Telling time in Korean looks confusing at first because Korean uses two number systems. But the good news is that the core rule is simple:
- use native Korean numbers for hours
- use Sino-Korean numbers for minutes
Once you understand that one pattern, most everyday time expressions become much easier.
In this guide, you will learn how to say the time in Korean, how to ask for the time, how to talk about morning and evening, and which common mistakes beginners should avoid.
The basic rule for telling time in Korean
To tell time in Korean, you usually combine:
- 시 for the hour
- 분 for the minute
The key is this:
- hours use native Korean numbers
- minutes use Sino-Korean numbers
So:
- 1:00 = 한 시
- 2:10 = 두 시 십 분
- 5:30 = 다섯 시 삼십 분
That is the main pattern you need.
Korean words for time
Before going further, learn these basic words:
- 시간 = time
- 시 = hour
- 분 = minute
- 초 = second
You will see 시 and 분 all the time when reading or speaking about time.
Native Korean numbers for hours
These are the numbers most often used for the hour part:
- 한 시 = 1 o’clock
- 두 시 = 2 o’clock
- 세 시 = 3 o’clock
- 네 시 = 4 o’clock
- 다섯 시 = 5 o’clock
- 여섯 시 = 6 o’clock
- 일곱 시 = 7 o’clock
- 여덟 시 = 8 o’clock
- 아홉 시 = 9 o’clock
- 열 시 = 10 o’clock
- 열한 시 = 11 o’clock
- 열두 시 = 12 o’clock
Notice that some forms shorten when used before counters:
- 하나 → 한
- 둘 → 두
- 셋 → 세
- 넷 → 네
That is why you say 하나 시.
Sino-Korean numbers for minutes
Minutes use Sino-Korean numbers:
- 일 분 = 1 minute
- 오 분 = 5 minutes
- 십 분 = 10 minutes
- 십오 분 = 15 minutes
- 이십 분 = 20 minutes
- 삼십 분 = 30 minutes
- 사십오 분 = 45 minutes
So:
- 3:15 = 세 시 십오 분
- 7:20 = 일곱 시 이십 분
- 10:45 = 열 시 사십오 분
How to say common times in Korean
Here are some useful examples:
- 1:00 = 한 시
- 2:05 = 두 시 오 분
- 3:10 = 세 시 십 분
- 4:15 = 네 시 십오 분
- 5:30 = 다섯 시 삼십 분
- 6:45 = 여섯 시 사십오 분
- 8:50 = 여덟 시 오십 분
- 11:12 = 열한 시 십이 분
- 12:00 = 열두 시
These are the kinds of patterns you will use for appointments, classes, calls, and daily life.
How to say half past in Korean
Korean often uses 반, which means “half,” for 30 minutes past the hour.
So instead of saying:
- 다섯 시 삼십 분
you can also say:
- 다섯 시 반
Both are correct.
In everyday speech, 반 is very common because it is shorter and more natural.
Examples:
- 한 시 반 = 1:30
- 두 시 반 = 2:30
- 여섯 시 반 = 6:30
How to ask the time in Korean
The most common way to ask the time is:
지금 몇 시예요?
“What time is it now?”
You may also hear:
몇 시예요?
“What time is it?”
These are the most useful question patterns for beginners.
Example answers
지금 몇 시예요?
세 시 십 분이에요.
“It’s 3:10.”
몇 시예요?
아홉 시 반이에요.
“It’s 9:30.”
If you want to sound polite, ending with -예요 or -이에요 is a safe choice.
How to say AM and PM in Korean
Korean often uses these words:
- 오전 = AM / before noon
- 오후 = PM / afternoon / after noon
Examples:
- 오전 아홉 시 = 9 AM
- 오후 두 시 = 2 PM
- 오후 여섯 시 반 = 6:30 PM
These are especially useful when you want to avoid confusion.
Other useful time words in Korean
You will also often see these:
- 아침 = morning
- 점심 = lunchtime / noon
- 저녁 = evening
- 밤 = night
- 새벽 = dawn / very early morning
- 정오 = noon
- 자정 = midnight
Examples:
-
아침 일곱 시에 일어나요.
