What does 첫 번째 mean?
첫 번째 means "The first position." in Korean.
How it works here
‘첫 번째’ refers to the first place when counting order and is often used with an expression indicating which position something occupies.
When it's used
Use this when counting the order of people, objects, or items and referring to the position at the very front.
The line
정국이가 첫 번째야? 나 세 번째? 네
Is Jungkook first? Me, third? Yes.
This is said while checking people’s positions or numbers in a sequence.
Scene from “Run BTS! 2022 Special Episode - Telepathy Part 1” · Channel: BANGTANTV Watch on YouTube
More examples
내가 발표 순서에서 첫 번째야.
I’m first in the presentation order.
첫 번째 칸은 비워 두고 두 번째 칸에 이름을 적으세요.
Leave the first space blank and write your name in the second space.
Quick check
When would you use this expression?
첫 번째
정국이가 첫 번째야? 나 세 번째? 네
Is Jungkook first? Me, third? Yes.
- You count how many apples there are.
- You check your position by looking at your number ticket.
- You ask what day of the month it is.
Show the answer
You check your position by looking at your number ticket.
First in order. ‘첫 번째’ is an ordinal expression that naturally appears before a noun. It is common in everyday conversation and less literary than ‘첫째’.
Other words in this line
- 첫
- First; the first
- 나
- I; me
- 세
- Three
- 세 번째
- Third
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