1 in Korean = 일 (il) / 하나 (hana)

The number 1 in Korean has two forms: 일 (il) pronounced "eel" (Sino-Korean) and 하나 (hana) pronounced "HAH-nah" (Native Korean). Use il for dates/money, hana for counting objects.

Quick Answer

Pronunciation

Il (일):

• One syllable: "eel"
• Like "eel" the fish
• Sino-Korean system

Hana (하나):

• Two syllables: "ha-na"
• "HAH-nah"
• Native Korean system
• Stress on first syllable

Common mistakes:

• Not knowing which system to use
• Pronouncing il as "ill" with hard "l"

When to Use Each

Use 일 (il) - Sino-Korean:

• Dates: 일월 일일 (January 1st)
• Money: 일원 (1 won)
• Phone numbers: 010-1234
• Minutes: 일분 (1 minute)
• Addresses: 일번지 (number 1)
• Math: 1 + 1 = 2

Use 하나 (hana) - Native Korean:

• Counting objects: 하나, 둘, 셋...
• Hours: 한 시 (1 o'clock) - changes to 한
• Age: 한 살 (1 year old) - changes to 한
• Ordering: "One beer" = 맥주 하나

하나 becomes 한 (han): When followed by a counter, 하나 shortens to 한:

• 한 개 (han gae) = one item
• 한 명 (han myeong) = one person
• 한 시 (han si) = 1 o'clock

The Characters

일 (一):

• Hangul: ㅇ (silent) + ㅣ (i) + ㄹ (l)
• Hanja: 一 (same as Chinese)
• Sino-Korean origin

하나:

• Hangul: ㅎ (h) + ㅏ (a) + ㄴ (n) + ㅏ (a)
• Pure Korean word
• No Hanja equivalent

Practical Usage

Counting (Sino-Korean): 일, 이, 삼, 사, 오... (il, i, sam, sa, o...)

Counting (Native Korean): 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷, 다섯... (hana, dul, set, net, daseot...)

Phone numbers:

• 1 = 일 (il)
• Example: 010-1234 = 공일공, 일이삼사

Prices:

• ₩1 = 일원 (il-won)
• ₩1,000 = 천원 (cheon-won)

Times:

• 1:00 = 한 시 (han si) - uses native Korean
• 01:00 (24hr) = 영일시 (yeong-il-si) - uses Sino-Korean

Dates:

• 1st = 일일 (il-il)
• January = 일월 (il-wol)

Counting objects:

• One item = 하나 / 한 개 (hana / han gae)
• One person = 한 명 (han myeong)

Common Phrases

일등 (il-deung): First place

제일 (je-il): The best, number one

하나하나 (hana-hana): One by one

하나도 (hana-do): Not even one

• 하나도 없어요 (hana-do eop-seo-yo) = There isn't even one

한번 (han-beon): Once, one time

첫번째 (cheot-beon-jjae): First (ordinal)

월요일 (wol-yo-il): Monday (literally "moon day" but 일 means "day")

Counters

Korean uses counters (measure words) with numbers:

With Sino-Korean (일):

• 일개 (il-gae) = 1 item (formal)
• 일명 (il-myeong) = 1 person (formal)

With Native Korean (하나/한):

• 한 개 (han gae) = 1 item (common)
• 한 명 (han myeong) = 1 person (common)
• 한 마리 (han mari) = 1 animal
• 한 잔 (han jan) = 1 cup/glass

Quick Takeaways

• 1 = 일 (il) Sino-Korean or 하나 (hana) Native Korean
• 일 (il) = dates, money, phone numbers, addresses
• 하나 (hana) = counting objects, general counting
• 하나 becomes 한 (han) before counters
• 1 o'clock = 한 시 (han si) uses native Korean
• Pronounced "eel" or "HAH-nah"
• Two number systems in Korean
• Choose system based on context

---

TravelNum shows you how numbers are pronounced in Korean.