[Learn Korean] #020 Syllable Block Structure

1. Introduction

In Korean, letters are not written in a straight line like English. Instead, they are grouped into syllable blocks.
Each block is made of at least one consonant and one vowel, and sometimes an additional consonant at the bottom.
Learning how to form these blocks is essential to reading and writing Korean correctly.

2. Basic Structures of Syllable Blocks

• Consonant + Vowel → 가 (ga)

• Consonant + Vowel + Consonant → 각 (gak)

• Consonant + Vowel + Consonant + Consonant → 닭 (dak)

3. Rules for Writing

1. A syllable block must include one consonant and one vowel.

2. Vowel position depends on its shape:

   • Vertical vowels (ㅏ, ㅑ, ㅓ, ㅕ, ㅣ) → written to the right of the consonant.

   • Horizontal vowels (ㅗ, ㅛ, ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅡ) → written below the consonant.

3. Final consonants (받침, batchim) are placed under the block.

4. Practice Words

• 가다 (gada) = to go

• 나라 (nara) = country

• 바다 (bada) = sea

• 집 (jip) = house

5. Exercises

1. Write three syllables with vertical vowels (예: 나, 다, 마).

2. Write three syllables with horizontal vowels (예: 노, 두, 무).

3. Add 받침 to create new syllables (예: 남, 닭, 값).

6. Summary

Today you learned how Korean letters are combined into syllable blocks.
Remember: the shape of the vowel determines where it is placed in the block.
Mastering block structure is the key to reading Korean smoothly.