How to Tell Time in Korean? Here’s Everything You Need To Know

Learning to tell time in Korean means getting to know two types of numbers. You use Native Korean numbers for the hours and Sino-Korean numbers for the minutes. It might sound tricky, but it’s pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. This method is important for everyday life in Korea, whether you’re at work or just hanging out with friends.

You’ll need to know how to say ‘시’ for hours and ‘분’ for minutes. Also, understanding AM and PM is key. These details are not just about telling time—they also help you understand Korean culture and language better. Knowing how to tell time in Korean can open up new aspects of the language and customs for you.

Overview of Telling Time in Korean

Telling time in Korean is all about getting the numbers right and knowing how to put together hours and minutes. You need to be good at these to tell time correctly and understand others in everyday talk.

Let’s dive into how these parts work together to help you tell time in Korean.

Hours and Minutes in Korean

In Korean, you need to know two different numbering systems:

1. Native Korean Numbers (used for hours)
2. Sino-Korean Numbers (used for minutes)

When telling the time:

• Hours are followed by ‘시’ (shi).
• Minutes are followed by ‘분’ (bun).

For example, 3:25 is said as ‘세 시 이십오 분’.

Let’s break down these numbering systems.

Native Korean Numbers (for Hours)

These numbers are used to express the hour portion of the time, ranging from 1 to 12.

Examples of Hours:

• 1:00 → 한 시 (han shi)
• 4:00 → 네 시 (ne shi)
• 12:00 → 열두 시 (yeoldu shi)

Sino-Korean Numbers (for Minutes)

These numbers are used to express the minute portion of the time, ranging from 1 to 60.

Examples of Minutes:

• 5 minutes → 오 분 (o bun)
• 15 minutes → 십오 분 (sibo bun)
• 30 minutes → 삼십 분 (samsip bun)

Putting It All Together

To tell time in Korean:

1. Say the hour using the Native Korean number followed by ‘시’ (shi).
2. Say the minutes using the Sino-Korean number followed by ‘분’ (bun).

Examples:

• 3:25 → 세 시 이십오 분 (se shi isibo bun)
• 7:45 → 일곱 시 사십오 분 (ilgop shi sasibo bun)
• 12:10 → 열두 시 십 분 (yeoldu shi sip bun)

Key Points to Remember

1. Native Korean Numbers are for hours (1 to 12).
2. Sino-Korean Numbers are for minutes (1 to 60).
3. Add ‘시’ after the hour and ‘분’ after the minutes.
4. Korean time expressions always follow this pattern: Hour + 시 + Minute + 분.

Also Read: How To Say “Hello” In Korean: 27 Unique Korean Greetings

Expressing Time in Korean

When you’re learning Korean, knowing how to tell time is key. You especially need to get the hang of how they use AM and PM. Let’s break down the words and phrases that’ll help you talk about time clearly.

First up, learning the terms for different parts of the day really matters. Once you’ve got these down, you’ll find it easier to plan and communicate your schedule. So, let’s dive in and start making sense of time in Korean, shall we?

Using AM and PM in Korean

In Korean, it’s important to specify whether it’s AM or PM to clarify the time of day.

• AM: ‘오전 (ojeon)’ → means “before noon”
• PM: ‘오후 (ohu)’ → means “after noon”

Examples:

Note:

• Place ‘오전 (AM)’ or ‘오후 (PM)’ before the hour.
• This helps clearly indicate whether you’re referring to morning or evening.

Describing Times of Day in Korean

Using specific words for different times of day helps make conversations clearer and easier. Here are the key terms:

Examples in Sentences

• 아침에 만나요 (achim-e mannayo) → Let’s meet in the morning.
• 점심에 먹어요 (jeomsim-e meogeoyo) → I eat at noon.
• 저녁에 만나요 (jeonyeog-e mannayo) → Let’s meet in the evening.
• 밤에 공부해요 (bam-e gongbuhaeyo) → I study at night.

Key Points to Remember

• AM/PM Usage:
  • AM = 오전 (ojeon)
  • PM = 오후 (ohu)
• Time Structure:
  • AM/PM + Hour + 시 + Minutes + 분
• Times of Day Vocabulary:
  • 아침 (morning), 점심 (noon), 오후 (afternoon), 저녁 (evening), 밤 (night)

Also Read: 35+ Ways To Say “Cute” In Korean [Formal & Informal]

Common Phrases for Time in Korean

Asking for the Time

• General Question:
  • ‘지금 몇 시예요?’ (Jigeum myeot siyeyo?) → What time is it now?
• Asking for a Specific Time of Day:
  • ‘지금 오전 몇 시예요?’ (Jigeum ojeon myeot siyeyo?) → What time is it in the morning?
  • ‘지금 오후 몇 시예요?’ (Jigeum ohu myeot siyeyo?) → What time is it in the afternoon?

Discussing Time in Everyday Conversations

• Basic Question:
  • ‘몇 시예요?’ (Myeot siyeyo?) → What time is it?
• More Specific Question:
  • ‘지금 몇 시예요?’ (Jigeum myeot siyeyo?) → What time is it now?
• Setting Up a Meeting:
  • ‘몇 시에 만날까요?’ (Myeot sie mannalkkayo?) → What time shall we meet?
• Responding to a Meeting Time:
  • ‘세 시에 만나요.’ (Se sie mannayo.) → Let’s meet at three o’clock.

Conclusion

Knowing how to tell time in Korean is a big step in getting the hang of the language and its culture. This skill helps you talk better and connects you deeper with Korean traditions, where time is key.

When you learn to say the hours, minutes, and seconds in Korean, you’re set for daily activities, from planning meetings to hanging out with friends. Plus, it sheds light on cultural habits like being on time. Keep visiting the Translation Blog for more translation articles like this.