대
dae[tɛ(ː)]
대 (dae) is a Korean counter used for counting vehicles or machines.
대 is used specifically when counting vehicles, such as cars, buses and bicycles, as well as machines and electronic devices.
Which one should you use?
While 대 is the correct counter for machines and vehicles, you should not use it for people or small animals. For people, use counters like 명 and for animals, use counters like 마리.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Korean, counters like 대 are placed after a number.
How do you pronounce it?
dae
Did you know?
- In some contexts, the sound 대 can actually be traced back to a Proto-Japonic word for 'bamboo', suggesting a very ancient linguistic connection between the two languages.
Examples in context
- 새 차가 두 대 있어요.sae cha-ga du dae isseo-yo.I have two new cars.
- 저기 자동차 한 대가 지나가요.jeogi jadongcha han dae-ga jinagayo.A car is passing by over there.
- 컴퓨터 세 대를 샀어요.keompyuteo se dae-reul sasseoyo.I bought three computers.
Example conversation
Hyunwoo and Minji are talking about their new office.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo민지 씨, 모니터 몇 대 있어요?Minji ssi, moniteo myeot dae isseoyo?Minji, how many monitors do you have?
- 민지 Min-ji여기 모니터 세 대 있어요.yeogi moniteo se dae isseoyo.There are three monitors here.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo노트북 한 대만 더 있으면 좋겠어요.notebuk han daeman deo isseumyeon jokgesseoyo.I wish we had just one more laptop.
- 민지 Min-ji제가 한 대 더 주문할게요.jega han dae deo jumunhalgeyo.I will order one more.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 대, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 대, CC BY-SA 4.0.
