몇

몇 asks 'how many' or 'what number' and always comes right before a counter such as 개, 명, 시 or 살.

정도·비교Degree & comparison

Han: 몇 does not go directly before the counted noun like 'how many apples'; put the noun first, then 몇 + counter.

Examples

지금 몇 시예요?What time is it now?

어제 사과를 몇 개 샀어요?How many apples did you buy yesterday?

가족이 몇 명이에요?How many people are in your family?

동생은 몇 살이에요?How old is your younger sibling?

몇vs얼마얼마 asks about price or amount and needs no counter, while 몇 always needs one: 이 가방은 얼마예요? vs 가방이 몇 개예요?

몇vs며칠For 'what day / how many days' Korean writes 며칠, never 몇 일: 오늘이 며칠이에요?

몇vs몇 시간몇 시 asks the clock time, 몇 시간 asks how long: 몇 시에 와요? vs 몇 시간 공부해요?

몇+counter

unit noun (N + 이/가/을/를 + 몇 + counter)

사과 → 사과를 몇 개 샀어요?

몇 cannot stand alone; it needs a counter or unit noun right after it: 몇 개, 몇 명, 몇 시, 몇 살, 몇 층.
Word order is noun + particle + 몇 + counter: 학생이 몇 명 있어요? The counted noun does not go after 몇.
Answer with native Korean numbers for 개, 명, 살, 시 (두 개, 세 명, 네 시), but with Sino-Korean numbers for 분, 월, 층 (십 분, 삼 층).
In a statement (not a question), 몇 means 'a few': 친구 몇 명이 왔어요 = A few friends came.

Wrong: ~~몇 사과를 샀어요?~~

Right: 사과를 몇 개 샀어요?

몇 does not go directly before the counted noun like 'how many apples'; put the noun first, then 몇 + counter.

Hannim plans each day up to your exam date: questions on this pattern, reviews, full mock papers and graded writing. 7 days free, no card.