4.12.2013

Rules in writing Hangul | Korean Writing Tutorial

Before I start, I want everyone to know that this whole thing has a SUMMARY!
You can find it as you read through it. Or do the CTRL+F. シ

So this is it, the first tutorial I said a while ago.
For those first timer's, getting bored and tired is unavoidable! At some point you might lose the interest on learning Hangul. SO, put the negativity aside!
Actually it is just a little bit harder than English alphabet . It's nothing compared to Japanese's Katakana and Hiragana, not to mention Kanji ㅠㅠ. I love both though.
So, I'm done with words of inspiration. I'll try to make it as short as possible so you won't find it tiring.



First we need the Hangul Chart, which will be shown below.
If you already memorized it in advance, that would be great.
And to those whose milestone away from memorizing it, it's okay. Take your time, honestly it's not that hard as it looks on your first try. FORGET the thought of giving up!
You only need the eager to learn and probably you'll make it in less than a day.
It's a fun process of learning actually.

Here's the chart


Rules on writing Hangul

1.) Hangul is written in Horizontal mannernot vertical as it was
on the Historical drama's you've watched.
**Hanja (Chinese Characters) is what they use on Historical drama.

2.) Hangul is written by syllable.
example:
English :  i love you
Korean :  사랑해요 (saranghaeyo)

Cut it by syllable.

Hangul :  사 - 랑 - 해 - 요
Romanized :  Sa - Rang - Hae - Yo


Now, do this yourself.

English :  Hello
Korean :  안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo)

Question: How many syllable does Annyeonghaseyo have?
Cut it by syllable.


Answers : 
Syllables = 5
Romanized as = An - Nyeong - Ha - Se - Yo
Hangul = 안 - 녕 - 하 - 세 - 요.



3.) No character should stand alone!

Now the proper placement.
Take Note:
1. Each syllables represents one block.
2. Hangul is written by block.
3. 1 block = 1 syllable.
easy?

Important Points:
1.) Block of syllables usually consist of three parts; the initial, medial and final.
2.) Block of syllables can also consist of only two parts; the initial and the medial.
3.) Block of syllables can have two (2) medial.
4.) Block of syllables can also have two (2) finals.
5.) Lastly, block of syllables can also have two (2) finals and two (2) medial.
6.) No character should stand alone!

Look here ▽

I got this from Wikipedia

That's the all in all faces of the blocks.
I'll explain it set by set.

Things to remember:
1.) Medial is usually vowels.
2.) Final is always consonant (if I'm not mistaken).
3.) Final is always written at the bottom under the vowel.
4.) A double final is written from left to right.
5.) Examples are by Block NOT by Word, don't get confused.
6.) Vowels with horizontal axis like ㅡ, ㅗ, ㅜ, etc. is always written below the initials.
7.) Vowels with vertical axis like ㅣ, ㅏ, ㅓ, etc. is always written at the right of the initials.
8.) Lastly initial ㅇ(ng) is ALWAYS silent, means no sound. シ


First Set

Figure 1 ----- Figure 2 ----- Figure 3

Medial characters are written to the right, under or around the Initial characters.
As shown in the illustration above.

example for figure 1
syllable (ga)  in  the word 잘요 (jalgayo)  — goodbye
(g)  is obviously the initial and (a) and is the medial.
*vowel(a) is place beside the initial ㄱ (g).
*why? because is in vertical axis
and vertical axis = right

example for figure 2
 syllable (yo)  in the word 잘가 (jalgayo)  — goodbye
*vowel ㅛ (yo) is place under consonant ㅇ
*why? because ㅛ (yo) is in horizontal axis
and horizontal axis = below/under
Things to remember #8: initial ㅇ is always silent.
Syllables should never start on a vowel, so if there's one, you need to put an (ng) as it's initial.
Just like in 잘가at the 'yo' part there's (ng) that serves as its initial.


example for figure 3
syllable (dwae) in the word 안 (andwae) — no / don't
*initial ㄷ (d) + (o) horizontal vowel = below +(ae) vertical vowel = right
=
*tip: ㅗ (o) + ㅐ (ae) = ㅙ (wae)



Second Set


Figure 1 ----- Figure 2 ----- Figure 3

Similar to First set, the only thing added is the FINAL!
As shown in the illustration above.
If you already understand the First Set then this set would be as easy as nothing for you.
You only need to ad the Final part. See?

example for figure 1
(haeng) in (haenbok) — happiness
*initial (h), plus vertical vowelㅐ (ae) and the final  (ng) **final is placed at the bottom.

example for figure 2
(bok) in 행 (haengbok) — happiness.
*initial (b), plus horizontal vowel  (o)and the final  (k) **final is placed at the bottom.

example for figure 3
(gwaen) in 찮아 (gwaenchana) — It's alright.
*initial (k), plus horizontal vowel (o) as medial 1, and vertical vowel (ae) as medial 2,
and lastly the final (n) **final is placed the bottom.



