Lesson 5 — Making Korean Syllables (한글 음절 만들기) Grammar

A Korean syllable is generally formed as:

Consonant + Vowel (CV)

Examples

• ㄱ + ㅏ → 가

• ㄴ + ㅏ → 나

• ㄷ + ㅏ → 다

• ㅁ + ㅏ → 마

Every Korean syllable is written as one square block, not as separate letters.

Many Korean syllables end with a final consonant called 받침 (batchim).

Examples

Hangul letters are combined into one syllable block, not written in a straight line.

Examples

Correct:

• ㄱ + ㅏ = 가

• ㅅ + ㅏ = 사

• ㅎ + ㅏ + ㄴ = 한

Incorrect:

• ㄱㅏ

• ㅅㅏ

• ㅎㅏㄴ

Read each syllable block from left to right.

Examples

• 가 + 나 = 가나 (Gana)

• 나 + 무 = 나무 (Tree)

• 사 + 과 = 사과 (Apple)

• 한 + 국 = 한국 (Korea)

When a consonant is in the final position (받침), its pronunciation may be different from when it appears at the beginning of a syllable.

Examples

Note: Detailed Batchim pronunciation rules will be covered in a dedicated lesson later in the course.