Korean word

삼

Pronunciation

Romanizationsam

Meaning

  • numeralthree

Example

우리 가게는 삼층에 있어요.u ri ka ge neun sam cheung e i sseo yo

Our store is on the third floor.

Illustration for 삼 (three)

More examples

삼인분 주세요.sa min bun chu se yo

Please give me three servings.

Core concept

A clear marker that something is counted as three or labeled with the number three.

Common phrases

  • 삼인분sa min bun

    three servings

  • 삼개월sam gae wol

    three months

  • 삼월sa mwol

    March

Similar words

세se: Three placed before a noun or counting word to show how many there are.
셋set: The basic standalone number for three items or people.

Definition in Korean

삼은 한자어 수사로서 숫자 3을 나타내며 층·호 등 단위 표시에 쓰이고, 같은 발음으로 인삼을 가리키는 명사로도 쓰인다.sa meun han ja eo su sa ro seo sut jja 3 eul na ta nae myeo cheung ho teung ta nwi pyo si e sseu i go ka teun pa reu meu ro in sa meul ka ri ki neun myeong sa ro do sseu in da

Word origin

The numeral 삼 (sam, "the number three") comes from the Sino-Korean reading of the Chinese character for three.

Usage tips

  • On Korean signs and building labels, recognizing this number helps identify a location quickly even when the surrounding words are unfamiliar.

Other meanings

  • ginsengnoun

Related words

  • 삼일절samiljeolMarch 1st Movementnoun
  • 삼십samsipthirtynumeral

Word lists with this word