\n\t| \u3148<\/td> | j<\/td> | \u3149<\/td> | jj<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n There are five double consonants: \u3132, \u3138, \u3143, \u3146 and \u3149.<\/strong> They already look very familiar to you because they’re \u201ctwice\u201d the consonants \u3131,\u3137,\u3142,\u3145 and \u3148 respectively. As double consonants, these are pronounced with a little more stress compared to the plain unaspirated ones.<\/strong><\/p>\nIf aspirated consonants are a bit higher and louder than non-aspirated ones, the double consonants produce tense, closed sounds<\/strong> by closing the airway and tightening the tongue. Try making the double consonants more tense.<\/p>\nAs we did before, let’s compare the sounds together.<\/p>\n \u3131 and \u3132 sounds<\/h4>\n\u3132 sounds similar to “sk<\/strong>i” and “sk<\/strong>y” and becomes “KK.”<\/p>\n\uac00\ubc29 (ga-bang)<\/em> \u2014 bag<\/p>\n\uacfc\uc77c (gwa-il)<\/em> \u2014 fruit<\/p>\n\uaf2c\ub9ac (kko-ri)<\/em> \u2014 tail<\/p>\n\ub05d (kkeut)<\/em> \u2014 end<\/p>\n\u3137and \u3138 sounds<\/h4>\n\u3138 sounds similar to “st<\/strong>ar” and “st<\/strong>ay.” As you can see with the last two words, sometimes it sounds more like a tense “DD” and sometimes more like a “TT.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\ub2e4\ub9ac (da-ri)<\/em> \u2014 leg<\/p>\n\ub450\ubd80 (du-bu)<\/em> \u2014 tofu<\/p>\n\ub538\uae30 (ddal-gi)<\/em> \u2014 strawberry<\/p>\n\ub69c\uaed1 (ttu-kkeong)<\/em> \u2014 lid<\/p>\n\u3142and \u3143 sounds<\/h4>\n\u3143 sounds like the “P” in “sp<\/strong>ectrum” and “sp<\/strong>y” to become “PP.”<\/p>\n\ubc14\ub2e4 (ba-da)<\/em> \u2014 sea, ocean<\/p>\n\ubc84\uc2a4 (beo-seu)<\/em> \u2014 bus<\/p>\n\ubf08 (ppyeo)<\/em> \u2014 bone<\/p>\n\ubfcc\ub9ac (ppu-ri)<\/em> \u2014 root<\/p>\n\u3145 and \u3146 sounds<\/h4>\n\u3146 is similar to “s<\/strong>ee” and “s<\/strong>ong” but try to emphasize it and make it stronger to sound like “SS.”<\/p>\n\uc120\uc0dd\ub2d8 (seon-saeng-nim)<\/em> \u2014 teacher<\/p>\n\uc190 (son)<\/em> \u2014 hand<\/p>\n\uc300 (ssal)<\/em> \u2014 rice (uncooked)<\/p>\n\uc4f0\ub2e4 (sseu-da)<\/em> \u2014 to write, to use (infinitive)\u00a0<\/p>\n\u3148 and \u3149 sounds<\/h4>\n\u3149 sounds closest to the “CH” in “ch<\/strong>ase” and “ch<\/strong>op” but combined more with a “J.” The result is a “JJ” sound that you say through your front teeth.<\/p>\n\uc900\ube44 (jun-bi)<\/em> \u2014 preparation<\/p>\n\uc7a5\ub09c\uac10 (jang-nan-gam)<\/em> \u2014 toy<\/p>\n\ucabd\uc9c0 (jjok-ji)<\/em> \u2014 note, memo<\/p>\n\ucabc\ub054 (jjo-kkeum)<\/em> \u2014 a little bit<\/p>\nIt can be tough differentiating the two sounds, especially for beginners. But again, in order for you to recognize them, you should be producing them yourself.<\/p>\n Check out this video for more helpful information on the double consonants.<\/p>\n <\/lite-youtube><\/p>\nLet repetition be your mantra. Just as you practiced unaspirated consonants with their aspirated siblings, you need to practice unaspirated consonants with their doubles. This will ensure that you get to hear how one is slightly different from the other.<\/p>\n Go through these sequential drills:<\/p>\n \n- Unaspirated, to aspirated, to double (\u3131 \u2013 \u314b \u2013 \u3132)<\/li>\n
- Aspirated to double (\u314b\u2013\u3132 )<\/li>\n
- Double to unaspirated (\u3132\u2013\u3131)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
