How to read Hangeul - Batchim

 

Batchim (받침)

In Korean, Batchim refers to the final consonant in a syllable block. It is placed at the bottom of the syllable and affects pronunciation rules.

👉 Examples,

강: Batchim is ㅇ

밥: Batchim is ㅂ 

Batchim is not an essential part, but more than half words have Batchim. Also, Batchim is one of the most important thing. 

👉 Examples: 박, 밖, 반, 밤, 발, 밭, 밥, 방

They are all existing words which have their own meaning.

 

1. Basic Batchim 

There are 7 basic sounds for Batchim, even though there are more letters that can appear in the final position.

1) [k]: ㄱ, ㅋ, ㄲ → ㄱ

Pronounced as a soft [k] sound

If you can, please remember as [ㄱ]  sound

2) [n]: ㄴ → ㄴ

Clear [n] sound

3) [t]: ㄷ, ㅅ, ㅆ, ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅌ, ㅎ → ㄷ

All pronounced as [t] sound at the end

If you can, please remember as [ㄷ] sound

4) [l]: ㄹ → ㄹ

Pronounced like [l] in English 

5) [m]: ㅁ → ㅁ

Clear [m] sound 

6) [p]: ㅂ, ㅍ → ㅂ

Pronounced as [p] sound

If you can, please remember as [ㅂ] sound 

7) [ng]: ㅇ → ㅇ

Pronounced as [ng] sound

Send the air to your nose when you say it

 

2. Double Batchim (겹받침)

Some syllables have two Batchim (final consonants) at the bottom.

👉 Example: 읽다, 앉다 

1) ㄱ + ㅅ → ㄳ : 몫

2) ㄴ + ㅈ → ㄵ : 앉다

3) ㄴ + ㅎ → ㄶ : 많다

4) ㄹ + ㄱ → ㄺ : 읽다

5) ㄹ + ㅁ → ㄻ : 삶

6) ㄹ + ㅂ → ㄼ : 짧다

7) ㄹ + ㅅ → ㄽ : 외곬

8) ㄹ + ㅌ → ㄾ : 핥다

9) ㄹ + ㅍ → ㄿ : 읊다 

10) ㄹ + ㅎ→ ㅀ : 싫다

11) ㅂ + ㅅ→ ㅄ : 값

These are important for pronunciation and grammar, and they follow specific rules. 

 

1)  When you can read both sounds, say it all pronunciation. Especially, when followed by a vowel, the second consonant may carry over. 

👉 Example,

앉아서 [안자서]

몫이 [목시] 

읽고 [일꼬]

 

2) Only one consonant is usually pronounced, following the next order.

ㄱ>ㄴ>ㄷ>ㄹ>ㅁ>ㅂ>ㅅ>ㅇ>ㅈ>ㅊ>ㅌ>ㅍ>ㅎ

👉 Example,

앉다 [안따]

값진 [갑찐]

읽지만 [익찌만] 

 

3) Third rule is exceptions to the general pattern. They are especially important for correct pronunciation and spelling in Korean.

3-1) ㄻ: Do not follow rule No. 2. Pronounced as [ㅁ]

👉 삶다 [삼따], 젊다 [점따] 

3-2) ㄼ: It depends on the word. You should check the dictionary whenever you see a new word.

👉 짧다 [짤따], 밟다 [밥따] 

3-3) ㄿ: Do not follow rule No. 2. Pronounced as [ㅂ]

👉 읊다 [읍따]

 

👀 If you remember these three rules, you can read any double Batchim! 

 

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ABOUT 

 

About Your Korean Tutor Kay

Welcome to Your Korean Tutor Kay, your go-to resource for learning Korean online! This blog is a learning space dedicated to helping Korean language learners master Hangeul and Korean and improve their reading, writing, and pronunciation skills. The blog provides clear explanations, practical tips, and structured lessons designed for beginners and intermediate learners. Each post focuses on making Korean easy and enjoyable through examples, visuals, and cultural insights.  

 

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How to read Hangeul - Vowels

 

How to Read Hangeul, the second lesson.

• Vowels

  English alphabet has less vowels, but Korean has more vowels. Moreover, there are double vowels as well. Korean vowels combine with consonants to form syllables. Vowels can appear to the right or below the consonant.

