📈 Understanding Korean Proficiency Levels & TOPIK Alignment

Hangul Made Easy: Read the Korean Alphabet in a Day

Ever wanted to read and write in Korean? You’re in the right place. Hangul (한글) looks complex at first, but it’s one of the most logical writing systems in the world. This guide walks you through the essentials so you can start decoding Korean words today.

📚 Table of Contents (tap)

1. What is Hangul?
2. Basic Consonants (14)
3. Basic Vowels (10)
4. How Syllables Work
5. Batchim (final consonants) — quick rules
6. Bonus: Double consonants & combo vowels
7. Practice Plan (30 minutes)
8. Mini Quiz
9. Want help live?

🧩 What is Hangul?

Hangul is the Korean alphabet created in the 15th century during the reign of King Sejong the Great to improve literacy. Letters combine into tidy syllable blocks (not written in a straight line like English). It has 14 basic consonants and 10 basic vowels, plus a few extras you’ll see later.

Fun note: Hangul is widely praised for its logical, “scientific” design. There’s even a UNESCO literacy prize named after King Sejong.

🔤 Basic Consonants (14)

Korean	Letter name (RR)	Romanization	Sounds like
ㄱ	giyeok	g / k	g in good, k in skill
ㄴ	nieun	n	n in nose
ㄷ	digeut	d / t	d in dog, t in stop
ㄹ	rieul	r / l	flap between r & l
ㅁ	mieum	m	m in mom
ㅂ	bieup	b / p	b in boy, p in spa
ㅅ	siot	s	s in snake (before ㅣ often “sh”-like)
ㅇ	ieung	∅ / ng	silent at start, ng at end (song)
ㅈ	jieut	j	j in juice
ㅊ	chieut	ch	ch in cheese
ㅋ	kieuk	k	strong k
ㅌ	tieut	t	strong t
ㅍ	pieup	p	strong p
ㅎ	hieut	h	h in hat

🗣️ Basic Vowels (10)

Korean	Romanization	Sounds like
ㅏ	a	a in father
ㅑ	ya	ya in yacht
ㅓ	eo	soft “uh” (like sun)
ㅕ	yeo	“yuh” (as in young)
ㅗ	o	o in go
ㅛ	yo	yo in yo-yo
ㅜ	u	oo in moon
ㅠ	yu	“yoo”
ㅡ	eu	tight “eu” (lips spread)
ㅣ	i	ee in meet

🧱 How Syllables Work

Letters stack into blocks. Think LEGO:

• C + V → 가 (ga) = ㄱ + ㅏ
• C + V + C (with batchim) → 감 (gam) = ㄱ + ㅏ + ㅁ
• Vowels with side/top placement: ㅏ/ㅑ/ㅓ/ㅕ (vertical) sit to the right of the first consonant; ㅗ/ㅛ/ㅜ/ㅠ (horizontal) sit below.

Read order: left → right, top → bottom
Examples: 한 (han) + 국 (guk) → 한국 (Hanguk, “Korea”)

📌 Batchim (final consonants): quick rules

• Final sounds collapse to 7 bases: k(ㄱ/ㅋ/ㄲ), t(ㄷ/ㅅ/ㅆ/ㅈ/ㅊ/ㅌ/ㅎ), p(ㅂ/ㅍ), m(ㅁ), n(ㄴ), ng(ㅇ), l(ㄹ).
• Liaison: If the next syllable starts with a vowel, the batchim often moves up: 읽어요 → il-geo-yo (not ilg-eo-yo).
• ㅎ + aspirated neighbors may change sound (e.g., ㅂ+ㅎ → ㅍ-like burst).

✨ Bonus: Double consonants & combo vowels

Double (쌍자음)	Romanization	Note
ㄲ	kk	Tense k
ㄸ	tt	Tense t
ㅃ	pp	Tense p
ㅆ	ss	Tense s
ㅉ	jj	Tense jj

Combo vowels	Romanization	Sounds like
ㅐ	ae	“e” in bed (open)
ㅔ	e	“e” in bed (close)
ㅒ	yae	yae
ㅖ	ye	ye
ㅘ	wa	w + a
ㅙ	wae	w + ae
ㅚ	oe	“weh/way” (varies)
ㅝ	wo	w + o
ㅞ	we	w + e
ㅟ	wi	w + i
ㅢ	ui	“eu” + “i” (often “e” in particles)

🎯 Practice Plan (30 minutes)

1. Download/print a Hangul chart and trace each letter (5 min).
2. Build 10 blocks: 가, 나, 다, 라, 마, 바, 사, 아, 자, 차 (5 min).
3. Add batchim: 감, 낙, 들, 말, 밤, 산, 앙 (5 min).
4. Read real words: 한글, 한국, 사랑, 학교, 커피 (10 min).
5. Say sounds out loud; record yourself to check (5 min).

Tip: Understand patterns, don’t brute-memorize. Your brain loves consistent building rules.

📝 Mini Quiz

1. Decode: 한국
2. Make a block with ㄱ + ㅏ + ㅁ
3. Which final sound group does ㅅ belong to in batchim?

Show answers

1. Han-guk (Hanguk)
2. 감 (gam)
3. It surfaces as t in final position.

👩‍🏫 Ready to practice with a real teacher?

Hangul is step one. If you want feedback on pronunciation, reading speed, and real-word practice, I can help live.

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