Korean Culture & Customs

접·손·쾌·축

jeop / son / kwae / chuk

Traditional counting units at the market

Beyond everyday counters like 마리 (animals), Korean markets keep centuries-old units with fixed quantities: 한 접 = 100 heads of garlic or vegetables, 한 손 = 2 fish (one 'hand' — a big one and a small one gripped together, usually mackerel), 한 쾌 = 20 dried pollack, 한 축 = 20 dried squid. Ask a fishmonger for 고등어 한 손 and you'll get exactly two mackerel. These units survive from Joseon-era trade and still appear at traditional markets and in crossword puzzles — knowing them instantly marks you as a Korean-culture insider.

Examples

Korean	English
시장에서 마늘 한 접하고 오징어 한 축 샀어요. sijang-eseo maneul han jeopago ojingeo han chuk sasseoyo.	I bought 100 heads of garlic and 20 dried squid at the market.

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