Korean word

마리

Pronunciation

Romanizationmari

Meaning

  • nounanimal counter

Example

고양이 한 마리를 집으로 데려왔어요.ko yang i han ma ri reul chi beu ro te ryeo wa sseo yo

I brought one cat home.

Illustration for 마리 (animal counter)

More examples

공원에 개가 세 마리 있어요.kong wo ne kae ga se ma ri i sseo yo

There are three dogs in the park.

Core concept

A number marks how many individual animals there are, one animal at a time.

Common phrases

  • 한 마리han ma ri

    one animal

  • 두 마리tu ma ri

    two animals

  • 몇 마리myeot ma ri

    how many animals

Similar words

개kae: A general counting unit used after a number to count separate things.
명myeong: A people-counting unit used after a number to show how many people there are.
대tae: A counting unit used after a number for vehicles or machines.
그루keuru: A counting unit used after a number for individual trees and large plants.

Definition in Korean

동물 한 마리, 두 마리처럼 개별 개체를 세는 말로, 새끼나 가축 수를 말할 때 자주 쓰인다.tong mul han ma ri tu ma ri cheo reom kae byeol kae che reul se neun mal lo sae kki na ka chuk su reul mal hal ttae cha ju sseu in da

Word origin

The word comes from native Korean rather than a Chinese-character compound and has long served as an animal counter.

Usage tips

  • The same counter works for pets, farm animals, and young animals, making it useful whenever talking about animals at home or on a farm.

Related words

  • 마릿수maritssuanimal countnoun

Word lists with this word