1. Introduction
Today, we will finish learning the basic Korean consonants.
This set includes ㅈ (jieut), ㅊ (chieut), ㅋ (kieuk), ㅌ (tieut), ㅍ (pieup), and ㅎ (hieut).
Many of these consonants are aspirated, meaning you release a small burst of air when pronouncing them.
2. Consonants
ㅈ (지읒, jieut)
Romanization: j
Pronunciation: like j in jamㅊ (치읓, chieut)
Romanization: ch
Pronunciation: like ch in chat (stronger air release than ㅈ)ㅋ (키읔, kieuk)
Romanization: k
Pronunciation: like k in kite (stronger air release than ㄱ)ㅌ (티읕, tieut)
Romanization: t
Pronunciation: like t in top (stronger air release than ㄷ)ㅍ (피읖, pieup)
Romanization: p
Pronunciation: like p in pen (stronger air release than ㅂ)ㅎ (히읗, hieut)
Romanization: h
Pronunciation: like h in hat
3. Pronunciation Tips
Pairs to notice:
ㄱ vs ㅋ, ㄷ vs ㅌ, ㅂ vs ㅍ → aspirated versions release more air.
ㅈ vs ㅊ → ㅊ is stronger and aspirated.
A simple test: hold your hand in front of your mouth. If you feel a puff of air, it is the aspirated sound.
4. Practice Syllables
With vowel ㅏ (a):
자 (ja), 차 (cha), 카 (ka), 타 (ta), 파 (pa), 하 (ha)
With vowel ㅣ (i):
지 (ji), 치 (chi), 키 (ki), 티 (ti), 피 (pi), 히 (hi)
5. Exercises
Read aloud each syllable twice.
Compare pairs: ㄱ vs ㅋ, ㄷ vs ㅌ, ㅂ vs ㅍ, ㅈ vs ㅊ.
Try to recognize these words:
차 (cha) = car, tea
학교 (hakgyo) = school
피자 (pija) = pizza
하루 (haru) = one day
6. Summary
Today, you learned the last six basic consonants:
ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, ㅎ.
Now you know 14 Korean consonants in total!
Next, we will move on to vowels to complete the foundation of Hangeul.