Learn Korean for Free | Beginner Korean Grammar #20
How many people? What time? How many cups? The question word 몇 appears before a noun or counter expression when the number is unknown.
What Does 몇 N Mean?
Use 몇 N to ask about a number or quantity. With countable things, 몇 usually comes before the appropriate counter: 몇 개, 몇 명, 몇 잔. It also appears in fixed time and date questions such as 몇 시 and 몇 월.
The Rule
The basic order is noun + 몇 + counter: 사과 몇 개 (how many apples), 학생 몇 명 (how many students). When the noun is already clear, omit it and ask 몇 개예요? Use the counter that matches the answer.
Useful Korean Words
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 몇 개 | how many items |
| 몇 명 | how many people |
| 몇 분 | how many people/minutes |
| 몇 잔 | how many cups |
| 몇 시 | what time |
| 몇 월 | what month |
| 몇 번 | what number/how many times |
| 몇 살 | how old |
Korean Grammar Examples
사과가 몇 개 있어요?
How many apples are there?
학생이 몇 명이에요?
How many students are there?
커피를 몇 잔 주문해요?
How many cups of coffee are you ordering?
지금 몇 시예요?
What time is it now?
한국어 수업이 일주일에 몇 번 있어요?
How many times a week is Korean class?
A Short Dialogue
Staff: 몇 분이세요? — How many people are in your party?
Customer: 세 명이에요. — There are three of us.
Staff: 음료는 몇 잔 드릴까요? — How many drinks shall I bring?
Customer: 두 잔 주세요. — Two, please.
A Common Mistake to Avoid
몇 분 can mean “how many people” when 분 is an honorific person counter, or “how many minutes” when 분 means minutes. Context gives the answer: 몇 분이세요? at a restaurant usually asks party size; 몇 분 걸려요? asks how many minutes it takes. Do not answer 몇 명 with a bare Sino-Korean number; use the matching counter phrase, such as 세 명.
Quick Quiz 🎯
Choose the best expression: ① What time? (몇 시 / 몇 개) ② How many students? (몇 명 / 몇 잔) ③ How many coffees? (몇 잔 / 몇 월) ④ How many times a week? (몇 번 / 몇 살).
Answers and Explanation
① 몇 시 ② 몇 명 ③ 몇 잔 ④ 몇 번. Now make full questions: 지금 몇 시예요? 학생이 몇 명이에요? 커피 몇 잔 주세요? 일주일에 몇 번 공부해요?
Try It in Your Own Life
Say or write two original sentences with 몇 N. Use a person, place, food, class, or daily routine that is real for you. Then change one detail and say the new sentence aloud. This small change helps you practice the grammar as a speaking tool rather than memorizing only one example.
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