1. Basic vowels

1) ㅏ [a]

Pronounced like 'a' in 'father'  

2) ㅓ [eo]

Similar to 'uh' in 'sun' 

3) ㅗ [o]

Similar to 'o' in 'Domino' 

4) ㅜ [u]

Like 'oo' in 'moon'. This sound is very different from 'sun' sound. 

5) ㅡ [eu]

No exact English equivalent; close to 'eu' sound with lips relaxed. I like to say this is Hulk sound. It is similar to the sound that Hulk makes when he is angry.   

6) ㅣ [i]

Like 'ee' in 'see' 

7) ㅐ [ae]

Similar to 'a' in 'cat', but you need to make your mouth very big. 

8) ㅔ [e]

Like 'e' in 'bed' 

👉 In reality, modern Korean speakers often pronounce both almost same, closer to 'e' sound. For example, 내(=my) and 네(=your) often sound identical in casual speech. 

 

2. Compound vowels

These are formed by combining basic vowels, and create smooth transitions between two sounds in one syllable. 

1) ㅑ [ya] 

Like 'ya' in 'yard' 

2) ㅕ [yeo]

Similar to 'yuh' sound 

3) ㅛ [yo]

Like 'yo' in 'yoga'

📕 The vowel ㅛ is commonly used in Korean honorific speech (polite or formal language). Many polite verb endings include this vowel, such as '요' at the end of sentences. So, if you are learning Korean, you will hear and use this vowel frequently because it is essential for speaking politely.

4) ㅠ [yu]

Like 'you' in English 

5) ㅒ [yae]

Similar to 'ye' in 'yes' 

6) ㅖ [ye]

Same as ㅐ and ㅔ, ㅒ and ㅖ have the almost same pronunciation, but 얘 mean 'kid' and  예 is 'yes.' Similar to 'ye' in 'yes' 

7) ㅘ [wa]

Combination of ㅗ and ㅏ. You can pronounce two vowels in order, but very quickly. 

8) ㅙ  [we]

Combination of ㅗ and ㅐ. You can pronounce two vowels in order, but very quickly.  

9) ㅚ [oe]

Combination of ㅗ and ㅣ. However, if you pronounce two vowels in order, it sounds very weird. This one is probably most difficult to remember the pronunciation. Pronounced like 'we' in 'wet' 

10) ㅝ [wo]

Combination of ㅜ and ㅓ.  Like 'wo' in 'wonder'

11) ㅞ [we]

Combination of ㅜ and ㅔ.  Like 'we' in 'wet'

12) ㅟ  [wi]

Combination of ㅜ andㅣ. Like 'wee' in 'week' 

 

👉 ㅚ, ㅙ, ㅞ are theoretically different. In reality, however, all three are usually pronounced as 'we' or 'weh' in modern Korean. As I wrote above, meanings can be different depending on which vowel is used.

 

👉 Korean vowel system has simplified over time. Younger generations especially merge these sounds in casual speech. Context usually helps listeners distinguish meaning. 

 

👉 Some vowels have two short strokes (ㅑ, ㅕ, ㅛ, ㅠ, ㅒ, ㅖ). These strokes indicate that the vowel starts with a 'y' sound, similar to the English letter Y. Then, smoothly transition to the basic vowel (the one without the extra strokes). This method makes pronunciation easier because you understand the 'y' sound comes from the extra strokes, and the base vowel tells you the main sound.  

 

3. Three groups of vowels

Historically, Korean words followed vowel harmony, meaning positive and negative vowels rarely mixed in the same word. Modern Korean doesn't strictly follow this rule, but it still influences word formation and onomatopoeia.

1) Positive vowels

👉 These vowels sound bright and are considered 'positive' in traditional phonology. 

ㅏ, ㅗ, ㅑ, ㅛ, ㅘ, ㅙ, ㅚ

ㅗ and ㅏ are basic positive vowels, and you can add neutral vowels to make other positive vowels.  

 

2) Negative vowels

👉 These vowels sound dark and are considered 'negative.'

ㅓ, ㅜ, ㅕ, ㅠ, ㅝ, ㅞ

ㅜ and ㅓ are basic negative vowels, and you can add neutral vowels to make other negative vowels.

 

3) Neutral vowels

👉 ㅡ and ㅣ are neutral because they can combine with both positive and negative vowels. 

 

Next time, we will cover 

😊 Batchim

😊 Practice