In this article, we will learn how to tell time.
Let’s start of with telling specific time.
For a time format of HH:MM
To say the hour of the time (ie 3 o’clock, 5 o’clock…etc) we add ~시 to the korean numbering system
However, for the first 4 numbers in korean:
1 하나 –> 한 시 and 11 열 하나 —–> 열 한 시
2 둘 –> 두 시 and 12 열 둘 ——> 열 두 시
3 셋 –> 세 시
4 넷 –> 네 시
To add on the minutes part, use Chinese numbering system (sino-korean) with ~분
ie 50 minutes = 오십분
Thus combining these two to form a HH:MM format,
(korean no) 시 (chinese number) 분
Eg. 5.25pm
pm=오후
5.25 pm: 오후 다섯 시 이십오 분
Remember to differentiate between ~시 and ~시간.
When korean number is used with ~시간 (ie 한 시간, 두 시간) , it means hour as in the duration. (ie, one hour, two hours) whereas when used with ~시 it denotes the hour of time (ie 한 시 is 1 o’clock)
HH:30 = HH 시 삼십 분 or equivalently HH 시 반
(반 means half)
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There are many other ways to refer to time non-specifically.
Take for instance “tomorrow morning”.
In korean, this word is a composite of the word “tomorrow” [내일] and morning [아침]
Thus “tomorrow morning” = 내일 아침
How about this: 어제 한 시
Composite words of “yesterday” [어제] and “1 o’clock” [한 시]
Thus means “yesterday 1 o’clock”
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Generally 오후 not only means p.m. it also means “in the evening”
Try it yourself:
1) Tell this time in korean
- 11.30am
- 12.53pm
- 4.30pm
- 8.11am
- today morning
- today at 7.45am
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