Have you ever felt confused when checking your watch in Korea? You are not alone! Telling time in Korean is one of the trickiest parts for beginners. Why? Because you have to use two different number systems at the same time. It sounds scary, but I promise it is actually quite logical once you see the pattern.
In this guide, we will break down the "Hour" and "Minute" rules into simple steps so you can talk about your daily schedule like a local. Let's get started!
1. The Golden Rule: Hours vs. Minutes
This is the most important thing to remember: Korean uses Native Korean numbers for hours and Sino-Korean numbers (the ones based on Chinese) for minutes. Think of it as a "mix and match" system.
| Category |
Counter Word |
Number System |
| Hours |
Si (시) |
Native Korean (Hana, Dul, Set...) |
| Minutes |
Bun (분) |
Sino-Korean (Il, I, Sam...) |
| Seconds |
Cho (초) |
Sino-Korean (Il, I, Sam...) |
2. Counting the Hours (Native Korean)
When you count hours, you use the word Si (시). However, be careful! Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 20 change their shape slightly when they are followed by a counter word.
How to say the Hours:
- 1:00 → Han-si (not Hana-si)
- 2:00 → Du-si (not Dul-si)
- 3:00 → Se-si (not Set-si)
- 4:00 → Ne-si (not Net-si)
- 5:00 → Dasot-si
- ...and so on!
3. Counting the Minutes (Sino-Korean)
Minutes are much easier because the numbers don't change their shape. Just add Bun (분) after any Sino-Korean number. For 30 minutes, you can also use the word Ban (반), which means "half."
- 10 minutes: Sip-bun (십분)
- 30 minutes: Samsip-bun (삼십분) OR Ban (반)
- 45 minutes: Sasibo-bun (사십오분)
4. AM, PM, and Useful Time Expressions
In Korea, we usually put the time of day before the specific time. Instead of saying "1 PM," we say "Afternoon 1 Hour."
- Ojeon (오전): AM / Morning
- Ohu (오후): PM / Afternoon
- Saebyeok (새벽): Dawn / Early morning
- Bam (밤): Night
Example: Ohu du-si ban (오후 두시 반) = 2:30 PM.
5. Asking "What time is it?"
When you want to ask for the time, you can use this polite phrase:
"Jigeum myeot-si-yeyo?" (지금 몇 시예요?)
Meaning: What time is it now?
PRO TIP
If you are talking about a specific duration (e.g., "It took 2 hours"), you don't use Si (시). Instead, you use Sigan (시간). So, "2 o'clock" is Du-si, but "2 hours" is Du-sigan. Don't mix them up when talking about your travel plans!
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