Learn Korean

Batchim pronunciation

There are 7 representative sounds for consonants when they are located at the end of a syllable.

Batchim - Sound

ㄷ ㅅ ㅈ ㅊ ㅌ ㅎ ㅆ - ㄷ
ㄱ ㅋ ㄲ - ㄱ
ㅂ ㅍ - ㅂ
ㄴ - ㄴ
ㅁ - ㅁ
ㄹ - ㄹ
ㅇ - ㅇ

So even though 박, 밬 and 밖 are written with different consonants they will be pronounced the same. Also when pronounced the consonants don't have an "after sound". I'll try to explain this as clear as possible. When you say
'벽' (wall) you won't pronounce the ㄱ fully. You'll form your mouth like you're going to fully pronounce it but you just leave it hanging.
Let me try to explain what the after sound exactly is if you didn't get it yet. It's like when you say "park." Say it and listen carefully if you can here a "kuh" sound at the end after saying the word. Did you hear it? That's what you have to drop.

When the next syllable begins with an "ㅇ" the consonant before will be pronounced as if it was written in it's place.
For example: "있어요" will be pronounced like "이써요".

And last but not least one more pronunciation tip. When there are 2 final consonants only their representative sound will be pronounced. You just have to remember this there is no specific reason for it.

ㄱㅅ -> ㄱ ex. 몫 [목] a share
ㄹㄱ -> ㄱ ex. 흙 [흑] soil
ㅂㅅ -> ㅂ ex. 값 [갑] price value
ㄴㅈ -> ㄴ ex. 앉다 [안다] to sit
ㄹㅁ -> ㅁ ex. 젊다 [점다] to be young
ㄹㅂ -> ㄹ ex. 여덟 [여덜] eight

There rule where "the next syllable begins with an "ㅇ" the consonant before will be pronounced as if it was written in it's place" does also apply to words like this.

In the next chapter we'll finally start learning sentences and words yay. :) and I decided from now on I'll leave a little list of words for you to practice, read and learn at the end of every chapter.

눈 - eyes/ snow
밖 - outside
집 - house
강 - river
가다 - to go
방 - room
가방 - bag