Numbers

Pure Korean Numbers

Pure Korean numbers do not have HanJa representations.  They are generally not used in genealogies.

Table 3.1  Pure Korean Numbers

HanGul Pronunciation Number
하나 HaNa 1
둘 Dul 2
셋 Saet 3
넷 Naet 4
다섯 DaSeot 5
여섯 YeoSeot 6
일곱 IlGop 7
여덟 YeoDeolp 8
아홉 AHop 9
열 Yeol 10
스물 SeuMul 20
서른 SeoReun 30
마흔 MaHeun 40
쉰 Swin 50
예순 YaeSun 60
일흔 IlHeun 70
여든 YeoDeun 80
아흔 AHeun 90

 

HanJa Numbers

HanJa numbers are used in genealogies to represent dates, page numbers, book volume numbers, number of sons and daughters, and generations.  Interestingly, some of the more complex versions of HanJa numbers below were used instead of the simple versions to make it harder to modify numbers fraudulently in important documents, like records of financial transactions.  They are also found in some genealogical records.  50 thru 90 were generally not used in Korea, but they were used in China – they are included just in case you run into records with them.

Table 3.2  HanJa Numbers

HanJa HanGul Pronunciation Number
零 or 〇 영 or공 Yeong or Gong 0
一 or 壹 or 壱 일 Eel 1
二 or 貳 or 弍 이 Ee 2
三 or 叁 or 參 or 参 삼 Sam 3
四 or 肆 사 Sa 4
五 or 伍 오 Oh 5
六 or 陸 육 Yuk 6
七 or 柒 칠 Chil 7
八 or 捌 팔 Pal 8
九 or 玖 구 Gu 9
十 or 拾 십 Ship 10
廿 or 卄 or 念 입 Ip 20
卅 삽 Sap 30
卌 십 Ship 40
 圩 50
 圓 60
 進 70
 枯 80
 樺 90
百 or 佰 백 Baek 100
千 or 阡 천 Cheon 1,000
萬 만 Man 10,000

 

Here are some examples of how these HanJa characters can be used to represent numbers:

Table 3.3  Examples of HanJa Numbers

HanJa Literal Translation Number
十 10 10
十六 10 + 6 16
二十 2  10’s 20
二十六 (2  10’s) + 6 26
百 100 100
百二十六 100 + (2  10’s) + 6 126
二百 2  100’s 200
二百二十六 (2  100’s) + (2  10’s) + 6 226

 

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