서른
seoreun[sʰʌ̹ɾɯn]
The English word thirty is expressed in Korean as 서른 (seoreun) or 삼십.
Meaning: cardinal number (num)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 서른 | seoreun | [sʰʌ̹ɾɯn] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 삼십 | samsip | [sʰa̠mɕʰip̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
Korean uses two different number systems for thirty. You use 서른 to count people, objects or age. For example, 서른 살 means thirty years old. You use 삼십 for mathematical contexts, money or measuring time like minutes.
Which one should you use?
서른 is the native Korean form used for counting things such as people or items. 삼십 is the Sino-Korean form used for counting minutes, amounts of money or in mathematics.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the native Korean form 서른, it is paired with counters like 명 (person) or 개 (item). When using the Sino-Korean form 삼십, it is paired with counters like 분 (minute) or 원 (won).
How do you pronounce it?
seoreun
Did you know?
- In Korea, reaching the age of 서른 is often viewed as the true entry into full adulthood and social maturity, marking a shift in how one is addressed by others.
- The native Korean number 서른 was recorded as early as 1103 in the 계림유사, a historical text documenting the customs and language of the Silla kingdom.
- While the Sino-Korean 삼십 is used for minutes, if you were to count the number of minutes passed in a day, you might switch to the native Korean system depending on the context of the conversation.
Examples in context
- 오 곱하기 칠은 삼십오이다.Five times seven is thirty-five.This sentence shows the use of the Sino-Korean form 삼십 in a mathematical context.Tatoeba #11106559 by intertime, translation #673868 by Shady_arc
- 내 수업에는 서른 명의 학생이 있어.There are thirty students in my class.This sentence demonstrates the native Korean form 서른 being used with a counter for people.Tatoeba #8436269 by Eunhee, translation #8436243 by CK
- 톰은 하루에 삼십 번 이상 손을 씻어.Tom washes his hands more than thirty times a day.This sentence illustrates the Sino-Korean form 삼십 being used to count frequency.Tatoeba #8533958 by Eunhee, translation #8524945 by CK
- 서른 살이에요I am thirty
- 서른 개의 사과Thirty apples
- 책 서른 권 있어요I have thirty books
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Subin and Minjun are talking about their ages at a party.
- 수빈 Su-bin민준 씨는 올해 몇 살이에요?Minjun ssineun olhae myeot sarieyo?Minjun, how old are you this year?
- 민준 Min-jun저는 이제 서른 살이에요.Jeoneun ije seoreun sarieyo.I am thirty years old now.
- 수빈 Su-bin정말요? 저보다 훨씬 젊으시네요.Jeongmalyo? Jeoboda hwolssin jeolmuseineyo.Really? You are much younger than me.
- 민준 Min-jun아니에요, 수빈 씨도 젊어 보여요.Anieyo, Subin ssido jeolmeo boyeoyo.No, you look young too, Subin.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thirty” translations and entries 서른, 삼십, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 삼십, 서른, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
