Telling Time In Korean: Simplified | Learn With OptiLingo

Written by Jonty Yamisha Founder of OptiLingo · Language learner, entrepreneur, and lifelong student of how adults actually learn to speak

How do you tell time in Korean?

Telling time in Korean uses two number systems: native Korean numbers for hours + 시 (si) and Sino-Korean numbers for minutes + 분 (bun). Add 오전 (AM) or 오후 (PM) when needed. Example: 세 시 십 분 (se si sip bun) means 3:10.

Table of Contents

1. Why telling time in Korean matters
2. Key time words and the two number systems
3. Saying hours with 시 (native numbers)
4. Saying minutes with 분 (Sino numbers)
5. Putting hours and minutes together
6. Asking for the time in Korean
7. Answering the time in Korean
8. Time-of-day expressions and schedules
9. 12-hour vs 24-hour time in Korea
10. Mini dialogues using time
11. Practice: read and say these times
12. Summary and next steps FAQs

1) Why Telling Time in Korean Matters

If you can tell time in Korean, daily life opens up fast.

You can understand a class schedule. You can confirm a meeting time. You can catch the “last train” announcement without panicking. You can answer the simple, practical questions that show up everywhere: “What time is it?” “What time do we meet?” “What time does it start?”

The part that confuses most beginners is not the clock itself. It’s the two number systems. Korean uses one set of numbers for hours and another set for minutes. That can feel unfair at first. The good news is that it follows a repeatable pattern, and once you learn the pattern, it becomes automatic.

This guide breaks telling time in Korean into clean steps: numbers review → hours → minutes → full times → real conversations. If you want extra support, reviewing Korean numbers and the Korean alphabet guide first makes everything easier.

Learn Korean Numbers

2) Key Time Words and Number Systems

Before we touch the clock, learn the “time building blocks.” You will see these constantly in Korean schedules and conversations.

Key time vocabulary

Korean	Romanization	Meaning	Notes
시간	(sigan)	time; hour(s) as duration	“2 hours” = 두 시간 / 이 시간 (context dependent)
시	(si)	hour (o’clock)	used when reading clock time
분	(bun)	minute	used when reading clock time
초	(cho)	second	less common for beginners
오전	(ojeon)	AM (before noon)	used for 12-hour speech
오후	(ohu)	PM (after noon)	used for 12-hour speech
정오	(jeongo)	noon	12:00 PM
자정	(jajeong)	midnight	12:00 AM

The big rule for telling time in Korean

When telling time in Korean:

• Hours use native Korean numbers + 시
• Minutes use Sino-Korean numbers + 분

This is the core pattern that competitors emphasize too, because it’s the truth you build everything on.

Quick number table for time (hours vs minutes)

Use this table as your “cheat sheet.” You do not need every number right now, just enough to read common times.

Number	Native (hours)	Romanization	Sino (minutes)	Romanization
1	한	(han)	일	(il)
2	두	(du)	이	(i)
3	세	(se)	삼	(sam)
4	네	(ne)	사	(sa)
5	다섯	(daseot)	오	(o)
6	여섯	(yeoseot)	육	(yuk)
7	일곱	(ilgop)	칠	(chil)
8	여덟	(yeodeol)	팔	(pal)
9	아홉	(ahop)	구	(gu)
10	열	(yeol)	십	(sip)
11	열한	(yeolhan)	십일	(sipil)
12	열두	(yeoldu)	십이	(sibi)
20	(hours not used)	이십	(isip)
30	삼십	(samsip)
40	사십	(sasip)
50	오십	(osip)

Note: For hours, 1–4 often appear in shortened native forms 한, 두, 세, 네.

3) Saying hours with 시

To say “o’clock,” you use: [native hour] + 시

Hours 1–12 with 시

Time	Korean	Romanization	English
1:00	한 시	(han si)	1 o’clock
2:00	두 시	(du si)	2 o’clock
3:00	세 시	(se si)	3 o’clock
4:00	네 시	(ne si)	4 o’clock
5:00	다섯 시	(daseot si)	5 o’clock
6:00	여섯 시	(yeoseot si)	6 o’clock
7:00	일곱 시	(ilgop si)	7 o’clock
8:00	여덟 시	(yeodeol si)	8 o’clock
9:00	아홉 시	(ahop si)	9 o’clock
10:00	열 시	(yeol si)	10 o’clock
11:00	열한 시	(yeolhan si)	11 o’clock
12:00	열두 시	(yeoldu si)	12 o’clock

Adding AM and PM (오전 / 오후)

In spoken Korean, you often say 오전 (AM) or 오후 (PM) to clarify.

