Learn Korean: Day + 동안

Let’s take a look at the Korean sentence pattern Day + 동안. We use this to say for one day, for two days, for three days, and so on. The word used to count days in Korean is 일. It is preceded by Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼, 사, etc.) For instance, we say 일 일 (one day), 이 일 (two days), 삼 일 (three days), and 사 일 (four days). As long as you know Sino-Korean numbers, this is nothing but a piece of cake. Now, here's the twist. There is also a Pure-Korean way of saying them. Here they are from one to ten: 하루, 이틀, 사흘, 나흘, 닷새, 엿새, 이레, 여드레, 아흐레, and 열흘. Don't be confused and just keep this one tip in mind. Use Pure-Korean for one and two and Sino-Korean for three and up. 하루 and 이틀 are just more commonly used than 일 일 and 이 일. We add 동안 to express duration as in 하루 동안 (for a day) and 오 일 동안 (for five days). We can use this in a variety of sentences. 

한국에 있었을 때 하루 동안 못 먹었어.

When I was in Korea, I couldn’t eat for one day.

이틀 동안 학교에 못 갔어.

I couldn’t go to school for two days.

사일 동안 부산에 있을 거야.

I will be in Busan for four days.