Key Facts
- Hangul: 분; Revised Romanization: bun
- Part of speech: noun (counter)
- Origin: Sino-Korean
- Register: Neutral, standard counter; used with Sino-Korean numbers.
- Hanja: 分 (分 minute)
Minute in Korean: How Do You Pronounce 분?
One syllable, bun, with a clear final n. The ㅂ at the start is unaspirated, softer than an English p and a little crisper than b. An honorific counter for people sounds exactly the same, so the number in front is the real clue.
Example Sentences with 분
지금 십 분 남았어요.
Jigeum sip bun namasseoyo
There are ten minutes left now.
A countdown. 십 is ten and 남았어요 means "remain", so ten minutes are left.
삼십 분 후에 만나요.
Samsip bun hue mannayo
Let's meet in thirty minutes.
An appointment. 후에 is "after", so the meeting is thirty minutes away.
버스는 오 분 후에 와요.
Beoseuneun o bun hue wayo
The bus comes in five minutes.
A transit sentence. The bus arrives in five minutes, with 오 as the Sino-Korean five.
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 오 분 | five minutes |
| 삼십 분 | thirty minutes |
| 몇 분 | how many minutes |
| 십 분 전 | ten minutes ago / before |
몇 분 asks "how many minutes", and 십 분 전 counts back from a time. In polite speech 몇 분 can also mean "how many people", so context matters.
The Mistake to Avoid
Learners count minutes with native Korean numbers.
Wrong: 한 분 for "one minute". 한 분 means one person, said politely.
Correct: 십오 분 for fifteen minutes and 오 분 for five; one minute is il bun, with the Sino-Korean "one". Minutes take Sino-Korean numbers, while clock hours take native ones (세 시, three o'clock).
분 Compared with Similar Words
Two related entries are neighbouring time units; the third is the homophone.
| Word | Meaning | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|---|
| 분 | minute (counter) | This page's word |
| 초 | second | smaller unit |
| 시간 | hour | larger unit |
| 분 | honorific 'person' | homophone: the polite counter for people, as in 한 분 (one person) |
Where Does the Word Come From?
분 is Sino-Korean, written 分 in hanja. The character's basic sense is "divide", and a minute is a division of the hour.
At the Bus Stop: How Long Is the Wait?
Two passengers are checking when their bus will arrive. They ask about a wait, so 분 refers to minutes rather than people.
Mina
버스는 몇 분 후에 와요?
Beoseuneun myeot bun hue wayo?
In how many minutes will the bus arrive?
Jun
오 분 후에 와요.
O bun hue wayo.
It will arrive in five minutes.
Mina
그럼 시간이 좀 있네요.
Geureom sigani jom inneyo.
Then we have a little time.
Jun
네, 여기서 기다려요.
Ne, yeogiseo gidaryeoyo.
Yes, let’s wait here.
The answer gives an interval, not a clock reading. 후에 means “after”; English naturally uses “in” for this future wait. Both speakers use polite endings. The counter stays 분 whether the person answering is a friend or a stranger.
Does 분 Tell the Time or Measure a Wait?
분 does both. In 세 시 오 분, “three oh five”, the minutes follow the hour. In 오 분 동안, “for five minutes”, the same unit measures a duration. Look for 시 before the minute value to recognize a clock time, and 동안 after it to recognize an interval.
오 분 후에 means “in five minutes”, while 오 분 전에 means “five minutes ago” or “five minutes before”. The reference point matters: a friend looking at the clock usually means five minutes from now; an instruction about an appointment may count from the appointment time instead.
오 분만 means “just five minutes”. The particle 만 limits the amount. It is useful when asking for a short wait, but it does not itself make a request polite. 잠깐만요, “just a moment”, is another common waiting expression; it does not promise a measured sixty-second minute.
Where Will You See 분 Written with Digits?
Bus displays, timers and video players often use digits: 5분 means five minutes. A clock display such as 3시 05분 combines hours and minutes. Read the minute digits with Sino-Korean numbers even when the hour uses a native Korean number. The zero padding on the screen does not change the unit.
A cooking instruction with 5분 tells you how long a step lasts. A timetable with 3시 05분 tells you when something happens. The number and 분 alone do not say whether you should wait, cook or travel; the surrounding label supplies that action.
Nearby Time Words
| Korean | Meaning | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| 초 | second | Read a short countdown or stopwatch. |
| 시 | o’clock; clock-hour counter | Give the hour in a clock reading. |
| 시간 | hour; time | Describe an hour-long duration or time generally. |
| 반 | half | Read 세 시 반 as half past three. |
The time expressions lesson puts these units together. 반 replaces the thirty-minute part in a clock time: 세 시 반 means 3:30. It does not change the way you count other minute values.
Quick Self-Test
- Which means five minutes: 오 분 or 다섯 분?
- Does 오 분 후에 describe five minutes ago or five minutes from now?
- In 세 시 오 분, which part gives the minutes?
Show answers
- 오 분. Minutes take Sino-Korean numbers.
- Five minutes from now, unless another reference time is given.
- 오 분 gives the minutes; 세 시 gives the hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "minute" in Korean?
Minute is 분 (bun), placed after a Sino-Korean number: 오 분 is five minutes and 삼십 분 is thirty minutes. To ask how many, put 몇 in front: 몇 분.
Why not 한 분?
한 is the native Korean "one", and 한 분 means one person in polite speech, as when a restaurant asks how many are in your party. One minute is il bun, with the Sino-Korean number for one.
How do I ask how many minutes?
Ask 몇 분, with 몇 (how many) before the counter. Because 몇 분 can also mean "how many people" in polite speech, the setting, such as a bus timetable or a clock, tells you which is meant.
Which numbers go with hours?
Native Korean numbers. For clock time use 시: 세 시 is three o'clock. For a length of time use 시간: 세 시간 is three hours. Minutes stay Sino-Korean in both cases.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Time expressions word list groups 분 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Compare with time in Korean (시간), the word for hours as a duration.