Grammar — Entry No. 0996
~명/분
counter-people · noun
~명/분
counter-people
[KOWN-tur PEE-pul]
nounbeginner
Meaning
Korean uses classifiers (counters) to count different objects, with specific counters for different types of things. For people, the counters are 명 (myeong) for both formal and casual contexts, or 분 (bun) for a more honorific/polite way to refer to people, especially elders or in formal settings.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
K-Drama characters naturally use the appropriate counter for counting people, making this grammatical distinction visually apparent. K-pop groups discuss their member count using 명 (‘The group has 7 members—일곱 명’), and fans learn this immediately. International fans find counters confusing until they realize English doesn’t have this feature—Korean requires choosing the right counter for everything.
Example Sentences
사람이 세 명 있어요.
saramia se myeong isseoyo.
There are three people. (neutral counter for people)
우리 선생님은 정말 좋은 분이에요.
uri seonsaengniimeun jeongmal joeun buniieyo.
Our teacher is a really good person. (분 shows respect/honorific)
BLACKPINK는 네 명의 멤버가 있어.
BLACKPINKeun ne myeongui membeo-ga isseo.
BLACKPINK has four members. (명 for group members)
⚠️ Don’t use counter-people when…
1) Mixing up 명 and 분 is a common mistake—분 is specifically respectful, so using 명 for elders/seniors seems rude. 2) Don’t translate counters directly into English; ‘three people-counter’ is awkward—counters are essential Korean grammar, not optional flourishes.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Goblin — Characters use various counters when discussing family and group sizes.
- K-Pop: NewJeans — ‘뉴진스는 다섯 명이다’ (NewJeans is five people)—regular member count references.
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.