Learn about counting numbers of people
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| In today’s lesson, we will go over counting items. Now, in Korean, there are two systems of numbers that are used. One is the Sino-Korean system which have numbers with Chinese influences and the other is natively Korean. The numbers we will be using today are the native Korean numbers. When you first enter a restaurant, the staff will say 어서 오십시오 (eoseo osipsio) welcoming you. The next most likely question will be 몇 분이세요 (myeot buniseyo)? this means how many people. Let’s listen again. 몇 분이세요 (myeot buniseyo)? And now by syllable, 몇 분-이-세-요 (myeot bu-ni-se-yo)? Let’s break down the components. 몇 (myeot) means how many. 몇 (myeot). The next is 분 (bun) which is an honorific counter for people. 분 (bun). and the last part of the phrase 이세요 (iseyo) is the copula but in a respectful form. 이세요 (iseyo). |
| Literally this means how many people is. Translated, it means how many people are there, in your party is inferred. Now, how do we answer? Let’s start by going over the numbers 1 to 5. 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷, 다섯 (hana, dul, set, net, daseot). One time slowly, it’s 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷, 다섯 (hana, dul, set, net, daseot). And now by syllable 1 하나 (ha-na), 2 둘 (dul), 3 셋 (set), 4 넷 (net), 5 다-섯 (da-seot). And 1 to 5 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷, 다섯 (hana, dul, set, net, daseot). When we add a counter to the end of numbers 1 to 4, 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷 (hana, dul, set, net), they change slightly in pronunciation. Let’s hear it with the counters for people which is 명 (myeong). This counter is the non-honorific counter for people. The non-honorific counter is used because you don’t honor yourself. The honorific counter 분 (bun) is used only when referring to other people. All right, for one person, it’s 한 명 (han myeong). The number 1 is 하나 (hana) but it changed to 한 (han) when we added the counter for people 명 (myeong) at the end. |
| Let’s hear it again slowly. 한 명 (han myeong). This means one person. The number 2 is 둘 (dul). When you add the counter, it changes to 두 명 (du myeong). This means two people. Three or 셋 (set) changes to 세 명 (se myeong). This is three people. And four, 넷 (net) when you add 명 (myeong) changes to 네 명 (ne myeong). This means four people. If you remember the number for five, it’s 다섯 (daseot). This does not change when you add any counters to the end of it. So why don’t you try getting a table for 5 people. It’s 다섯 명 (daseot myeong). If you have more than five people in your party, someone else is bound to speak Korean. So don’t worry too much. |
| Okay. To close our today’s lesson, we’d like for you to practice what you’ve learned. I will provide you with the English equivalent of the phrase and you are responsible for shouting it out loud. You will have a few seconds before I give you the answer. So 화이팅 (hwaiting)! |
| How many people or how many people are in your party - 몇 분이세요 (myeot buniseyo)? |
| One person - 한 명 (han myeong) |
| Two people - 두 명 (du myeong) |
| Three people - 세 명 (se myeong) |
| Four people - 네 명 (ne myeong) |
| Five people - 다섯 명 (daseot myeong) |
| All right, that’s going to do it for today. |
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