Grammar — Entry No. 0998
~번
counter-times · noun
~번
counter-times
[KOWN-tur TIMES]
nounbeginner
Meaning
The counter 번 (beon) is the Korean classifier for counting occurrences, repetitions, or instances—’how many times.’ It’s used with verbs indicating repeated actions and is essential for discussing frequency, concert attendance, and viewing habits.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
K-Drama characters use 번 when discussing repeated events (‘I’ve watched this drama 10 times—열 번 봤어’), making frequency expressions common in dialogue. K-pop fandoms obsess over concert attendance (‘I’ve seen EXO 5 times—다섯 번’), and 번 is inseparable from these conversations. International fans track tour dates using 번, planning how many times they’ll attend.
Example Sentences
이 노래를 백 번 들었어.
i noraereul baek beon deureosseo.
I’ve listened to this song 100 times. (obsessive fandom behavior)
SEVENTEEN 콘서트에 세 번 갔어.
SEVENTEEN konseotue se beon gasseo.
I went to SEVENTEEN concerts three times. (concert attendance)
매일 스튜디오에 다섯 번 와.
maeil seutudioe daseos beon wa.
He comes to the studio five times every day. (frequency description)
⚠️ Don’t use counter-times when…
1) 번 specifically counts repetitions/occurrences, not time periods (for those, use 시간/날/주 for hours/days/weeks). 2) The phrase structure is Action-Object + N번, not ‘N times action’—English word order won’t help here.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: True Beauty — Characters discuss viewing dramas by number of times watched.
- K-Pop: TWICE — Fans frequently note ‘TWICE 콘서트 N번 봤다’ (I’ve watched N TWICE concerts).
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.