Time	Korean	Romanization	English
7:00 AM	오전 일곱 시	(ojeon ilgop si)	7 a.m.
3:00 PM	오후 세 시	(ohu se si)	3 p.m.
Noon	정오	(jeongo)	noon
Midnight	자정	(jajeong)	midnight

Try this (Hours)

Fill in the blanks with 시.

1. 2:00 → 두 ___
2. 11:00 → 열한 ___
3. 7:00 AM → 오전 일곱 ___

(Answers are in the Practice section near the end.)

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4) Saying minutes with 분

Minutes are said with: [Sino number] + 분

Korean usually reads minutes directly as numbers rather than “quarter past” style.

Common minute chunks

Minutes	Korean	Romanization	English
5	오 분	(o bun)	5 minutes
10	십 분	(sip bun)	10 minutes
15	십오 분	(sibo bun)	15 minutes
20	이십 분	(isip bun)	20 minutes
25	이십오 분	(isibo bun)	25 minutes
30	삼십 분	(samsip bun)	30 minutes
40	사십 분	(sasip bun)	40 minutes
45	사십오 분	(sasibo bun)	45 minutes
50	오십 분	(osip bun)	50 minutes

“Half past” in Korean: 반

For 30 minutes, you can say 삼십 분, and in many spoken contexts you can also say 반 (ban), meaning “half.”

• 한 시 삼십 분 (han si samsip bun) = 1:30
• 한 시 반 (han si ban) = 1:30 (half past one)

Beginner-friendly rule: learn both, but treat 반 as a spoken shortcut that you will hear a lot.

Try this (Minutes)

Translate these minutes into Korean with 분:

1. 10 minutes → ________
2. 45 minutes → ________
3. 15 minutes → ________

5) Putting Hours and Minutes Together

Now combine the pieces.

Basic rule for telling full time in Korean

[오전/오후 optional] + [native hour + 시] + [Sino minutes + 분]

Example:

• 오후 네 시 삼십 분 (ohu ne si samsip bun) = 4:30 PM
• 오후 네 시 반 (ohu ne si ban) = 4:30 PM

Full time examples (10 worked examples)

Digital time	Korean	Romanization	English
1:10 AM	오전 한 시 십 분	(ojeon han si sip bun)	1:10 a.m.
3:15 PM	오후 세 시 십오 분	(ohu se si sibo bun)	3:15 p.m.
4:30 PM	오후 네 시 반	(ohu ne si ban)	4:30 p.m.
7:05 AM	오전 일곱 시 오 분	(ojeon ilgop si o bun)	7:05 a.m.
8:45 PM	오후 여덟 시 사십오 분	(ohu yeodeol si sasibo bun)	8:45 p.m.
9:20 AM	오전 아홉 시 이십 분	(ojeon ahop si isip bun)	9:20 a.m.
11:45 AM	오전 열한 시 사십오 분	(ojeon yeolhan si sasibo bun)	11:45 a.m.
12:00 PM	정오	(jeongo)	noon
12:00 AM	자정	(jajeong)	midnight
2:00 PM	오후 두 시	(ohu du si)	2:00 p.m.

Two helpful realities

1. In casual speech, 오전/오후 can be dropped if context is obvious.
2. In writing (timetables, reservations), 24-hour time is common, and you may see formats like 14:00 or 14시 00분.

6) Asking for the Time in Korean

Here are beginner-friendly ways to ask “What time is it?” and “What time should we meet?”

Time question patterns

Korean	Romanization	Meaning	When to use
지금 몇 시예요?	(jigeum myeot siyeyo?)	What time is it now?	standard polite
실례지만, 지금 몇 시예요?	(sillyejiman, jigeum myeot siyeyo?)	Excuse me, what time is it?	extra polite
몇 시에 만날까요?	(myeot sie mannalkkayo?)	What time shall we meet?	planning
몇 시에 시작해요?	(myeot sie sijakhaeyo?)	What time does it start?	schedules

Notice 몇 시 literally means “how many hours.” That is why it pairs naturally with 시.

Quick Q and A examples

• Q: 지금 몇 시예요? (jigeum myeot siyeyo?) A: 오전 아홉 시예요. (ojeon ahop siyeyo) = What time is it? It’s 9 a.m.
• Q: 몇 시에 만날까요? (myeot sie mannalkkayo?) A: 오후 두 시에 만나요. (ohu du sie mannayo) = What time should we meet? Let’s meet at 2 p.m.

7) Answering the Time in Korean

To answer, you can use:

• [time] + 예요/이에요 (polite “it is”) or in casual contexts, sometimes just the time itself.