“I wake up at 7 in the morning.” -
저녁 여섯 시에 먹어요.
“I eat at 6 in the evening.” -
자정이에요.
“It’s midnight.” -
정오예요.
“It’s noon.”
How Koreans actually say time in daily life
In real conversation, Korean speakers often keep things simple.
Instead of using very formal or very complete expressions every time, they may say:
- 세 시예요. = It’s 3 o’clock.
- 세 시 반이에요. = It’s 3:30.
- 열 시 십 분이에요. = It’s 10:10.
In speech, context usually makes the meaning clear. If needed, they add 오전 or 오후.
For schedules, timetables, or official contexts, you may also see 24-hour time in writing. But in everyday conversation, 12-hour style with context or with 오전 / 오후 is very common.
How to talk about your daily schedule in Korean
Once you know time expressions, you can start making useful everyday sentences.
Examples
저는 오전 여덟 시에 학교에 가요.
“I go to school at 8 AM.”
수업은 열 시에 시작해요.
“The class starts at 10.”
저녁 여섯 시 반에 운동해요.
“I exercise at 6:30 PM.”
밤 열한 시에 자요.
“I go to sleep at 11 PM.”
This is where time vocabulary becomes practical. You are no longer only memorizing numbers. You are describing your life.
Common mistakes beginners make
1) Using the wrong number system for hours
Wrong:
- 일 시
Natural:
- 한 시
Hours normally use native Korean numbers.
2) Using native Korean numbers for minutes
Wrong:
- 두 시 다섯 분 if you mean the minute “five” in native style
Natural:
- 두 시 오 분
Minutes use Sino-Korean numbers.
3) Forgetting the shortened forms
Do not say:
- 하나 시
- 둘 시
- 셋 시
- 넷 시
Say:
- 한 시
- 두 시
- 세 시
- 네 시
4) Trying to learn everything at once
You do not need every number immediately. Start with:
- full hours
- 5, 10, 15, 30, 45 minutes
- 오전 / 오후
That already covers a lot of real life.
A simple pattern to memorize
Use this formula:
[native Korean hour] + 시 + [Sino-Korean minute] + 분
Examples:
- 두 시 십 분
- 네 시 이십오 분
- 여덟 시 사십 분
For half past:
[native Korean hour] + 시 + 반
Example:
- 일곱 시 반
Mini practice
Try reading these out loud:
- 3:00 = 세 시
- 4:20 = 네 시 이십 분
- 6:30 = 여섯 시 반
- 9:45 = 아홉 시 사십오 분
- 11:05 = 열한 시 오 분
Now try these English to Korean:
- 2:00 → 두 시
- 5:15 → 다섯 시 십오 분
- 7:30 → 일곱 시 반
- 10:50 → 열 시 오십 분
How to remember Korean time faster
A simple study method works well:
Step 1
Learn hours first:
- 한 시
- 두 시
- 세 시
- 네 시
Step 2
Learn minute blocks:
- 오 분
- 십 분
- 십오 분
- 삼십 분
Step 3
Practice real-life times:
- when you wake up
- when class starts
- when you eat
- when you sleep
Step 4
Say the current time out loud once or twice a day in Korean
This works better than memorizing random lists because the phrases connect to your real routine.
FAQ
Do Korean speakers always use two number systems for time?
Usually, yes. Hours normally use native Korean numbers, while minutes and seconds use Sino-Korean numbers.
Is 반 common?
Yes. 반 is a very common and natural way to say “half past.”
Do I need to learn 24-hour time too?
It helps for reading schedules, but for conversation, the basic 12-hour style with 오전 and 오후 is enough for most beginners.
What is the easiest way to ask the time?
Use 지금 몇 시예요?
Final thoughts
Telling time in Korean can feel difficult at first because of the two number systems, but the pattern is actually very manageable once you break it down.
Remember the core rule:
- hours = native Korean numbers
- minutes = Sino-Korean numbers
Then build from there.
Start with full hours. Add simple minutes. Practice times from your own daily life.
That is the fastest way to make Korean time expressions feel natural.
If you can say when you wake up, when you eat, when you study, and when you sleep, you are already using Korean in a real and practical way.