Usage of '명' as a Person Counter
The Korean word '명' is a counter used specifically for counting people. It is attached directly after a number to indicate how many individuals are involved. For example, '3명' means 'three people.'
Common Contexts
You will often hear '명' in situations involving attendance, guests, or capacity, such as meetings, events, or restaurants. It is a formal and neutral counter suitable for both spoken and written Korean.
Collocations and Patterns
- '명 참석하다' (to attend as a certain number of people): used when reporting attendance.
- '명 수' (number of people): used when asking or stating the count of people.
- '명까지 수용하다' (to accommodate up to a certain number of people): used when describing capacity.
Important Notes
Avoid confusing '명' with other counters like '사람' which also means person but is not used as a counter. '명' is the correct counter for counting people in formal contexts. Also, do not omit '명' when specifying the number of people, as it clarifies the quantity clearly.