Learn Hangul: The Korean Alphabet in 1 Day
Hangul Made Easy: Read the Korean Alphabet in a Day
Ever wanted to read and write in Korean but didn’t know where to start?
Hangul (한글) looks complex at first, but it’s one of the most logical writing systems in the world.
In this guide, you’ll learn the basic consonants, vowels, syllable blocks, and batchim so you can start decoding real Korean words today.
🎯 Learning Goal
- Recognize and read the 14 basic consonants and 10 basic vowels
- Understand how Hangul syllable blocks are built (C+V, C+V+C)
- Grasp what batchim is and how it affects pronunciation
- Avoid common mistakes English speakers make when reading Hangul
- Follow a simple practice plan to keep improving after today
📚 Table of Contents
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🧩 What is Hangul?
Hangul is the Korean alphabet created in the 15th century during the reign of King Sejong the Great to improve literacy. Instead of writing letters in a straight line like English, Korean uses syllable blocks.
Hangul has:
- 14 basic consonants
- 10 basic vowels
- Plus double consonants and combined vowels (you’ll see them soon)
💡 Fun note: Hangul is often called “scientific” because letter shapes are based on how your mouth moves when you pronounce them. There is even a UNESCO literacy prize named after King Sejong.
🔤 Basic Consonants (14)
| Hangul | 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, sounds like “sh”) |
| 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)
| Hangul | 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, like saying “ugh”) |
| ㅣ | i | ee in meet |
🧱 How Syllable Blocks Work
Hangul letters stack into blocks like little squares. Think LEGO:
- C + V → 가 (ga) = ㄱ + ㅏ
- C + V + C → 감 (gam) = ㄱ + ㅏ + ㅁ
- Vertical vowels (ㅏ, ㅑ, ㅓ, ㅕ) go to the right of the first consonant.
- Horizontal vowels (ㅗ, ㅛ, ㅜ, ㅠ) go under the first consonant.
Reading order: left → right, top → bottom.
Example:
한 (han) + 국 (guk) = 한국 (Hanguk, “Korea”).
📌 Batchim (Final Consonants): Quick Rules
Batchim (받침) is the consonant (or consonant cluster) at the bottom of a syllable block: 한, 삶, 집, 밥.
In final position, many consonants “collapse” into 7 basic sounds:
- k → ㄱ, ㅋ, ㄲ, ㄳ, ㄺ
- t → ㄷ, ㅅ, ㅆ, ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅌ, ㅎ, ㄽ, ㄾ
- p → ㅂ, ㅍ, ㅄ
- m → ㅁ
- n → ㄴ, ㄵ, ㄶ
- ng → ㅇ
- l → ㄹ, ㄼ, ㄽ, ㄿ, ㅀ
🔁 Liaison (linking): If the next syllable starts with a vowel, many batchim sounds move up:
읽어요 → pronounced like il-geo-yo, not ilg-eo-yo.
밥을 → ba-beul (ㅂ moves up).
Don’t worry about mastering every rule now. For beginners, focus on recognizing batchim and knowing that:
1) It belongs to the bottom of the block, and
2) It can affect the sound when a vowel follows.
✨ Bonus: Double Consonants & Combo Vowels
Once you feel okay with the basics, you’ll meet double consonants (tense sounds) and combined vowels. You don’t need to memorize all of them on Day 1, but seeing them now will help later.
1) Double consonants (쌍자음)
| Hangul | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ㄲ | kk | tense k |
| ㄸ | tt | tense t |
| ㅃ | pp | tense p |
| ㅆ | ss | tense s |
| ㅉ | jj | tense jj |
2) Combo vowels (diphthongs)
| Hangul | 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 by speaker) |
| ㅝ | wo | w + o |
| ㅞ | we | w + e |
| ㅟ | wi | w + i |
| ㅢ | ui | “eu” + “i” (often “e” in particles) |
❌ Common Mistakes (English Speakers)
1) Reading Hangul as if it were English letters
Many learners treat Hangul as a “secret code” for English and try to read everything with English sounds. Instead, train your brain to connect Hangul → sound → meaning, not Hangul → English letters.
2) Confusing ㅓ (eo) and ㅗ (o)
서울 is Seo-ul, not So-ul.
Tip: ㅓ = “uh” (sun), ㅗ = “oh” (go).
Practice: read 서울, 정말, 어제, 너무 slowly and exaggerate the sound.
3) Mixing up ㅐ and ㅔ
Even Koreans sometimes mix them in spelling, so don’t stress too much at first. For reading, it’s okay if both sound like “e” as in bed.
4) Ignoring batchim completely
Beginners often read only the top part of the block and skip the bottom consonant. For example, 밥 becomes ba instead of bap. Try to look at all three positions: top-left, top-right/bottom, and bottom.
Micro-habit: When you meet a new word, point with your finger and say:
① initial consonant, ② vowel, ③ batchim (if any). Then blend them together.
💬 FAQ: Hangul for Absolute Beginners
Q1. Can I really learn Hangul in one day?
You can definitely learn the shapes and basic sounds in a day if you focus. Reading smoothly and quickly takes more time, but today’s lesson is a strong first step.
Q2. Should I memorize romanization?
Romanization is helpful at the beginning, but don’t depend on it too long. After a while, try to read words with Hangul only.
Q3. Is it okay if my pronunciation isn’t perfect yet?
Yes. Your first goal is to recognize blocks and read slowly. Pronunciation improves with listening and shadowing Korean audio (songs, dramas, podcasts).
🎯 30-Minute Practice Plan
- Take a Hangul chart and trace each consonant and vowel once (5 min).
- Build 10 simple blocks: 가, 나, 다, 라, 마, 바, 사, 아, 자, 차 (5 min).
- Add batchim: 감, 낙, 들, 말, 밤, 산, 앙 (5 min).
- Read real words: 한글, 한국, 사랑, 학교, 커피, 영화, 친구 (10 min).
- Record yourself reading them and compare tomorrow (5 min).
💡 Tip: Your goal is not perfection but recognition. See a block → say its sound → connect it to meaning.
📝 Mini Quiz
- Decode this word: 한국
- Make a block using ㄱ + ㅏ + ㅁ.
- Which final sound group does ㅅ belong to in batchim?
- Is ㅓ closer to “o” in go or “u” in sun?
Show answers
- Han-guk (Hanguk) – “Korea”.
- 감 (gam).
- ㅅ is pronounced as a t-sound in final position.
- Closer to “u” in sun (a soft “uh” sound).
👩🏫 Practice Hangul with a Real Teacher
Hangul becomes much easier when you read real words out loud with feedback. If you want help with pronunciation, reading speed, or building your first Korean sentences, I’d be happy to work with you.
👉 Book a 1:1 lesson with me on italki and bring this post to class. We’ll use it as your custom Hangul workbook.
💬 Stay connected for new updates:
📄 Save this post: Bookmark it and revisit when you review Hangul.
📤 Share with a friend: Learn the alphabet together and quiz each other on new words.
💬 Leave a comment: Write one or two Korean words you can read now (in Hangul!) — I love seeing your progress.
Tags: Hangul for beginners, Korean alphabet, learn Hangul fast, Korean reading practice, TOPIK 1-2, 한글 배우기, 한국어 알파벳, aprender alfabeto coreano, escritura coreana
