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What This Korean Practice Is About
In Korean, there are two number systems: Sino-Korean numbers and Native Korean numbers. This Korean practice is about learning how to break down and construct large numbers in Korean using Sino-Korean numbers.
Sino-Korean numbers are based on Chinese characters and are used for things like dates, money, addresses, phone numbers, and counting large numbers like 1,234 or 512.
This practice helps you become familiar with how Korean numbers are structured by breaking down different large numbers and seeing how the Sino-Korean numbers fit into those structures.
Place Values in Sino-Korean
Place value refers to the value of a digit based on its position within a number, such as ones, tens, hundreds, thousands and so forth. For example, the place value of 2 in the number 1829 is 2 tens, or 20. However, the place value of 2 in the number 2851 is 2 thousands or 2000.
Below are the names of place values in Sino-Korean:
| Place Value | Sino-Korean Name | Romanization | Number Representation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trillions | 조 | Jo | 1,000,000,000,000 |
| Hundred-Billions | 천억 | Cheoneok | 100,000,000,000 |
| Ten-Billions | 백억 | Baekeok | 10,000,000,000 |
| Billions | 십억 | Sibeok | 1,000,000,000 |
| Hundred-Millions | 억 | Eok | 100,000,000 |
| Ten-Millions | 천만 | Cheonman | 10,000,000 |
| Millions | 백만 | Baekman | 1,000,000 |
| Hundred-Thousands | 십만 | Sipman | 100,000 |
| Ten-Thousands | 만 | Man | 10,000 |
| Thousands | 천 | Cheon | 1,000 |
| Hundreds | 백 | Baek | 100 |
| Tens | 십 | Sip | 10 |
- 조 (jo) is used for the trillions place (1,000,000,000,000s).
- 천억 (cheoneok) is used for the hundred-billions place (100,000,000,000s).
- 백억 (baekeok) is used for the ten-billions place (10,000,000,000s).
- 십억 (sibeok) is used for the billions place (1,000,000,000s).
- 억 (eok) is used for the hundred-millions place (100,000,000s).
- 천만 (cheonman) is used for the ten-millions place (10,000,000s).
- 백만 (baekman) is used for the millions place (1,000,000s).
- 십만 (sipman) is used for the hundred-thousands place (100,000s).
- 만 (man) is used for the ten-thousands place (10,000s).
- 천 (cheon) is used for the thousands place (1,000s).
- 백 (baek) is used for the hundreds place (100s).
- 십 (sip) is used for the tens place (10s).
Notes: In Korean, you don’t need to say “one” (일) for 1,000 (천), 100 (백), 10 (십) etc., it’s understood. So, 천 means 1,000, 백 means 100, and 십 means 10 without adding 일 in front. For example, you wouldn’t say 일천 for 1,000 or 일백 for 100. You only add a number if it’s not one, like 이천 for 2,000 or 오백 for 500. For the “ones place”, you still say 일, so 101 is 백일 and 11 is 십일.
When reading or writing numbers in Sino-Korean, the structure follows a logical progression from the largest place value to the smallest.
Let’s break down the number 15,678:
15,678
- Start with the biggest part, the ten-thousands place. 10,000 in Sino-Korean is 만 (man).
- Then move to the thousands place. 5,000 is 오천 (ocheon), because 오 (o) means 5 and 천 (cheon) means 1,000.
- Move to the hundreds place. 600 is 육백 (yukbaek), where 육 (yuk) is 6, and 백 (baek) means 100.
- Next, check the tens place. 70 is 칠십 (chilsip), with 칠 (chil) meaning 7 and 십 (sip) meaning 10.
- Finally, look at the ones place. 8 is simply 팔 (pal).
So, 15,678 in Korean breaks down like this: 만 (10,000) + 오천 (5,000) + 육백 (600) + 칠십 (70) + 팔 (8) = 만오천육백칠십팔.
This method ensures the number is read from the largest to smallest place value, making it easy to follow.
Now, let’s break down a number like 1,234:
1,234
- Start with the biggest part. 1,000 in Sino-Korean is 천 (cheon).
- Then move to the hundreds place. 200 is 이백 (ibaek), because 이 (i) means 2 and 백 (baek) means 100.
