Basic Consonants
기본 자음Korean has 14 basic consonants. Many have two sounds depending on their position in a syllable — beginning vs. end.
ㄱg / k"g" at start · "k" at end
ㄴn"n"
ㄷd / t"d" at start · "t" at end
ㄹr / l"r" at start · "l" at end
ㅁm"m"
ㅂb / p"b" at start · "p" at end
ㅅs"s"
ㅇ— / ngsilent at start · "ng" at end
ㅈj"j"
ㅊch"ch" (aspirated)
ㅋk"k" (aspirated)
ㅌt"t" (aspirated)
ㅍp"p" (aspirated)
ㅎh"h"
Tense (Double) Consonants
쌍자음Tense consonants are written by doubling the basic form. They are pronounced with a stronger, tighter sound — no air escapes.
ㄲkktense "k" — like holding breath before "k"
TENSE
ㄸtttense "t" — sharper, no aspiration
TENSE
ㅃpptense "p" — stronger push of lips
TENSE
ㅆsstense "s" — sharper than ㅅ
TENSE
ㅉjjtense "j" — sharper than ㅈ
TENSE
✦ Three-Way Sound System
Plain
ㄱ g/k · ㄷ d/t · ㅂ b/p · ㅅ s · ㅈ j
light, unaspirated
Aspirated
ㅋ k · ㅌ t · ㅍ p · ㅊ ch · ㅎ h
breathy, airy — puff of air
Tense
ㄲ kk · ㄸ tt · ㅃ pp · ㅆ ss · ㅉ jj
tight, no air escapes