How to Pronounce the Korean Batchim<\/h3>\nKorean syllables are usually composed of one consonant and a vowel.\u00a0Sometimes though, there\u2019s an additional consonant. The final consonant, that\u2019s usually found at the bottom of a syllabic block, is called the Batchim.<\/strong><\/p>\nThe tricky thing about it is, some consonants change their sound when they’re in this position, also depending on the letter that follows<\/strong>. This is because native speakers of all languages try to make their lives easier. They instinctively change the sound of syllables, depending on what rolls off their tongues more smoothly.<\/p>\nThe \ubc1b\uce68 (Batchim) position is often the site of these instinctive sound changes. Try thinking of it as this: What is the easiest to pronounce and therefore most logical next sound?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\nLetter \u3147<\/h4>\nOne example is the consonant \u3147 (ieung).<\/em> It’s silent when found at the beginning of the word.<\/strong> For example,<\/p>\n\uc544\uae30 (a-gi)<\/em> \u2014 baby<\/p>\n\uc5f0\ud544 (yeon-pil)<\/em> \u2014 pencil<\/p>\nBecause it’s silent, if there’s a consonant in the preceding syllable, then the consonant sound gets passed to the next syllable after the \u3147.<\/strong> For example, let’s take the word \uba39\ub2e4 (to eat). When it’s put in the casual present simple form, it’s written like this.\u00a0<\/p>\nSpelled:<\/strong> \uba39\uc5b4 (meo-geoh)<\/em> \u2014 eat\u00a0<\/p>\nPronounced:<\/strong> \uba38\uac70 (meo-geoh)<\/em> \u2014 eat<\/p>\nBut when it’s at the Batchim position, the\u3147 is pronounced as \u201cNG\u201d<\/strong> like. For example,<\/p>\n\uc0ac\ub791 (sa-rang)<\/em> \u2014 love<\/p>\n\uc740\ud589 (eun-heang)<\/em> \u2014 bank<\/p>\nLetter \u3139<\/h4>\nWhen at the beginning of a syllable, the consonant \u3139 (rieul)<\/em> is usually pronounced as the Korean letter \u201cR.\u201d However, it often ends up being somewhere between an “R” and “L” sound.<\/strong> For example,<\/p>\n\ub77c\uba74 (ra-myeon)<\/em> \u2014 ramen<\/p>\n\ub808\ubaac (le-mon)<\/em> \u2014 lemon<\/p>\n\ub9ac\ubcf8 (ri-bon) <\/em>\u2014 ribbon<\/p>\nAs we said above, when the \u3139 is in the Batchim position and followed by a silent \u3147 in the next syllable, the sound just gets passed on and it’s still an “R” sound. For example,<\/p>\n \ub2ec\uc544\uc694 (da-ra-yo)<\/em> \u2014 It’s sweet.<\/p>\n\uac78\uc5b4\uc694 (geo-reo-yo)<\/em> \u2014 I walk.\u00a0<\/p>\nWhen it’s in the Batchim position, it’s usually pronounced like the letter \u201cL.\u201d<\/strong> This is the second most common sound for this letter. For example,<\/p>\n\uce7c (kal)<\/em> \u2014 knife<\/p>\n\ud55c\uae00 (Han-gul)<\/em> \u2014 Hangul<\/p>\n\uac08\ube44 (gal-bi)<\/em> \u2014 ribs\u00a0<\/p>\nThere are a couple of other situations in which it’s pronounced as an “L” but longer and slightly extended.<\/strong> The first situation is if it’s followed by another \u3139. We also see this when the Batchim is an \u3134 followed by a \u3139 in the next syllable.\u00a0<\/p>\n\ub2ec\ub77c\uc694 (dal-la-yo)<\/em> \u2014 It’s different.<\/p>\n\ud55c\ub77c\uc0b0 (Hal-la-san)<\/em> \u2014 Halla mountain<\/p>\nThere is one more instance that is less common and more challenging to remember and that’s when the \u3139 is pronounced more like an “N.”<\/strong> When the \u3131, \u3141 or \u3147 are in the Batchim position and the \u3139 is in the next syllable, the \u3139 has an “N” sound. For example,\u00a0<\/p>\n\ub2a5\ub825 (neung-nyeok)<\/em> \u2014 ability<\/p>\n\uc74c\ub8cc\uc218 (eum-nyo-su)<\/em> \u2014 a drink<\/p>\n\uc815\ub958\uc7a5 (jeung-nyu-jang)<\/em> \u2014 stop\/station<\/p>\nLetter \u3145<\/h4>\nHere’s another sound that changes depending on where it’s positioned. Normally, the English equivalent for this letter would be pronounced with an “S” sound.<\/strong> For example,<\/p>\n\uc0ac\uc790 (sa-ja)<\/em> \u2014 a lion<\/p>\n\uc120\ubb3c (seon-mul)<\/em> \u2014 gift<\/p>\nWhen it comes to the Batchim, the unaspirated sound is often the preferred pronunciation<\/strong>. Unaspirated and simple sounds are often preferred at the Batchim position because they connect well to the next incoming syllables or sounds.