- Next, check the tens place. 30 is 삼십 (samsip). 삼 (sam) is 3, and 십 (sip) means 10.
- Finally, look at the ones place. 4 is simply 사 (sa).
So, 1,234 in Korean breaks down like this: 천 (1,000) + 이백 (200) + 삼십 (30) + 사 (4) = 천이백삼십사.
Now, let’s take a smaller number, like 512:
512
- 500 is 오백 (obaek). Here, 오 (o) means 5, and 백 (baek) is 100.
- 10 is 십 (sip).
- 2 is 이 (i).
So, 512 is: 오백 (500) + 십 (10) + 이 (2) = 오백십이.
By focusing on how each digit in a number corresponds to a specific place value (thousands, hundreds, tens, ones), you’re learning how to properly say and understand large numbers in Korean.
Let’s practice some more!
530
530 = 5 (오) + 100 (백) + 3 (삼) + 10 (십)
→ 500 (오백)
→ 30 (삼십)
So, 530 is represented as 오백삼십 in Korean.
234
234 = 2 (이) + 100 (백) + 3 (삼) + 10 (십) + 4 (사)
→ 200 (이백)
→ 30 (삼십)
→ 4 (사)
So, 234 is represented as 이백삼십사 in Korean.
1,546
1,546 = 1,000 (천) + 5 (오) + 100 (백) + 4 (사) + 40 (사십) + 6 (육)
→ 1,000 (천)
→ 500 (오백)
→ 40 (사십)
→ 6 (육)
So, 1,546 is represented as 천오백사십육 in Korean.
789
789 = 7 (칠) + 100 (백) + 8 (팔) + 10 (십) + 9 (구)
→ 700 (칠백)
→ 80 (팔십)
→ 9 (구)
So, 789 is represented as 칠백팔십구 in Korean.
3,002
3,002 = 3 (삼) + 1,000 (천) + 2 (이)
→ 3,000 (삼천)
→ 2 (이)
So, 3,002 is represented as 삼천이 in Korean.
4,308
4,308 = 4 (사) + 1,000 (천) + 3 (삼) + 100 (백) + 8 (팔)
→ 4,000 (사천)
→ 300 (삼백)
→ 8 (팔)
So, 4,308 is represented as 사천삼백팔 in Korean.
5,671
5,671 = 5 (오) + 1,000 (천) + 6 (육) + 100 (백) + 7 (칠) + 10 (십) + 1 (일)
→ 5,000 (오천)
→ 600 (육백)
→ 70 (칠십)
→ 1 (일)
So, 5,671 is represented as 오천육백칠십일 in Korean.
912
912 = 9 (구) + 100 (백) + 1 (일) + 10 (십) + 2 (이)
→ 900 (구백)
→ 10 (십)
→ 2 (이)
So, 912 is represented as 구백십이 in Korean.
65
65 = 6 (육) + 10 (십) + 5 (오)
→ 60 (육십)
→ 5 (오)
So, 65 is represented as 육십오 in Korean.
2,019
2,019 = 2 (이) + 1,000 (천) + 10 (십) + 9 (구)
→ 2,000 (이천)
→ 10 (십)
→ 9 (구)
So, 2,019 is represented as 이천십구 in Korean.
7,543
7,543 = 7 (칠) + 1,000 (천) + 5 (오) + 100 (백) + 4 (사) + 10 (십) + 3 (삼)
→ 7,000 (칠천)
→ 500 (오백)
→ 40 (사십)
→ 3 (삼)
So, 7,543 is represented as 칠천오백사십삼 in Korean.
358
358 = 3 (삼) + 100 (백) + 5 (오) + 10 (십) + 8 (팔)
→ 300 (삼백)
→ 50 (오십)
→ 8 (팔)
So, 358 is represented as 삼백오십팔 in Korean.
6,007
6,007 = 6 (육) + 1,000 (천) + 7 (칠)
→ 6,000 (육천)
→ 7 (칠)
So, 6,007 is represented as 육천칠 in Korean.
88
88 = 8 (팔) + 10 (십) + 8 (팔)
→ 80 (팔십)
→ 8 (팔)
So, 88 is represented as 팔십팔 in Korean.
