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Unit 4: Syllable Blocks and Batchim (받침)

You know all the letters in the Korean alphabet! Now we need to learn how they stack together to form blocks.

1. How to Build a Block

Every Korean block MUST have at least one consonant and one vowel. If the vowel is vertical (like 아, 이, 어), the consonant goes on the left. * ㄱ + ㅏ = 가 * ㅎ + ㅐ = 해

If the vowel is horizontal (like 오, 우, 으), the consonant goes on top. * ㄱ + ㅗ = 고 * ㅅ + ㅜ = 수

2. What is a Batchim?

Words don't just end in vowels! Often, a syllable will have a consonant at the end. This final consonant is written at the bottom of the block.

This bottom consonant is called the Batchim (받침), which literally means "support" or "prop".

  • 한 (han) = ㅎ (top left) + ㅏ (top right) + ㄴ (batchim on bottom).
  • 국 (guk) = ㄱ (top) + ㅜ (middle) + ㄱ (batchim on bottom). -> 한국 (han-guk) = Korea

3. The 7 Sounds of Batchim

When a consonant is placed in the bottom Batchim position, it does not always sound exactly like it does at the start of a word. You do not release the air! Your tongue stops dead.

Because of this, many consonants sound the same when placed at the bottom. There are only 7 possible sounds a Batchim can make:

  1. ㄱ, ㅋ, ㄲ all sound like a hard, unreleased K/G at the bottom.
  2. 학 (hak), 부엌 (bu-eok), 밖 (bak).
  3. ㄴ sounds like N.
  4. 안 (an).
  5. ㄷ, ㅌ, ㅅ, ㅆ, ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅎ all sound like a hard, unreleased T/D at the bottom.
  6. 곧 (got), 옷 (ot), 낮 (nat), 꽃 (kkot). Yes, all of these end in a 'T' sound!
  7. ㄹ sounds like an L. (Not an R!).
  8. 달 (dal).
  9. ㅁ sounds like M.
  10. 밤 (bam).
  11. ㅂ, ㅍ all sound like a hard, unreleased P/B.
  12. 밥 (bap), 잎 (ip).
  13. ㅇ sounds like NG.
  14. 강 (gang).

Summary

  • Korean letters are grouped into blocks.
  • The bottom consonant is called the Batchim.
  • Many consonants (especially s, j, ch, t, d) all make a "T" sound when placed in the Batchim position!