Korean for English speakers Clothes · Lesson 3

Counting units for clothes in Korean

Korean clothing counters — 청바지 한 벌 (a pair of jeans) — with the counter -벌 for clothes.

Conversation

  1. Kyle Kyle

    예니퍼 씨, 뭘 샀어요?

    Yenipeo ssi, mwol sasseoyo?

    Yennifer, what did you buy?

    Tip: <뭘> = what (for the object of the sentence) (contracted version of 뭐를) <샀어요> = verb "to buy" (in past tense)

  2. Yennifer Yennifer

    청바지 한 벌이요. 카일 씨는요?

    Cheongbaji han beoriyo. Kail ssineunyo?

    A pair of jeans. What about you, Kyle?

    Tip: <벌> = counting unit for big and heavy clothes (like pants or coats)

  3. Kyle Kyle

    저는 티셔츠 두 장을 샀어요.

    Jeoneun tisyeocheu du jangeul sasseoyo.

    I bought two T-shirts.

    Tip: <두> = "two" in adjective form (native korean number counting) <장> = counting unit for little and light clothes (like T-shirts or underwears)

  4. Yennifer Yennifer

    어디 봐요. 와, 예뻐요!

    Eodi bwayo. Wa, yeppeoyo!

    Let me see. Wow, they look nice!

    Tip: <어디 봐요> = "Let me see" <예뻐요> = adjective "to be pretty" or verb "to look nice"

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What is the counter -벌?

Counter for clothes / outfits. 옷 한 벌 = 'one outfit'. 청바지 두 벌 = 'two pairs of jeans'.

What is the counter -장?

Counter for thin flat items: shirts (옷 한 장), papers (종이 한 장), photos (사진 한 장).

How to ask 'what did you buy?'

뭘 샀어요? — 뭐 (what) + -ㄹ (object particle contracted) + 샀어요 (bought, past polite).

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Korean lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

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