Answer patterns

Answer type	Korean	Romanization	Meaning
Simple hour	세 시예요.	(se siyeyo)	It’s 3 o’clock.
Hour + minute	네 시 십오 분이에요.	(ne si sibo bunieyo)	It’s 4:15.
With AM	오전 일곱 시 반이에요.	(ojeon ilgop si banieyo)	It’s 7:30 a.m.
With PM	오후 두 시예요.	(ohu du siyeyo)	It’s 2 p.m.

Mini drill (Match the question to the answer)

Match each question to a logical answer.

Questions:

1. 지금 몇 시예요?
2. 몇 시에 시작해요?
3. 몇 시에 만날까요?

Answers: A) 오후 여섯 시 반이에요. B) 오전 열 시에 시작해요. C) 지금 오후 세 시예요.

(Answer key in Practice section.)

8) Time-of-day Expressions and Schedules

Once you can read the clock, the next skill is using time in real sentences.

Time-of-day words you will hear often

Korean	Romanization	Meaning
아침에	(achime)	in the morning
점심에	(jeomsime)	at lunch time
오후에	(ohue)	in the afternoon
저녁에	(jeonyeoge)	in the evening
밤에	(bame)	at night
주말에	(jumare)	on the weekend

Schedule sentences (8 useful examples)

Each example includes Hangul, romanization, and a natural translation.

1. 수업은 오전 아홉 시에 시작해요. (eob-eun ojeon ahop sie sijakhaeyo) = Class starts at 9 a.m.
2. 회의는 오후 두 시에 있어요. (hoe-uineun ohu du sie isseoyo) = The meeting is at 2 p.m.
3. 우리는 오후 일곱 시에 만나요. (urineun ohu ilgop sie mannayo) = We meet at 7 p.m.
4. 영화는 여덟 시 반에 시작해요. (yeonghwan-eun yeodeol si bane sijakhaeyo) = The movie starts at 8:30.
5. 버스는 오전 일곱 시 오 분에 와요. (beoseuneun ojeon ilgop si o bune wayo) = The bus comes at 7:05 a.m.
6. 저는 아침에 일곱 시에 일어나요. (jeoneun achime ilgop sie ireonayo) = I wake up at 7 in the morning.
7. 점심은 열두 시에 먹어요. (jeomsimeun yeoldu sie meogeoyo) = I eat lunch at 12 o’clock.
8. 주말에 열한 시에 출발해요. (jumare yeolhan sie chulbalhaeyo) = On the weekend, I leave at 11.

9) 12-hour and 24-hour Time in Korean

In daily speech, Koreans often use a 12-hour style with 오전/오후 or time-of-day words. In writing, schedules and transport commonly use 24-hour time.

Quick conversion examples

24-hour time	Korean (spoken style)	Romanization	English
14:00	오후 두 시	(ohu du si)	2:00 p.m.
18:30	오후 여섯 시 반	(ohu yeoseot si ban)	6:30 p.m.
09:15	오전 아홉 시 십오 분	(ojeon ahop si sibo bun)	9:15 a.m.
23:45	오후 열한 시 사십오 분	(ohu yeolhan si sasibo bun)	11:45 p.m.

Beginner rule: You do not need to memorize every conversion. Just recognize that 24-hour time is common in text, and you can translate it by thinking: “14 is 2 PM,” “18 is 6 PM,” and so on.

10) Mini Dialogues Using Time

These dialogues are designed to look like real life: classes, meetings, movies, and checking the time politely.

Dialogue 1: Asking when class starts

• A: 수업은 몇 시에 시작해요? (sueob-eun myeot sie sijakhaeyo?) = What time does class start?
• B: 오전 아홉 시에 시작해요. (ojeon ahop sie sijakhaeyo) = It starts at 9 a.m.
• A: 알겠어요. 고마워요. (algesseoyo. gomawoyo.) = Got it. Thanks.

Dialogue 2: Meeting a friend

• A: 몇 시에 만날까요? (myeot sie mannalkkayo?) = What time should we meet?
• B: 오후 세 시에 만나요. (ohu se sie mannayo) = Let’s meet at 3 p.m.
• A: 좋아요. 그때 봐요. (joayo. geuttae bwayo.) = Great. See you then.

Dialogue 3: Movie start time

• A: 영화 몇 시에 시작해요? (yeonghwa myeot sie sijakhaeyo?) = What time does the movie start?
• B: 여덟 시 반에 시작해요. (yeodeol si bane sijakhaeyo) = It starts at 8:30.
• A: 그럼 일찍 가요. (geureom iljjik gayo.) = Then let’s go early.

