Korean Alphabet (Part 3) | Mini Korean Lesson

This is the 3rd and final part of the mini Korean lesson of learning how to read and pronounce the Korean Alphabet. Keep reading to find out more!

In the previous 2 parts, we learnt about the different individual letters and how to read them.

In Korean Alphabet (Part 1), we learnt how to read and pronounce Korean vowels. 

In Korean Alphabet (Part 2), we learnt how to read and pronounce Korean consonants. 

In this part, I will share how to put the consonants and the vowels together to form a word. At the end of this mini-lesson, there will be a mini practice section! 

Every Korean word, begins with a consonant followed by a vowel and some may end with another consonant or 2 consonants. The final consonant is referred to as a badchim (받침). Not all words have a badchim and they may end with just a vowel. 

For example, 

Bang Chan -->  

ㅂ (consonant)  +  ㅏ (vowel)  +  ㅇ (consonant)  =  방  

ㅊ (consonant)  +  ㅏ (vowel) +  ㄴ (consonant)  =  찬

Lee Know --> 

ㄹ (consonant)  + ㅣ(vowel)  =  리

ㄴ (consonant)  +  ㅗ (vowel)  =  노

As you can see, the first name has a badchim and the second name does not. 

You will need to know about the badchim when you are forming sentences and it will also affect how you pronounce words placed behind the word with a badchim. 

You can read a little about it in the mini-lesson: How to introduce yourself.

Here's another example, 

Ji Sung --> 지성 

ㅈ (consonant)  +  ㅣ  (vowel)  =  지

ㅅ (consonant)  +  ㅓ (vowel)  + ㅇ (consonant)  =  성 

So in this example, the first word has no badchim and the second word does. 

Now, let's have a mini practice to recap everything you have learnt in these 3 parts of this mini-lesson. Write out the pronunciation or spelling for each question and you may include if it has a badchim or not. You may leave a comment with your answers.

1. 방찬

2. 리노

3. 창빈

4. 현진

5. 지성

6. 영복

7. 승민

8. 정인 

9. 스트레이 키즈  

That's the end of the mini-lesson on the Korean Alphabet! Hope it has been somewhat helpful for those who are beginning to learn Korean. 

Korean Alphabet (Part 1)

Korean Alphabet (Part 2)

Korean Alphabet (Part 3)