Korean Ordinal Numbers
Korean ordinal numbers are used to describe the position of something in a sequence.
They answer the question:
“Which one?”
Examples include:
| Number | Korean | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 첫 번째 | cheot beonjjae |
| 2nd | 두 번째 | du beonjjae |
| 3rd | 세 번째 | se beonjjae |
Ordinal numbers are commonly used when talking about:
- rankings
- floors in a building
- chapters in a book
- steps in a process
Forming Ordinal Numbers in Korean
Most Korean ordinal numbers are formed by combining a number with:
번째 (beonjjae)
This expression means “number in order” or “nth position.”
Examples:
| Number | Korean | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 첫 번째 | cheot beonjjae |
| 2nd | 두 번째 | du beonjjae |
| 3rd | 세 번째 | se beonjjae |
| 4th | 네 번째 | ne beonjjae |
| 5th | 다섯 번째 | daseot beonjjae |
The first number 첫 번째 is slightly irregular and must be memorized.
Korean Ordinal Numbers 1–20
Here are common Korean ordinal numbers.
| Number | Korean | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 첫 번째 | cheot beonjjae |
| 2nd | 두 번째 | du beonjjae |
| 3rd | 세 번째 | se beonjjae |
| 4th | 네 번째 | ne beonjjae |
| 5th | 다섯 번째 | daseot beonjjae |
| 6th | 여섯 번째 | yeoseot beonjjae |
| 7th | 일곱 번째 | ilgop beonjjae |
| 8th | 여덟 번째 | yeodeol beonjjae |
| 9th | 아홉 번째 | ahop beonjjae |
| 10th | 열 번째 | yeol beonjjae |
| 11th | 열한 번째 | yeolhan beonjjae |
| 12th | 열두 번째 | yeoldu beonjjae |
| 13th | 열세 번째 | yeolse beonjjae |
| 14th | 열네 번째 | yeolne beonjjae |
| 15th | 열다섯 번째 | yeoldaseot beonjjae |
| 16th | 열여섯 번째 | yeolyeoseot beonjjae |
| 17th | 열일곱 번째 | yeolilgop beonjjae |
| 18th | 열여덟 번째 | yeolyeodeol beonjjae |
| 19th | 열아홉 번째 | yeolahop beonjjae |
| 20th | 스무 번째 | seumu beonjjae |
Using Ordinal Numbers in Korean
Ordinal numbers are commonly used in everyday expressions.
Examples:
첫 번째 페이지
Romanization:
cheot beonjjae peiji
Meaning:
the first page
Another example:
두 번째 층
Romanization:
du beonjjae cheung
Meaning:
the second floor
Another example:
세 번째 장
Romanization:
se beonjjae jang
Meaning:
chapter three
Alternative Ordinal Expression
In some formal situations, Korean may also use the Sino-Korean prefix:
제 (je)
Examples:
| Number | Korean | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 제1 | je-il |
| 2nd | 제2 | je-i |
| 3rd | 제3 | je-sam |
Examples:
제1장
Meaning:
Chapter 1
제2조
Meaning:
Article 2
This form is common in formal documents, laws, and book chapters.
Practice Korean Ordinal Numbers
You can practice Korean numbers using the tools below.