Dialogue 4: Asking the current time politely

• A: 실례지만, 지금 몇 시예요? (sillyejiman, jigeum myeot siyeyo?) = Excuse me, what time is it now?
• B: 지금 오후 두 시 십 분이에요. (jigeum ohu du si sip bunieyo) = It’s 2:10 p.m. now.
• A: 감사합니다. (gamsahamnida) = Thank you.

11) Practice: Read and Say these Times

Do Part A first without looking at the answers. Then check yourself.

Part A: Digital times → Say them in Korean

1. 3:05
2. 7:30
3. 9:15
4. 11:45
5. 4:20
6. 1:10
7. 8:00
8. 2:50
9. 12:00 (noon)
10. 12:00 (midnight)

Part B: Korean → What time is it in English?

1. 오전 일곱 시 (ojeon ilgop si)
2. 오후 네 시 반 (ohu ne si ban)
3. 세 시 십오 분 (se si sibo bun)
4. 오전 아홉 시 오 분 (ojeon ahop si o bun)
5. 오후 열한 시 사십오 분 (ohu yeolhan si sasibo bun)
6. 자정 (jajeong)
7. 정오 (jeongo)
8. 오후 두 시 이십 분 (ohu du si isip bun)

Answer key

Hours Try this (Section 3)

1. 두 시
2. 열한 시
3. 오전 일곱 시

Minutes Try this (Section 4)

1. 십 분 (sip bun)
2. 사십오 분 (sasibo bun)
3. 십오 분 (sibo bun)

Mini drill match (Section 7) 1 → C, 2 → B, 3 → A

Part A answers (one possible neutral version)

1. 세 시 오 분 (se si o bun)
2. 일곱 시 반 (ilgop si ban)
3. 아홉 시 십오 분 (ahop si sibo bun)
4. 열한 시 사십오 분 (yeolhan si sasibo bun)
5. 네 시 이십 분 (ne si isip bun)
6. 한 시 십 분 (han si sip bun)
7. 여덟 시 (yeodeol si)
8. 두 시 오십 분 (du si osip bun)
9. 정오 (jeongo)
10. 자정 (jajeong)

Part B answers

1. 7:00 a.m.
2. 4:30 p.m.
3. 3:15
4. 9:05 a.m.
5. 11:45 p.m.
6. midnight
7. noon
8. 2:20 p.m.

12) Summary and Next Steps

Here’s the whole system in one look:

• Hours: native Korean numbers + 시 (한 시, 두 시, 세 시)
• Minutes: Sino-Korean numbers + 분 (십오 분, 삼십 분, 사십오 분)
• AM/PM: 오전, 오후 when helpful
• Half past: 반 is common in speech (네 시 반)
• 24-hour time: common in schedules and transport writing

If you want the fastest path to confidence, do this for one week:

1. Pick 10 times you see often (wake up, lunch, meeting time).
2. Say each time out loud in Korean once per day.
3. Use the Q and A patterns until they feel automatic.

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FAQs

How do you say “time” in Korean?

“Time” is 시간 (sigan). For clock time, you’ll use 시 (si) for hours and 분 (bun) for minutes.

How do you ask what time it is in Korean?

A common polite question is 지금 몇 시예요? (jigeum myeot siyeyo?), meaning “What time is it now?” You can make it more polite with 실례지만 at the start.

Do you use native or Sino numbers for time in Korean?

Use native Korean numbers for hours with 시, and Sino-Korean numbers for minutes with 분. This is the main rule for telling time in Korean.

How do you say half past in Korean?

You can say 30 minutes as 삼십 분 (samsip bun), but in spoken Korean it’s very common to say 반 (ban), meaning “half,” like 네 시 반 for 4:30.

Is 24-hour time common in Korean?

Yes. Both 12-hour and 24-hour notation are widely used, and 24-hour time is especially common in writing like schedules, timetables, and digital displays.

Don’t Be Afraid to Speak in Korean!

Telling the time in Korean requires a certain level of Korean knowledge before you can get started. You need to be comfortable with numbers, conjugations, and sentence structures. But knowing how to tell the time in Korean will help you feel more confident on your path to fluency (especially if anyone ever asks you for the time!). And if you want to learn Korean faster as quickly as possible, you need to give OptiLingo a try!

OptiLingo was built on the best language learning methods. You can learn exactly how the locals speak with this convenient app. And with just 20 minutes/day, you too can master Korean. Speak fluently and comfortably with OptiLingo.

Discover how effective this method is when you try OptiLingo FREE today!

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