살
sal
years old (native Korean counter — spoken/casual)
세
se
years of age (Sino-Korean counter — formal/written)
살 vs 세: Two Ways to Count Age in Korean
살 is the native Korean counter for years of age used in casual speech, while 세 is the Sino-Korean counter used in formal, written, and official contexts like documents or news.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| 살 (sal) | 세 (se) | |
|---|---|---|
| Number System Used With | Native Korean numbers: 하나, 둘, 셋... (han, du, se...) | Sino-Korean numbers: 일, 이, 삼... (il, i, sam...) |
| Register | Casual and spoken — most common in daily life | Formal and written — used in documents, news, official speech |
| Example (Age 23) | 스물세 살 (seumul-se sal) | 이십삼 세 (isipssam se) |
| Social Usage | Asking a friend's age, casual conversation | Medical forms, legal documents, news reports |
| Special Note | 하나 살 → 한 살 (irregular native number form) | 일 세 → 一세 (written), but pronounced naturally |
Examples in Context
Asking a friend's age in conversation — using 살
너 몇 살이야?
How old are you?
Telling someone your casual age — using 살
저는 스물다섯 살이에요.
I am twenty-five years old.
Reading a news headline about a person — using 세
45세 남성이 마라톤에서 우승했다.
A 45-year-old man won the marathon.
Filling out a hospital intake form — using 세
나이: 32세
Age: 32
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✗Mixing number systems — never say 이십 살 (Sino-Korean number with native counter). Use native numbers (스물) with 살 and Sino-Korean numbers (이십) with 세.
- ✗Using 세 in casual conversation — while understood, it sounds formal and unnatural. Use 살 when chatting with friends.
- ✗Forgetting the irregular native numbers before 살: 하나 → 한 살, 둘 → 두 살, 셋 → 세 살, 넷 → 네 살.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which form should I learn first as a beginner?
Learn 살 with native Korean numbers first, as it is used in most daily spoken situations. You can add 세 later for reading news or filling out forms.
Do Koreans actually use Korean age or international age?
Since 2023, South Korea officially uses international age (만 나이) in legal and administrative contexts. However, social conversations often still reference traditional Korean age, so both systems appear.
How do I say '1 year old' and '2 years old' in Korean?
한 살 (one year old) and 두 살 (two years old) — note the irregular shortened forms of 하나 and 둘 before 살.
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