Korean Dictionary
How to say "Hour" in Korean
“Hour” in Korean is 시간 (pronounced "sigan").
시간
sigan
Usage & Context
The unit of time for hours, used in telling time and measuring longer durations. This is commonly used in schedules, work, and daily activities.
Example Sentence
2시간을 공부해요.
I study for 2 hours.
How to use 시간 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Hour” is 시간, romanized as sigan.
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 시간.
Pronunciation Guide
The word "시간" (sigan) sounds like "shee-gahn." The '시' is like "shee" in "sheep," and '간' is like "gahn" in "gone," but with a slightly softer 'g' sound. The stress is fairly even.
More Example Sentences
Asking about the duration of a trip or task.
몇 시간 걸릴까요?
How many hours will it take?
Describing a daily work routine.
하루에 8시간 일해요.
I work 8 hours a day.
Making plans with a friend for later.
두 시간 후에 만나요.
Let's meet in two hours.
Cultural Context
"시간" is used with native Korean numbers (한, 두, 세...) when counting hours (e.g., "세 시간 동안" for "for three hours") and also when telling time (e.g., "세 시" for 3 o'clock). The concept of "시간 약속" (time appointment/promise) is very important in Korean culture, emphasizing punctuality and respecting others' time.
Editorial note
We review entries like 시간 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
몇 시간
how many hours
시간이 없다
to not have time
시간을 내다
to make time
Related Expressions
초
cho
second
분
bun
minute
시간표
siganpyo
timetable / schedule
시간을 보내다
sigan-eul bonaeda
to spend time
More Numbers and Time Words
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