1. The Golden Rule of Telling Time
The single best way to memorize both systems is telling the time:
• The Hour is always Native Korean: 1 o’clock is "Han-si" (한 시), 2 o’clock is "Du-si" (두 시), 3 o’clock is "Se-si" (세 시).
• The Minutes are always Sino-Korean: 15 minutes is "Sibo-bun" (십오 분), 30 minutes is "Samsip-bun" (삼십 분).
Therefore, 3:30 is "Se-si Samsip-bun" (세 시 삼십 분). Practicing this sentence daily cements both systems seamlessly.
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Key Takeaway
Hours take Native numbers; Minutes and Money take Sino numbers.