Basic Consonants Part 2 (기본 자음 2)
Learn the remaining 7 consonants: ㅇ, ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, ㅎ. Discover the aspirated consonant family.
Aspirated Consonants & the Silent ㅇ
In this lesson, you'll complete the 14 basic consonants. Four of these are "aspirated" versions of consonants you already know -- they are pronounced with a strong puff of air. You'll also meet ㅇ, which plays a unique double role: silent at the start of a syllable, but "ng" at the end.
Basic Consonants Part 2
Learn the remaining 7 Korean consonants, including the special silent consonant ㅇ and the aspirated consonants (ㅊ, ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ).
ㅇ — 이응 (ieung), ng / silent
Silent when at the beginning of a syllable (placeholder). Sounds like "ng" in "sing" when at the end.
Looks like a zero or a circle. When at the start, it makes zero sound! "O" for zero sound!
- 아이 (ai) — child
- 우유 (uyu) — milk
- 강 (gang) — river
ㅈ — 지읒 (jieut), j
Like "j" in "just" at the start. Like "t" at the end of a syllable.
Looks like a person bowing with a hat -- like doing a Japanese-style bow. "J" for a bowing Judge!
- 자다 (jada) — to sleep
- 주스 (juseu) — juice
- 지하철 (jihacheol) — subway
ㅊ — 치읓 (chieut), ch
Like "ch" in "church". This is the aspirated version of ㅈ (more air).
Looks like ㅈ with a hat on top -- a CHurch steeple with a cross! "CH" for Church!
- 차 (cha) — tea / car
- 책 (chaek) — book
- 친구 (chingu) — friend
ㅋ — 키읔 (kieuk), k
Like "k" in "kite". This is the aspirated version of ㄱ (stronger, with more air).
Looks like ㄱ with an extra horizontal line -- like a Key! "K" for Key!
- 카드 (kadeu) — card
- 커피 (keopi) — coffee
- 크다 (keuda) — to be big
ㅌ — 티읕 (tieut), t
Like "t" in "top". This is the aspirated version of ㄷ (stronger, with more air).
Looks like ㄷ with an extra line -- like a Table from the side. "T" for Table!
- 타다 (tada) — to ride
- 토끼 (tokki) — rabbit
- 택시 (taeksi) — taxi
ㅍ — 피읖 (pieup), p
Like "p" in "pen". This is the aspirated version of ㅂ (stronger, with more air).
Looks like ㅂ with horizontal lines -- like a Pi symbol (π) or a fence Post. "P" for Pi!
- 파 (pa) — green onion
- 피자 (pija) — pizza
- 편지 (pyeonji) — letter (mail)
ㅎ — 히읗 (hieut), h
Like "h" in "hello". A breathy sound. Often silent or weak between vowels.
Looks like a person wearing a Hat -- the circle is the face, the top is the brim. "H" for Hat!
- 하나 (hana) — one
- 한국 (hanguk) — Korea
- 학교 (hakgyo) — school
Plain, Aspirated, and Tense
Korean consonants come in three types: plain (예사소리), aspirated (거센소리), and tense/double (된소리). Plain consonants (ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅈ) are soft. Aspirated consonants (ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, ㅊ) are pronounced with a burst of air. Tense consonants (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅉ) are pronounced with tension in the throat. You'll learn the tense consonants in the next lesson!
Aspirated Consonants & the Silent ㅇ
In this lesson, you'll complete the 14 basic consonants. Four of these are "aspirated" versions of consonants you already know -- they are pronounced with a strong puff of air. You'll also meet ㅇ, which plays a unique double role: silent at the start of a syllable, but "ng" at the end.