Welcome to this comprehensive guide on how to say your birth year in Korean! Whether you want to express your birth year in a formal or informal setting, we’ve got you covered. This guide will also provide you with tips, examples, and a look at regional variations so you can confidently communicate your birth year in Korean. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Formal Ways:
If you’re in a formal context, such as a business setting or addressing someone of higher status, it’s important to use formal language. Here’s the formula:
“Your Birth Year” + “년”
Example:
If you were born in 1990, say “1990년”.
It’s crucial to remember that in Korean, the year usually comes before the month and day.
Informal Ways:
In more informal settings, such as casual conversations with friends or acquaintances, you can take a simpler approach:
“Your Birth Year” + “년생”
Example:
Using the previous example, if you were born in 1990, you can say “90년생” (pronounced gushibilnyeon-saeng).
This informal expression is more commonly used when referring to someone’s age in Korean.
Tips and Regional Variations:
When stating your birth year in Korean, there are a few tips and regional variations to keep in mind:
1. Simplified Pronunciation:
In casual conversations, Koreans often drop the final consonant sound of a year. For example:
If you were born in 1990, instead of saying “90년생” (gushibilnyeon-saeng), you can say “90년 살았어” (gushibil sal-asseo).
2. Counter Words:
Korean uses counter words to specify different types of objects, including years. While “년” is the most commonly used counter word for years, in specific situations, you may come across “해” or “세” instead. Here’s how it works:
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년: Used in general contexts, such as saying your birth year or talking about calendar years.
E.g., 1990년 (gushibilnyeon) means “year 1990.”
-
해: Used more frequently in spoken language, especially when referring to ages or durations.
E.g., 30해 (sam-sip-hae) means “30 years old.”
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세: Mostly used when talking about someone’s age, not the year itself.
E.g., 30세 (sam-sip-se) means “I am 30 years old.”
3. Sino-Korean Numbers:
Korean has two sets of numbers, native and Sino-Korean. When expressing your birth year, it’s common to use Sino-Korean numbers. Here are the Sino-Korean numbers from 1 to 10:
- 한 (han): 1
- 두 (du): 2
- 세 (se): 3
- 네 (ne): 4
- 다섯 (daseot): 5
- 여섯 (yeoseot): 6
- 일곱 (ilgop): 7
- 여덟 (yeodeol): 8
- 아홉 (ahop): 9
- 열 (yeol): 10
When expressing your birth year, you can substitute the Sino-Korean numbers with corresponding native Korean numbers if you prefer a more casual tone.
In Conclusion
Congratulations! You have now learned how to say your birth year in Korean. Whether you’re in a formal or informal setting, you can confidently express your birth year using the appropriate phrases provided in this guide. Remember to choose between formal and informal expressions based on the context and your relationship with the person you’re speaking with. Utilize counter words, simplify pronunciation when appropriate, and consider whether you want to use native or Sino-Korean numbers. Practice and immerse yourself in the Korean language to become more fluent and comfortable using these expressions. Happy communicating!