10,104
10,104 = 10,000 (만) + 100 (백) + 4 (사)
→ 10,000 (만)
→ 100 (백)
→ 4 (사)
So, 10,104 is represented as 만백사 in Korean.
299
299 = 2 (이) + 100 (백) + 9 (구) + 10 (십) + 9 (구)
→ 200 (이백)
→ 90 (구십)
→ 9 (구)
So, 299 is represented as 이백구십구 in Korean.
4,460
4,460 = 4 (사) + 1,000 (천) + 4 (사) + 100 (백) + 6 (육) + 10 (십)
→ 4,000 (사천)
→ 400 (사백)
→ 60 (육십)
So, 4,460 is represented as 사천사백육십 in Korean.
3,021
3,021 = 3 (삼) + 1,000 (천) + 2 (이) + 10 (십) + 1 (일)
→ 3,000 (삼천)
→ 20 (이십)
→ 1 (일)
So, 3,021 is represented as 삼천이십일 in Korean.
601
601 = 6 (육) + 100 (백) + 1 (일)
→ 600 (육백)
→ 1 (일)
So, 601 is represented as 육백일 in Korean.
9,740
9,740 = 9 (구) + 1,000 (천) + 7 (칠) + 100 (백) + 4 (사) + 10 (십)
→ 9,000 (구천)
→ 700 (칠백)
→ 40 (사십)
So, 9,740 is represented as 구천칠백사십 in Korean.
1,245,678
1,245,678 = 1,000,000 (백만) + 2 (이) + 100,000 (십만) + 4 (사) + 10,000 (만) + 5 (오) + 1,000 (천) + 6 (육) + 100 (백) + 70 (칠십) + 8 (팔)
→ 1,000,000 (백만)
→ 200,000 (이십만)
→ 40,000 (사만)
→ 5,000 (오천)
→ 600 (육백)
→ 70 (칠십)
→ 8 (팔)
So, 1,245,678 is represented as 백만이십만사만오천육백칠십팔 in Korean.
2,100,000
2,100,000 = 2 (이) + 1,000,000 (백만) + 100,000 (십만)
→ 2,000,000 (이백만)
→ 100,000 (십만)
So, 2,100,000 is represented as 이백만십만 in Korean.
5,800,000,000
5,800,000,000 = 5 (오) + 1,000,000,000 (십억) + 8 (팔) + 100,000,000 (억)
→ 5,000,000,000 (오십억)
→ 800,000,000 (팔억)
So, 5,800,000,000 is represented as 오십억팔억 in Korean.
3,000,400,000,000
3,000,400,000,000 = 3 (삼) + 1,000,000,000,000 (조) + 4 (사) + 100,000,000 (억)
→ 3,000,000,000,000 (삼조)
→ 400,000,000 (사억)
So, 3,000,400,000,000 is represented as 삼조사억 in Korean.
Converting Sino-Korean Numbers from Hangeul to Numerical Digits
For each number, read the Hangeul, break it down into parts according to place value, and try writing the number in digits. Don’t worry if it feels tricky—we’ll solve them together below, step by step.
- 오십육 ________
- 이백칠십사 ________
- 천구백팔십오 ________
- 삼천오백구십일 ________
- 구만팔천칠백삼십이 ________
- 육십만삼만사천이백일 ________
- 팔백만이십만칠만구천삼십오 ________
- 사억삼천만이백만칠천구백팔십사 ________
- 오십만육만사천팔백일 ________
- 칠십만팔만삼천이백사십칠 ________
Now, let’s work through these numbers together!
오십육
오 means 5, 십 means 10, and 육 means 6. Together, this is 50 + 6.
Let’s work it out: When you see 십 (10), it acts as a multiplier. So 오십 (50) means “5 tens.” Now add 6.
오십 → 5 tens = 50
육 → 6 ones = 6
Answer: 오십육 = 56
이백칠십사
이 means 2, 백 means 100, 칠 means 7, 십 means 10, and 사 means 4.
Let’s work it out: 백 (100) acts as a multiplier, so 이백 (200) is “2 hundreds.” Then, 칠십 (70) is “7 tens.” Now add 4.
이백 → 2 hundreds = 200
칠십 → 7 tens = 70
사 → 4 ones = 4
Answer: 이백칠십사 = 274
천구백팔십오
천 means 1,000, 구백 means 900, 팔십 means 80, and 오 means 5.
