How to Say "One in a Million" in Korean

백만 분의 일

The phrase one in a million in Korean is 백만 분의 일.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of 백만 (one million), 분의 (out of/of) and 일 (one).

The structure [Number A] 분의 [Number B] is used to express the fraction or ratio of B out of A.

The word 백만 is composed of the Sino-Korean words for 'hundred' and 'ten thousand'. In Korean numbering systems, large numbers are grouped by four zeros rather than three.
Because Korean uses two different number systems, the Sino-Korean 백만 is used for large numbers, but native Korean numbers are used for counting physical objects.
While 백만 분의 일 expresses a mathematical ratio, Koreans often use the word 희귀하다 to describe something 'rare' or 'one in a million' in a social or emotional context.

그 사람은 백만 명 중 단 한 명이에요
That person is one in a million.
그는 백만 분의 일의 확률을 뚫고 살아남았다.
He survived against one in a million odds.
그 행운은 백만 분의 일의 확률이죠.
geu haenguneun baengman bunui il-ui hwangnyurijyo.
That luck is a one in a million chance.

Seoyeon and Hyunwoo are talking about a very rare lottery win.

서연 Seo-yeon

현우 씨, 이번에 로또 당첨된 사람이 있대요.
Hyeonu ssi, ibeone lotto dangcheomdoen sarami itderyo.
Hyunwoo, I heard someone won the lottery this time.
현우 Hyeon-woo

정말요? 그럴 확률은 백만 분의 일일 텐데요.
Jeongmallyo? geureol hwangnyureun baengman bun-ui iril tendeyo.
Really? The odds of that must be one in a million.
서연 Seo-yeon

맞아요. 정말 운이 좋은 사람이네요.
majayo. jeongmal uni joeun saramineyo.
True. That person is really lucky.
현우 Hyeon-woo

저도 그런 행운이 찾아오면 좋겠어요.
jeodo geureon haenguni chajaomyeon jokesseoyo.
I wish that kind of luck would come to me too.

Sources

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