Korean count word

Like Chinese and Japanese, Korean uses special measure or counting words to count objects and events, in Korean: 수분류사 (數分類詞).

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'". In fact, the meanings of counter words are frequently extended in metaphorical or other image-based ways (Lakoff, 1987). For instance, in addition to counting simply sheets of paper, jang (장) in Korean can used to refer to any number of thin, paper-like objects. Leaves (namunnip 나뭇잎) are counted using this count word. In this way, the ways in which a particular count word can be used is generally very open-ended 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) 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 (incl. computers)
dan (단) -- bunches of Welsh onions, green onions
dong (동) -- buildings
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
sal (살) -- years (with Native Korean cardinals)
se (세) -- years (with Sino-Korean cardinals)
song-i (송이) -- picked flowers, bunches of grapes, bunches of bananas
tol (톨) -- grains of rice (not cooked), stones
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
geureut (그릇) -- bowls
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 dried pollackss
pan (판) -- thirty eggs
son (손) -- two fish (typically mackerels or yellow croakers)
taseu (다스) -- dozens of pencils
tot (톳) -- one hundred sheets of lavers

Examples

See also