Korean measure words
Like Japanese and Chinese, Korean uses special measure or counting words to count objects and events.
In English, one might say, "two sheets of paper" rather than "two papers". In Korean, the term jang (장) is used to count sheets, or paper-like material in general. So "ten bus tickets" would be beoseu pyo yeol jang (버스 표 열 장), literally, "bus ticket ten 'sheets'".
There are two systems of numerals in Korean: native Korean and Sino-Korean. Native Korean numerals are used with counter words. yeol gwa (열 과) would mean 'ten lessons' while sip gwa (십 과) would mean 'lesson ten.'
Examples
A few counter words:
- gae (개) -- 'things' in general, can be used if you're not sure which specific counting word to use.
- bun (분) -- people (polite),
- myeong (명) -- people (informal)
- mari (마리) -- animals
- jang (장) -- paper
- gwa (과) -- lessons
- dae (대) -- vehicles (cars, airplanes) and machinery
- gweon (권) -- books
- geuru (그루) -- trees
- jaru (자루) -- things with long handles (writing instruments, shovels, swords, and rifles), and by extension, pistols
- kyeolle (켤레) -- socks
- cheok (척) -- boats and ships
- chae (채) -- houses
- tong (통) -- letters, telegrams, telephone calls, and e-mail
Some nouns can also function as counter words:
- saram (사람) -- people (informal)
- cheung (층) -- floors (of a building), layers
- jan (잔) -- cups and glasses
- byeong (병) -- bottles