Meaning
Stating the current time in hours and minutes.
Cultural Background
In Korea, the 24-hour clock is widely used for all official schedules, including TV guides and bus apps. However, when speaking, people almost always convert it to a 12-hour format with '오전' or '오후'. Punctuality is paramount. Arriving at '네 시 정각' (4:00 sharp) actually means being there at 3:55. Arriving exactly at 4:00 can sometimes be perceived as being slightly late. Younger Koreans often use '반' (half) almost exclusively for 30-minute marks, and they might omit '분' in very casual texting (e.g., '7시 10분' becomes '7시 10'). In the Korean military, time is stated with extreme precision and often uses the '-입니다' form. Soldiers are trained to report time using the 24-hour system even when speaking.
The 1, 2, 3, 4 Rule
Always remember that 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷 become 한, 두, 세, 네. This is the #1 thing teachers look for in A1 students.
Don't say 'Zero'
For times like 2:05, don't say '공' (zero). Just say '두 시 오 분'. Adding '공' sounds like you are reading a phone number.
Meaning
Stating the current time in hours and minutes.
The 1, 2, 3, 4 Rule
Always remember that 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷 become 한, 두, 세, 네. This is the #1 thing teachers look for in A1 students.
Don't say 'Zero'
For times like 2:05, don't say '공' (zero). Just say '두 시 오 분'. Adding '공' sounds like you are reading a phone number.
AM/PM Placement
In Korean, '오전' and '오후' come BEFORE the time, unlike in English where AM/PM comes after.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct way to say 2:10 in Korean.
2:10
Hours use Native numbers (둘 becomes 두) and minutes use Sino numbers (십).
Fill in the blanks to say 'It is 10:30' using the word for 'half'.
열 시 ___이에요.
'반' means half and is used for 30 minutes.
Match the Korean time to the digital time.
Match the following:
These are the basic Native Korean hour markers.
Complete the dialogue.
가: 지금 몇 시예요? 나: 오후 다섯 시 ___ ___.
Minutes use Sino numbers (십) and the counter '분'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
The Dual Number System for Time
Practice Bank
4 exercises2:10
Hours use Native numbers (둘 becomes 두) and minutes use Sino numbers (십).
열 시 ___이에요.
'반' means half and is used for 30 minutes.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are the basic Native Korean hour markers.
가: 지금 몇 시예요? 나: 오후 다섯 시 ___ ___.
Minutes use Sino numbers (십) and the counter '분'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsIt's a historical blend. Native numbers are used for 'counting' hours, while Sino numbers are used for 'calculating' precise minutes.
12:00 PM is '정오' (noon) and 12:00 AM is '자정' (midnight). You can also say '오후 열두 시' and '오전 열두 시'.
Only in very specific 24-hour military or broadcast contexts. In daily life, it sounds very wrong.
Yes, in spoken conversation, '반' is much more common and sounds more natural.
Related Phrases
몇 시예요?
similarWhat time is it?
한 시간
builds onOne hour (duration)
정각
specialized formO'clock sharp
반
synonymHalf / 30 minutes