Third / Last Set

Figure 1 ----- Figure 2 ----- Figure 3

Now, we're at the last part. Exciting right?
Where almost there. Just hang on a little bit more, don't leave me hanging in here. シ
This is similar to First + Second Set. Only that, there are 2 final's already.


example for figure 1
(eobs) in (eobseo) — don't have
*initial ㅇ remember because its an initial ㅇ it's silent,
plus vertical vowel ㅓ (eo),
and lastly ㅂ (b) and ㅅ (s) as 2 final's written at the bottom.
*remember double final should be written from left to right.

example for figure 2
굶 (kulm) in 굶어죽진 (kulmeojukjin) — ??? シ
*initial (k), plus horizontal vowel ㅜ (u),
and ㄹ (l) and ㅁ (m) as the 2 finals.
*remember double final should be written from left to right.

example for figure 3
(dwae) in 됐어 (dwaesseo) — forget it.
*initial (d), plus horizontal vowel ㅗ (o) as medial 1, and vertical vowel ㅐ (ae) as medial 2,
and two ㅅ ㅅ (s s) as final. 
*I'm not sure if this is a right example, since is one character only. but I can't find any that has two different characters for final with two medial. So just think of it as and are different. 
Sorry, I don't know all the words in Korean. ㅠ ㅠ



And lastly, "hopefully".
It's time for us to know the structure of those syllables.

The syllable structure goes like this;
Suppose Vowel x Consonant

Look here ▽

▽ Pink C is for the Initials.
▽ V is for Medial's.
▽ Purple C is for the Finals.


for example :  안녕하세요
Syllables :  안 - 녕 - 하 - 세 - 요
Romanized: An - Nyeong - Ha - Se - Yo

ㅇ : initial ㅇ is silent C, ㅏ : a = V, ㄴ : n = C (CVC)
ㄴ : n = C, ㅕ: yeo = V, ㅇ : ng = C (CVC)
ㅎ : h = C, ㅏ : a = V (CV)
ㅅ : s = C, ㅔ : e = V (CV)
ㅇ : initial ㅇ is silent = C, ㅛ : yo = V (CV)

It's pretty understandable right?
No need to explain much further since I'm run out of English.
Just comment below for questions about this シ.


That't all, I think?
I know you feel good learning so much in a less time.
For confusions and further questions, don't hesitate to leave a comment below.
I'd likely answer all your questions.

And sorry for always using red font color for "notes" (here it goes again シ) it is for the visibility.
Sorry also for keeping on reminding you about the positioning.
I just find it a little help to remember every important point if we keep on getting reminded.
Thanks for reading.
This actually is supper long tutorial. I hope you didn't get bored.


here's the summary
SUMMARY
1.) You must master the Hangul Alphabet.
2.) Hangul is written horizontally.
3.) Hangul is written based on syllables.
4.) 1 Block = 1 Syllable
5.) No character should stand alone.
6.) Syllables are usually into 3 parts; the initial, medial and final.
7.) Vowels with horizontal axis like ㅡ (eu) is always placed under the initial.
8.) Vowels with vertical axis like ㅣ (i) is always placed at right of the initial.
9.) Initial ㅇ is ALWAYS silent.
10.) Double final is always written from left to right.
11.)  Hangul Structure composed of Consonant-Vowel, CVV, CVC, CVVC.
12.) Memorize all the summary and your done.


28 comments:

  1. i gesie daehan gamsa

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  2. KAMSAMHAMNIDA! REALLY BIG HELP! ♥
    -L♥

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  3. Kamsahamnida songseung-nim :D

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  4. no problem guys ^_^ glad it helped you ^ ^

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  5. Sorry unnie but i didnt undrstand about the last example .. Syllables .? Can u explain unnie . Please

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    Replies
    1. oh sorry for the late reply ^ ^ do you mean the structure of every syllables?

      All those six (6) are the structures/forms you should follow when writing in hangul.

      for example
      Hangul: 이름이 뭐예요
      Romanized: ireumi mwoyeyo

      first thing we do is to cut it by syllable.
      By Syllables: i / reum / i mwo / ye / yo

      after that we will write it in hangul by the help of the given structures.
      so it would look like this 이름이 뭐예요

      each character stands for:
      이 (i)
      름 (reum)
      이 (i)
      뭐 (mwo)
      예 (ye)
      요 (yo)

      *note: remember every syllable with a vowel initial shall be added with "ㅇ" (ng)
      remember the "ㅇ" added to the vowel initial would be a silent (ng) already.