Let’s work it out: 천 (1,000) + 구백 (900) + 팔십 (80) + 오 (5). Piece them together!
천 → 1 thousand = 1,000
구백 → 9 hundreds = 900
팔십 → 8 tens = 80
오 → 5 ones = 5
Answer: 천구백팔십오 = 1,985
삼천오백구십일
삼천 means 3000, 오백 means 500, 구십 means 90, and 일 means 1.
Let’s work it out: You’ve got 3,000 + 500 + 90 + 1. What does that total?
삼천 → 3 thousands = 3,000
오백 → 5 hundreds = 500
구십 → 9 tens = 90
일 → 1 one = 1
Answer: 삼천오백구십일 = 3,591
구만팔천칠백삼십이
구만 means 90,000, 팔천 means 8,000, 칠백 means 700, 삼십 means 30, and 이 means 2.
Let’s work it out: 90,000 + 8,000 + 700 + 30 + 2
구만 → 9 ten-thousands = 90,000
팔천 → 8 thousands = 8,000
칠백 → 7 hundreds = 700
삼십 → 3 tens = 30
이 → 2 ones = 2
Answer: 구만팔천칠백삼십이 = 98,732
육십만삼만사천이백일
육십만 means 600,000 + 삼만 means 30,000 + 사천 means 4,000 + 이백 means 200 + 일 means 1.
Let’s work it out: Combine 600,000 + 30,000 + 4000 + 200 + 1.
육십만 → 6 hundred-thousands = 600,000
삼만 → 3 ten-thousands = 30,000
사천 → 4 thousands = 4,000
이백 → 2 hundreds = 200
일 → 1 one = 1
Answer: 육십만삼만사천이백일 = 634,201
팔백만이십만칠만구천삼십오
팔백만 means 8,000,000, 이십만 means 200,000, 칠만 means 70,000, 구천 means 9,000, 삼십 means 30, and 오 means 5.
Let’s work it out: 8,000,000 + 200,000 + 70,000 + 9,000 + 30 + 5. Breaking it into pieces makes this big number easier to solve.
팔백만 → 8 million = 8,000,000
이십만 → 2 hundred-thousands = 200,000
칠만 → 7 ten-thousands = 70,000
구천 → 9 thousands = 9,000
삼십 → 3 tens = 30
오 → 5 ones = 5
Answer: 팔백만이십만칠만구천삼십오 = 8,279,035
사억삼천만이백만칠천구백팔십사
사억 means 400,000,000, 삼천만 means 30,000,000, 이백만 means 2,000,000, 칠천 means 7,000, 구백 means 900, and 팔십 means 80, and 사 means 4.
Let’s work it out: We’ve got hundreds of millions here—let’s tackle it one step at a time.
사억 → 4 hundred million = 400,000,000
삼천만 → 3 ten-million = 30,000,000
이백만 → 2 million = 2,000,000
칠천 → 7 thousand = 7,000
구백 → 9 hundred = 900
팔십 → 8 tens = 80
사 → 4 ones = 4
Answer: 사억삼천만이백만칠천구백팔십사 = 432,007,984
오십육만사천팔백일
오십만 means 500,000, 육만 means 60,000, 사천 means 4,000, 팔백 means 800, and 일 means 1.
Let’s work it out: Break it down according to place value.
오십만 → 5 hundred-thousands = 500,000
육만 → 6 ten-thousands = 60,000
사천 → 4 thousands = 4,000
팔백 → 8 hundreds = 800
일 → 1 one = 1
Answer: 오십만육만사천팔백일 = 564,801
칠십만팔만삼천이백사십칠
칠십만 means 700,000, 팔만 means 80,000, 삼천 means 3,000, 이백 means 200, 사십 means 40, and 칠 means 7.
Let’s work it out: Piece these parts together for the final number.
칠십만 → 7 hundred-thousands = 700,000
팔만 → 8 ten-thousands = 80,000
삼천 → 3 thousands = 3,000
이백 → 2 hundreds = 200
사십 → 4 tens = 40
칠 → 7 ones = 7
Answer: 칠십만팔만삼천이백사십칠 = 783,247
