -- letters, telegrams, telephone calls, and e-mail
* tong (통) -- watermelons

Some nouns can also function as counter words:
* byeong (병) -- bottles
* cheung (층) -- floors (of a building), layers
* gok (곡) -- songs
* jan (잔) -- cups and glasses
* madi (마디) -- phrases, joints, and musical measures
* saram (사람) -- people (informal)
* tong (통) -- containers, buckets

Some words are used for counting in multiples:
* jeop (접) -- one hundred dried persimmons
* jul (줄) -- ten eggs
* ko (코) -- twenty octopuses
* pan (판) -- thirty eggs
* son (손) -- two fish (typically mackerels or yellow croakers)
* taseu (타스) -- dozens of pencils
* tot (톳) -- one hundred sheets of lavers

ee also

* List of Korea-related topics
* Measure word