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[Learn Korean Day 5] What Time Is It? Telling Time & Days of the Week


[Learn Korean Day 5] What Time Is It? Telling Time & Days of the Week
How to tell time and days of the week in Korean with Instructor Soona.

Hello, Korean learners! Welcome back to Day 5 with Instructor Soona.


In Days 3 and 4, we learned that Korean has two different number systems: Sino-Korean (일, 이, 삼) and Native Korean (하나, 둘, 셋). You might have wondered, "Why do we need two systems?"


Today, you will find out the answer! Telling time in Korean is very unique because we use both number systems at the exact same time. It might sound tricky, but once you know the secret formula, it becomes incredibly easy.


Let’s learn how to read the clock, AM/PM, and the days of the week!


1. The Secret Formula for Time (시 & 분)


Here is the golden rule for telling time in Korean: Read the HOURS using Native Korean numbers, and the MINUTES using Sino-Korean numbers!


Hours: Native Korean + 시 [si]

Just like we learned in Day 4 with counters, the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 change their shapes slightly before the word '시' (o'clock).

  • 1:00 = 한 시 [han si]

  • 2:00 = 두 시 [du si]

  • 3:00 = 세 시 [se si]

  • 4:00 = 네 시 [ne si]

  • 5:00 = 다섯 시 [da-seot si]


Minutes: Sino-Korean + 분 [bun]

Use the regular Sino-Korean numbers for minutes.

  • 10 min = 십 분 [sip bun]

  • 20 min = 이십 분 [i-sip bun]

  • 30 min = 삼십 분 [sam-sip bun] (You can also say 반 [ban], which means "half")


Let's combine them!

  • 1:10 = 한 시 십 분

  • 3:30 = 세 시 삼십 분 (or 세 시 반)

  • 4:20 = 네 시 이십 분



2. AM and PM (오전 & 오후)

In English, you put AM or PM at the end of the time (e.g., 3:00 PM). In Korean, it is the exact opposite! You must put AM/PM at the very front.

  • 오전 [o-jeon]: AM (Morning)

  • 오후 [o-hu]: PM (Afternoon)

Examples:

  • 10:00 AM = 오전 열 시

  • 2:30 PM = 오후 두 시 반



3. Days of the Week (요일)

Every day of the week ends with the word 요일 [yo-il]. You just need to memorize the first syllable!

  • 월요일 [wo-ryo-il]: Monday

  • 화요일 [hwa-yo-il]: Tuesday

  • 수요일 [su-yo-il]: Wednesday

  • 목요일 [mo-gyo-il]: Thursday

  • 금요일 [geu-myo-il]: Friday

  • 토요일 [to-yo-il]: Saturday

  • 일요일 [i-ryo-il]: Sunday



4. Essential Time Vocabulary

Let's finish up with 6 essential words to talk about your schedule.


1. 지금 [ji-geum]: Now

2. 오늘 [o-neul]: Today

3. 내일 [nae-il]: Tomorrow

4. 어제 [eo-je]: Yesterday

5. 주말 [ju-mal]: Weekend

6. 시간 [si-gan]: Time

Usage Example: "지금 몇 시예요?" (What time is it now?)



5. Soona's Culture Tip: The 12-Hour Daily Life

If you look at train schedules or flight tickets in Korea, you will see the 24-hour clock (e.g., 14:00). However, in daily conversation, Koreans almost exclusively use the 12-hour clock.


Instead of saying "14시 (14 o'clock)," we say "오후 2시 (2 PM)." Even more naturally, Koreans love to use descriptive time words instead of just AM/PM:

  • 아침 [a-chim] (Morning) -> 아침 8시 (8 AM)

  • 저녁 [jeo-nyeok] (Evening) -> 저녁 7시 (7 PM)

  • 밤 [bam] (Night) -> 밤 10시 (10 PM)

So if you want to sound like a true native, try saying "밤 10시" instead of "오후 10시"!



6. Mini Pop Quiz!

Let’s test your memory!


Q1. How do you say "3:20 PM" in Korean?

A) 삼 시 스물 분 오후 B) 오후 세 시 이십 분 C) 오전 세 시 이십 분


Q2. What day of the week is "금요일"?

A) Friday B) Sunday C) Monday


(Answers at the bottom of the page!)



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Quiz Answers: Q1 (B - PM comes first, Native for hours, Sino for minutes), Q2 (A)


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