Basic Korean in 10 Minutes

Sungwoo Kim(Applied Linguistics)

Hangul - Korean Language

Hangul is a phonemic alphabet organized into syllabic blocks. Each block consists of at least two of the 24 Hangul letters (jamo), with at least one each of the 14 consonants and 10 vowels. These syllabic blocks can be written horizontally from left to right as well as vertically from top to bottom in columns from right to left. Originally, the alphabet had several additional letters (see obsolete jamo). For a phonological description of the letters, see Korean phonology.

(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangul)

Sejong

Sejong the Great (May 6, 1397 – May 18, 1450, r. 1418 - 1450) was the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He is best remembered for creating the Korean alphabet hangul, despite strong opposition from the scholars educated in hanja (Chinese script). Sejong is one of only two Korean rulers posthumously honored with the appellation "the Great," the other being Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo.

(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Sejong)

Consonants

Vowels

Hangul – A short movie

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mdvRoD1d1o&feature=related

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYPnkuDkbrc&feature=related

Basic Korean Vowels

아 /a/

어 /ə/이 /i/ 오 /o/ 우 /wu/

“ ㅇ” at the character initial position is just a place holder.

Basic Korean Consonants

ㄱ /g, k/ ㄴ /n/ㄷ /d/ ㄹ /l, r/ㅁ /m/ ㅂ /b/ㅅ /s/ ㅈ /j/ㅎ /h/

Hangul – Example 1

ㄱ /k/ + ㅏ /a/= 가 /ka/

Example 2

ㄷ /d/ + ㅏ /a/= 다 /da/

Example 3

가다 /kada/ = go

Example 4

오 /oh/ + 다 /da/ = 오다 come)

More Examples

남자ㄴ ㅏ ㅁ ㅈ ㅏ

ㄱ /g, k/ ㄴ /n/ㄷ /d/ ㄹ /l, r/ㅁ /m/ ㅂ /b/ㅅ /s/ ㅈ /j/ㅎ /h/

Man ㅏ /a/ ㅓ /ə/ㅣ /i/ ㅗ /o/ ㅜ /wu/

More Examples

하다ㅎㅏ ㄷㅏ

ㄱ /g, k/ ㄴ /n/ㄷ /d/ ㄹ /l, r/ㅁ /m/ ㅂ /b/ㅅ /s/ ㅈ /j/ㅎ /h/

Do ㅏ /a/ ㅓ /ə/ㅣ /i/ ㅗ /o/ ㅜ /wu/

More Examples

수박ㅅ ㅜ ㅂ ㅏ ㄱ

ㄱ /g, k/ ㄴ /n/ㄷ /d/ ㄹ /l, r/ㅁ /m/ ㅂ /b/ㅅ /s/ ㅈ /j/ㅎ /h/

watermelon ㅏ /a/ ㅓ /ə/ㅣ /i/ ㅗ /o/ ㅜ /wu/

More Examples

김치ㄱ ㅣ ㅁ ㅊ ㅣ

ㄱ /g, k/ ㄴ /n/ㄷ /d/ ㄹ /l, r/ㅁ /m/ ㅂ /b/ㅅ /s/ ㅈ /j/ㅎ /h/ ㅊ /ch/

Kimchi ㅏ /a/ ㅓ /ə/ㅣ /i/ ㅗ /o/ ㅜ /wu/

More Examples

고기ㄱ ㅗ ㄱ ㅣ

ㄱ /g, k/ ㄴ /n/ㄷ /d/ ㄹ /l, r/ㅁ /m/ ㅂ /b/ㅅ /s/ ㅈ /j/ㅎ /h/

Meat ㅏ /a/ ㅓ /ə/ㅣ /i/ ㅗ /o/ ㅜ /wu/

More Examples

불고기ㅂ ㅜ ㄹ ㄱ ㅗ ㄱ ㅣ

ㄱ /g, k/ ㄴ /n/ㄷ /d/ ㄹ /l, r/ㅁ /m/ ㅂ /b/ㅅ /s/ ㅈ /j/ㅎ /h/

Bulgogi(“Bul” means “fire” in Korean.)

ㅏ /a/ ㅓ /ə/ㅣ /i/ ㅗ /o/ ㅜ /wu/

More Examples

남자ㄴ ㅏ ㅁ ㅈ ㅏ

ㄱ /g, k/ ㄴ /n/ㄷ /d/ ㄹ /l, r/ㅁ /m/ ㅂ /b/ㅅ /s/ ㅈ /j/ㅎ /h/

Man ㅏ /a/ ㅓ /ə/ㅣ /i/ ㅗ /o/ ㅜ /wu/

More Examples

소다ㅅ ㅗ ㄷ ㅏ

ㄱ /g, k/ ㄴ /n/ㄷ /d/ ㄹ /l, r/ㅁ /m/ ㅂ /b/ㅅ /s/ ㅈ /j/ㅎ /h/

soda ㅏ /a/ ㅓ /ə/ㅣ /i/ ㅗ /o/ ㅜ /wu/

More Examples

마우스ㅁ ㅏ ㅇ ㅜ ㅅ ㅡ

ㄱ /g, k/ ㄴ /n/ㄷ /d/ ㄹ /l, r/ㅁ /m/ ㅂ /b/ㅅ /s/ ㅈ /j/ㅎ /h/

(computer) Mouse

ㅏ /a/ ㅓ /ə/ㅣ /i/ ㅗ /o/ ㅜ /wu/

Quiz on Korea

Note: Korean students arenot eligible for the quiz!

Question

This is Korea.

Answer

• False (That’s Japan. This is Korea.)

T/F Quiz on Korea

The official name of South Korea is the Democratic People's Republic of

Korea.

Answer

False The official name of South Korea is the

Republic of Korea. the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the official name of North Korea.

Question

All Samsung, LG, and Hyundae Motors are Korean companies.

Answer

True

Question

The capital city of Korea is Seoul.

Answer

True

Source: http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/22517/seoul_sungnyemun_gate.jpg

Question

Korea has been divided for more than one century.

Answer

False (Korea has been divided since 1945.)

Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Korean_Peninsula_notext.png

Thank you!