Korean count word
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Like Chinese and Japanese, Korean uses special measure or counting words to count objects and events, which in Korean are called subullyusa (Hangeul:수분류사 / Hanja: 數分類詞).
In English, one must say, "two sheets of paper" rather than "two papers". In Korean, the term jang (장/張) 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 / 버스 票 열 張), literally, "bus ticket ten 'sheets'". In fact, the meanings of counter words are frequently extended in metaphorical or other image-based ways. For instance, in addition to counting simply sheets of paper, jang in Korean can be used to refer to any number of thin, paper-like objects. Leaves (namunnip 나뭇잎) are counted using this count word. In this way, a particular count word may be used generally in a very open-ended manner and up to the construal or creativity of the speaker.
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 / 열 課) would mean 'ten lessons' while sip gwa (십과/十課) would mean 'lesson ten.' Sino-Korean numerals are used with many (but not all, particularly si (시/時), meaning "hour") time counters.
Examples
Some counter words taking Native Korean numerals:
- gae (개/個) -- 'things' in general, often used as a coverall when the specific count word is unknown, for example by children.
- beol (벌) -- items of clothing
- bun (분) -- people (honorific)
- cheok (척/隻) -- boats and ships
- chae (채) -- houses
- dae (대/臺) -- vehicles (cars, airplanes) and machinery (incl. computers)
- dan (단) -- bunches of Welsh onions, green onions; a column (in a newspaper)
- dong (동/棟) -- buildings
- geuru (그루) -- trees
- gwa (과/課) -- lessons (if paired with Sino-Korean numeral, lesson number)
- gwon (권/券) -- books
- jang (장/張) -- paper
- jaru (자루) -- things with long handles (writing instruments, shovels, swords, and rifles), and by extension, knives and pistols
- jul (줄) -- literal meaning: line. things aligned in a row (gimbap, desks, chairs)
- kyeolle (켤레) -- gloves and socks (pairs)
- mari (마리) -- animals
- myeong (명/名) -- people (informal)
- pil (필/匹) -- uncut fabric, horses, cows
- pogi (포기) -- Chinese cabbages
- pun (푼) -- pennies
- sal (살) -- years
- song-i (송이) -- picked flowers, bunches of grapes, bunches of bananas
- tol (톨) -- grains of rice (not cooked), stones
- tong (통/通) -- letters, telegrams, telephone calls, and e-mail
- tong (통) -- watermelons
- jum (점) -- paintings , sliced or ripped off flesh , small amount of something (cloud, wind)
Some counter words taking Sino-Korean numerals:
- nyeon (년/年) -- year (for dates; 2014년, 1998년)
- wol (월/月) -- month (for dates; 일월: January, 이월: February, ...)
- il (일/日) -- day (for dates)
- gwa (과/課) -- lesson number
- won (원) -- Won
- hagnyeon (학년/學年) -- school year, grade level (2학년: Sophomore, 2nd Grade)
- jum (점/點) -- grade (100점)
Some nouns can also function as counter words:
- byeong (병/甁) -- bottles
- cheung (층/層) -- floors (of a building), layers
- geureut (그릇) -- bowls
- gok (곡/曲) -- songs
- jan (잔/盞) -- cups and glasses
- madi (마디) -- phrases, joints, and musical measures
- saram (사람) -- people (informal)
- tong (통/桶) -- containers, buckets
Some words are used for counting in multiples:
- jeop (접) -- one hundred dried persimmons/garlic
- ko (코) -- twenty dried pollock
- pan (판/板) -- thirty eggs
- son (손) -- two fish (typically mackerels or yellow croaker)
- daseu/taseu (다스/타스) -- dozen (an abbreviated form of the English)
- tot (톳) -- one hundred sheets of laver