<\/p>\nThat means that if it’s in a Batchim position at the end of a word or is followed by another consonant in the next syllable, the \u3145 is pronounced more like a “D” or “T” sound<\/strong>, and more like an unaspirated \u3137. For example,<\/p>\n\uc528\uc557 (sshi-at)<\/em> \u2014 a seed<\/p>\n\uc7a3 (jat)<\/em> \u2014 a pine nut<\/p>\n\ud588\ub2e4 (hett-da)<\/em> \u2014 … did (“do” past tense, infinitive form)<\/p>\nLetters \u3148 and \u314a<\/h4>\nJust like \u3145 when it’s in the Batchim position, the letters \u3148 and \u314a will also be pronounced with an unaspirated “D” or “T” sound.<\/strong> For example,<\/p>\n\ub0ae (nat)<\/em> \u2014 daytime<\/p>\n\uaf43 (gott)<\/em> \u2014 a flower<\/p>\n\ube5b (beet)<\/em> \u2014 light<\/p>\nLetters \u3131, \u314b and \u3132<\/strong><\/h4>\nLike with the last few letters, at least in the Batchim position, \u3131, \u314b and \u3132 will all sound the same\u2014like an unaspirated letter \u201cK.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nThere are some instances in which the \u3131 is pronounced as an “NG” sound.<\/strong> This once again depends on the letters that follow. This is usually the case if \u3131 is followed by an \u3134 or \u3139 in the following syllable. For example,<\/p>\n\uc791\ub144 (jang-nyeon)<\/em> \u2014 last year<\/p>\n\ub3c5\ub9bd (dong-nip)<\/em> \u2014 independence<\/p>\nTo learn more about this interesting position, check out this video explaining seven basic Batchim rules!<\/p>\n <\/lite-youtube><\/p>\nHow to Pronounce Korean Vowels<\/h2>\nBasic Korean Vowels<\/h3>\nThere are just 10 standard vowels in Korean, and they can either be horizontally or vertically oriented.<\/p>\n The three that typically cause the most trouble for English speakers though are \u3161\u00a0(eu), \u3153 (eo) and \u3155 (yeo)<\/strong> because they don\u2019t have natural equivalent vowel sounds in English.<\/p>\nThe best way to combat this is to simply do extra practice drills.\u00a0The key to their pronunciation is hitting the right tongue and mouth positions so you can produce the sounds efficiently.<\/p>\n <\/lite-youtube><\/p>\nKorean Vowel Combinations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\t| Vowel diphthongs<\/th> | Pronunciation<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n | \n\n\t| \u3150 <\/a>\n <\/td> | eh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n\t| \u3154 <\/a>\n <\/td> | eh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n\t| \u3152 <\/a>\n <\/td> | yeh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n\t| \u3156 <\/a>\n <\/td> | yeh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n\t| \u3158 <\/a>\n <\/td> | wah<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n\t| \u3159 <\/a>\n <\/td> | weh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n\t| \u315a <\/a>\n <\/td> | weh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n\t| \u315d <\/a>\n <\/td> | woh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n\t| \u315e <\/a>\n <\/td> | weh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n\t| \u315f <\/a>\n <\/td> | wee<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n\t| \u3162 <\/a>\n .<\/td> | ui<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n There are 11 Korean diphthongs (also known as vowel combinations). However, there’s not much of a difference between\u3150 and \u3154 (both pronounced \u201ceh\u201d) and between \u3152\u00a0and \u3156 (both pronounced \u201cyeh\u201d). To make things even easier, \u315a, \u3159 and \u315e are all pronounced as \u201cweh.\u201d<\/p>\n So from 11 diphthongs, you only have seven diphthong pronunciations to memorize.<\/b><\/p>\n When it comes to writing, don’t worry too much about differentiating between these. The context will be more than enough to elucidate their differences, even though they have the same sound. Not much is lost here.<\/p>\n Here are some examples of the sounds above.<\/p>\n \ubc30 (bae)<\/em> \u2014 pear<\/p>\n\uc138\uacc4 (se-gye)<\/em> \u2014 world<\/p>\n\uc640\uc778 (wa-in)<\/em> \u2014 wine<\/p>\n\uc678\uad6d | |