Korean · Time, Numbers & Colors
"Thirty" in Korean: 삼십 / 서른
삼십 / 서른samsip / seoreun
Thirty in Korean is 삼십 / 서른 (samsip / seoreun). 삼십 is the Sino-Korean form for 30; use it for minutes, dates, prices, and calculation. 서른 is the native Korean form; 서른 is used before a general item counter.
Thirty: starting the exchange
삼십 분만 기다려 주세요.samsip bunman gidaryeo juseyo.
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How to pronounce 삼십 / 서른
Say it
samsip / seoreun
/samsip̚/
삼십 / 서른 is read samsip / seoreun. In 서른 개, read the full phrase as seoreun gae.
"Thirty" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 삼십 / 서른samsip / seoreun | Thirty The inventory form for thirty. | The inventory form for thirty. |
| 서른 개seoreun gae | 30 items 삼십 is the Sino-Korean form for 30; use it for minutes, dates, prices, and calculation. 서른 is the native Korean form; 서른 is used before a general item counter. | 삼십 is the Sino-Korean form for 30; use it for minutes, dates, prices, and calculation. 서른 is the native Korean form; 서른 is used before a general item counter. |
How to use 삼십 / 서른 in real life
- 1Thirty: starting the exchange
삼십 분만 기다려 주세요.
samsip bunman gidaryeo juseyo.
Please wait just 30 minutes.
삼십 is the Sino-Korean value used before the minute counter 분.
- 2Thirty: adding useful context
삼십 더하기 삼십은 얼마예요?
samsip deohagi samsibeun eolmayeyo?
What is 30 plus 30?
This calculation uses the Sino-Korean numeral 삼십.
- 3Thirty: a different conversation
서른 개가 필요해요.
seoreun gaega piryohaeyo.
I need 30 items.
서른 is the counting form used before 개 in this item quantity.
Mistakes English speakers make with 삼십 / 서른
Incorrect: 삼십 분만 기다려 주으세요.
Correct: 삼십 분만 기다려 주세요.
When practicing thirty, the vowel-final stem 주 takes 세요 directly; do not add 으. The complete correction is 삼십 분만 기다려 주세요.
Incorrect: 서른 분만 기다려 주세요.
Correct: 삼십 분만 기다려 주세요.
When practicing thirty, minutes use Sino-Korean 삼십, rather than the native number 서른 used with many item counters.
Good to know
삼십 is the Sino-Korean form for 30; use it for minutes, dates, prices, and calculation. 서른 is the native Korean form; 서른 is used before a general item counter.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led time numbers and colors study exercise: two sentences with 삼십 / 서른
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
삼십 분만 기다려 주세요.
samsip bunman gidaryeo juseyo.
Please wait just 30 minutes.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
삼십 더하기 삼십은 얼마예요?
samsip deohagi samsibeun eolmayeyo?
What is 30 plus 30?
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Thirty" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Thirty" in Korean
What does 삼십 mean?
Thirty in Korean is 삼십 / 서른 (samsip / seoreun). 삼십 is the Sino-Korean form for 30; use it for minutes, dates, prices, and calculation. 서른 is the native Korean form; 서른 is used before a general item counter.
When should I say 서른 개?
삼십 is the Sino-Korean form for 30; use it for minutes, dates, prices, and calculation. 서른 is the native Korean form; 서른 is used before a general item counter.
How does 서른 개 differ from the basic expression?
서른 개 means “30 items”. 삼십 is the Sino-Korean form for 30; use it for minutes, dates, prices, and calculation. 서른 is the native Korean form; 서른 is used before a general item counter.
Can I use 삼십 in a full sentence?
삼십 분만 기다려 주세요. means “Please wait just 30 minutes.” 삼십 is the Sino-Korean form for 30; use it for minutes, dates, prices, and calculation. 서른 is the native Korean form; 서른 is used before a general item counter.
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