Understanding '이십' (Twenty)
'이십' is the Sino-Korean number for twenty (20). It is commonly used in counting, telling age, time, percentages, and prices. When combined with counters, it follows the standard Sino-Korean number system.
Usage in Daily Life
You will often hear '이십' when people talk about age (이십 살), time durations (이십 분), or discounts (이십 퍼센트). It is a formal and neutral term suitable for both spoken and written Korean.
Common Collocations
- 이십 살: twenty years old (age)
- 이십 분: twenty minutes (time)
- 이십 퍼센트: twenty percent (percentage)
- 이십 명: twenty people (counting people)
Tips for Learners
Be careful not to confuse '이십' with native Korean numbers like '스물' which also means twenty but is used mainly for age and counting objects in informal contexts. For example, '스물 살' is more natural in casual speech for age, but '이십 살' is perfectly correct and often used in formal situations.
Remember that '이십' is part of the Sino-Korean number system, so it pairs with Sino-Korean counters, while native Korean numbers pair with native counters.