Counter 명/분 (people)

To count people, you need a specific formula. You take a Native Korean number and add the counter. Native Korean numbers are 하나, 둘, 셋, and so on. You do not use Sino-Korean numbers like 일, 이, 삼 here. If you use 일 명, people might think you are reading a math textbook out loud! The counter 명 is your everyday, go-to word. You use it for friends, classmates, or people younger than you. The counter 분 is the "VIP version." You use it for teachers, bosses, or customers. It adds a layer of respect. It is like giving your words a tiny tuxedo.

1. 1Using these counters involves three simple steps.
2. 2Pick your Native Korean number (e.g., 하나, 둘, 셋).
3. 3Check if the number needs to change its shape. Some numbers are "shape-shifters."
4. 4Add a space, then add 명 or 분.
5. 5Here is the tricky part. Five specific numbers change when they meet a counter:
6. 6하나 (1) becomes 한.
7. 7둘 (2) becomes 두.
8. 8셋 (3) becomes 세.
9. 9넷 (4) becomes 네.
10. 10스물 (20) becomes 스무.
11. 11So, "one person" is 한 명, not 하나 명. "Twenty people" is 스무 명. All other numbers stay exactly the same. 다섯 (5) stays 다섯 명. 여섯 (6) stays 여섯 명. It is like a secret club where only a few numbers get a makeover.

You will use these counters every single day in Korea. Imagine you are walking into a delicious BBQ restaurant. The server will ask how many people are in your group. You would say 두 명이에요 (It is two people). If you are introducing your family, you might say 우리 가족은 네 명이에요 (My family is four people).

Use 명 for:

• Friends and siblings.
• Students in a classroom.
• People in a general crowd.
• Yourself (never use 분 for yourself!).

Use 분 for:

• Your Korean teacher.
• Your boss or older colleagues.
• Customers (if you work in a shop).
• Grandparents or elderly people.

Do not use these counters for animals. Your cat is not a 명. Use 마리 for animals. Also, avoid using 명 for people who deserve high respect. If you call your CEO 한 명, it might be a very short career for you!

Another big "no-no" is using Sino-Korean numbers. Avoid 일 명, 이 명, or 삼 명. It sounds very robotic and unnatural. Also, do not forget the space between the number and the counter. Writing 한명 is technically a typo, though people do it in texts. Keep it clean with 한 명.

The most common mistake is forgetting the shape-shifters. Many people say 하나 명 because they just learned the number 하나. Remember: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 20 change!

Another mistake is using 분 for yourself. This is a classic "politeness trap." In Korean, you never give yourself an honorific title. Even if you are the President, you are still 한 명 to yourself.

Lastly, don't mix up 사람 and 명. While 사람 means "person," it is often used as a noun, not a counter. You can say 세 사람, but 세 명 is much more common when counting. Think of 명 as the standard unit of measurement for humans.

You might hear people say 세 사람 (three people). This is also correct! 사람 can act as a counter too. However, 명 is more formal and standard for counting. 사람 feels a bit more casual and descriptive.

What about 분 vs. 명? Think of it like a volume knob for respect. 명 is the default volume. 분 is turning the volume all the way up. If you are unsure, 명 is usually safe for peers, but 분 is the "safety first" choice for anyone older. Just remember: 분 is a person, but it is also a word for "minutes." Context is king! If you are at a bus stop, 오 분 means 5 minutes, not 5 fancy people.