      Explaining the structure:
      i - 이 = "ㅇ" is a consonant and "ㅣ" is a vowel
      therefore this follows the C-V structure (see the picture above for its placement for better understanding)

      reum - 름 = "ㄹ" is a consonant, "ㅡ" is a vowel and "ㅁ" is a consonant
      therefore it follows the C-V-C structure (see the picture above for its placement for better understanding)

      i - 이 = same with first explanation

      mwo - 뭐 = "ㅁ" is a consonant, "ㅝ" is a vowel
      therefore it follows the C-V structure (see the picture above for its placement for better understanding)

      ye - 예 = "ㅇ" is a consonant and "ㅖ" is a vowel
      therefore it follows the C-V structure (see the picture above for its placement for better understanding)

      yo - 요 = "ㅇ" is a consonant and "ㅖ" is a vowel
      therefore it follows the C-V structure (see the picture above for its placement for better understanding)


      if still confused don't hesitate to ask :)

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    2. no letter f in hangul?

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  6. Haaah~ it feels great to understand this basic writing of hangul. 고마워요 언니 :) 근개, i still have difficulties is differentiating the alphabets like; sometimes they pronounce "ㄷ" as "t", "ㄱ" as "k", sometimes "ㅂ" as '"m" (they pronounce '뭐' like 'bwo' somehow), "m" as "b" ( like 감사합니다), "ㄴ" as "d" (sometimes i found this out like 네 but the say it like 'nde')

    and when do we know whether it is the block with 2 finals?? and when to use ㅃ, ㅉ, ㄸ, ㄲ, ㅆ (ㅠ.ㅠ)

    *sigh* sorry if you can't understand what i say. its just hard to explain my problem in this god-damn-korean languange. T.T 감사합니가 언니~ 사랑해요~ ㅋㅋㅋ <3

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    Replies
    1. It's good to hear it helped you a little :)

      And with regards to your question about the pronunciation, actually there's no exact English characters that would represent the sound of Hangul characters, for example "ㅂ"sounds like b or p depends on the word given, and same with ㄷ, ㄱ etc.

      The only way I know for you to know the exact pronunciation is to listen and judge it yourself. Familiarization is the key for me.

      Because I love watching KDrama, and watched like thousands of it, it really helped me a lot familiarizing their pronunciation.

      And about the ㅃ, ㅉ, etc. ... If you don't know, I romanized Hangul lyrics, so I ended up familiarizing the pattern. As what I've notice double consonants are usually at the end of "some" syllables, and "some" also on the initial of the syllables. It all depends on the word i think, just like how we learned how to spell it as school rather than schol.

      I'm so sorry but I can't be any help to you with the pronunciation, all I can suggest is for you to listen to some Korean conversation. I actually wanted to tell you what I know, I've spent every night thinking of how to explain it but I ended up with this.

      I hope you could find someone who could help you with this. TT____TT I'm deeply sorry.

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  7. This one is really helpful. I really want to study on how to speak Korean but I decided to learn on how they write first. I was really confused last week until I have read this. 감 사 합 니 다 :)

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  8. Hello! Sorry if this is sort of late... I have a question about the First Set and the word jalgayo... (I don't have a Korean keyboard yet, sorry! D:) But, for the syllable 'jal' is it the same set up as figure three? The in, me1, and me2? Could you explain how exactly would you know the "l" goes at the bottom...? Would you just automatically put it on the bottom?

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  9. Hello I just want to know when I will use this character for the following letters K =(ㄱ;ㅋ) ; T=(ㅌ;ㄷ) P =(ㅍ;ㅂ)

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  10. i just started learning hangul . I already memorized the characters. Ive practiced reading and it's quite easy. I thought writing would be as easy as reading but it turn out a mess for me while practicing T.T

    but thanks to you now i know the rules :) it helped a lot

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  11. Hello, can i ask for something ? I noticed that, many words ( in korean learning book ) are in roman, like * chonun * , but in Hangul, its written like 저는 , which should be * jeoneun * right ? Whats the matter ? Thank you

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  12. It'd helped me a lot.. 캄사함니다!!

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  13. Hi, I was wondering, in the first example for the third set, why can't I write 업서 instead of 없어 ?

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  14. When to use ㅍ & ㅂ, ㄷ & ㅌ, ㅈ & ㅊ, ㄱ & ㅋ ???

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  15. why is Jung written like this
    ---->> (정)?
    not like this (중)
    Jung for JungHoseok

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  16. 잖 <<< And this? Why is it written with H at the bottom im quite confused why there is an H there (Gwaenchana) "Chan"

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  17. How to cut the words into syllables? Like jakku cut jak ku suddenly seolleyowa cut seol le yo wa.its confusing

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  18. Thank you for this short and easy to understand tutorial. But I have this one question. How will you know if it has two finals when syllabicating? Thats all I'm confused from. Hope to get a response from you soon

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