Korean Dictionary
How to say "Korean age" in Korean
“Korean age” in Korean is 한국 나이 (pronounced "Hanguk nai").
한국 나이
Hanguk nai
Usage & Context
Korea's traditional age counting system where everyone is 1 year old at birth (not 0) and everyone gains a year on January 1st rather than their birthday. This makes most Koreans 1-2 years older in Korean age than in international age. Korea officially moved to international age in 2023, but Korean age is still used colloquially.
Example Sentence
한국 나이로는 스물인데 국제 나이로는 열여덟이에요.
In Korean age I'm twenty, but in international age I'm eighteen.
How to use 한국 나이 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Korean age” is 한국 나이, romanized as Hanguk nai.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 한국 나이.
Pronunciation Guide
한 (han) sounds like "han" in "hand." 국 (guk) is like "gook" in "cook" but with a 'g' sound. 나 (na) is like "na" in "nap." 이 (i) is like "ee" in "see." Combine as "Han-guk na-ee."
More Example Sentences
Explaining age hierarchy in a social setting.
한국 나이로는 제가 언니인데, 만 나이로는 동갑이에요.
In Korean age, I'm the older sister, but in international age, we're the same age.
Discussing the recent legal change in age counting.
2023년부터 한국 나이 대신 만 나이를 공식적으로 사용해요.
Since 2023, international age is officially used instead of Korean age.
A person stating their age and current status.
한국 나이로 스물다섯인데, 아직도 학생이에요.
I'm twenty-five in Korean age, but I'm still a student.
Cultural Context
Korean age (한국 나이) is a traditional age-counting system where everyone is considered one year old at birth and gains another year on January 1st, regardless of their actual birthday. This means most Koreans are one or two years older in Korean age than in international age. While Korea officially adopted the international age system in June 2023 for legal and administrative purposes, '한국 나이' is still widely used in casual conversation and for social interactions, influencing honorifics and social hierarchy. It's common to ask someone's Korean age to determine how to address them.
Editorial note
We review entries like 한국 나이 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
한국 나이로 몇 살이에요?
How old are you in Korean age?
한국 나이로는 한 살 더 많아요.
In Korean age, I'm one year older.
한국 나이 계산법
Korean age calculation method
Related Expressions
만 나이
man nai
international age (literally 'full age')
나이
nai
age
생일
saengil
birthday
띠동갑
ttidonggap
same zodiac sign (often implies a 12-year age difference)
More Culture Words
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