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  3. Korean Pronunciation
  • Front Vowel
  • Central Vowel
  • Back Vowel
  • y(ㅣ)-Glide Diphthong
  • w(ㅗ/ㅜ)-Glide Diphthong
  • (ㅢ) Diphthong
  • Bilabial Consonant
  • Alveolar Consonant
  • Palatal Consonant
  • Velar Consonant
  • Glottal Consonant

Pronunciation

ㅂ/p/

1. Basic identity of ㅂ

• Type: Plain bilabial stop

• IPA (basic): /p/

• Articulation: Both lips close → release

• No aspiration, no strong voicing

Korean ㅂ is neither English /b/ nor /p/ exactly.

2. Pronunciation by position

At the beginning of a word

• Sound: /p/ (unaspirated)

• Close to English p in spin, not pin

• Example:

바다 → [pa-da]

밥 → [pap]

Between vowels

• Sound: /b/

• Becomes voiced

• Example:

아버지 → [a-bʌ-ji]

가방 → [ka-bang]

At the end of a syllable (받침)

• Sound: /p̚/

• No release, no voicing

• ㅂ[p] is the represented sound of ㅂ, ㅍ.

Unreleased [p]. Lips close, stop airflow without explosion.

Example:

밥 → [pap̚]

입 → [ip̚]

3. How to pronounce ㅂ correctly (English learners)

Mouth & lips

• Lips fully closed

• Release quickly and lightly

Syllables composed by ㅂ and examples of words
No.
Vowel
Syllable
Word
Meaning
1 ㅣ 비 비 rain
2 ㅔ 베 베개 pillow
3 ㅐ 배 배 pear
4 ㅚ 뵈 뵈다 see
5 ㅟ 뷔 뷔페 buffet
1 ㅡ 브 브라우저 browser
2 ㅓ 버 버섯 mushroom
3 ㅏ 바 바다 sea
1 ㅗ 보 보고 report
2 ㅜ 부 부모 parent
1 ㅕ 벼 벼 rice
2 ㅠ 뷰 인터뷰 interview
1 ㅘ 봐 봐다 look after

Pronunciation

ㅃ/p͈/

1. Basic identity of ㅃ

• Type: Tense (fortis) bilabial stop

• IPA: /p͈/

• Articulation: Strong lip closure, high muscle tension

• No aspiration, no voicing

ㅃ is sharper, tighter, and shorter than ㅂ.

2. How to pronounce ㅃ correctly

Step-by-step

1. Lips:

  • Close very firmly

2. Air:

  • Build pressure inside, but do NOT release air strongly

3. Voice:

  • Vocal cords do not vibrate

4. Release:

  • Explosive but dry

Think of saying “spa” but cut off the air even more.

3. Positional rules

• ㅃ only appears at the beginning of a syllable

• It never appears as a final consonant (받침)


Syllables composed by ㅃ and examples of words
No.
Vowel
Syllable
Word
Meaning
1 ㅣ 삐 삐에로 clown
2 ㅐ 빼 빼다 pull out
1 ㅡ 쁘 쁘랑스 France
2 ㅓ 뻐 뻐스 bus
3 ㅏ 빠 빠수 handle
1 ㅗ 뽀 뽀니뽀니 little by little
2 ㅜ 뿌 뿌리 root
1 ㅕ 뼈 뼈 bone

Pronunciation

ㅍ/pʰ/

1. Basic identity of ㅍ

• Type: Aspirated bilabial stop

• IPA: /pʰ/

• Articulation: Lips close → strong burst of air

• No voicing

ㅍ is defined by strong air, not tension.

2. How to pronounce ㅍ correctly

Step-by-step

1. Lips:

  • Close normally (not tight like ㅃ)

2. Air:

  • Build air pressure

3. Release:

  • Release with a clear puff of air

4. Voice:

  • Vocal cords do not vibrate

A good test: hold your hand in front of your mouth — you should feel air.


3. Position rules

Word-initial / syllable-initial

• Strong /pʰ/

Example:

파다 → [pʰa-da]

피 → [pʰi]

Between vowels

• Still aspirated (unlike ㅂ)

Example:

아파 → [a-pʰa]

커피 → [kʰʌ-pʰi]

Final consonant (받침)

• Pronounced as /p̚/

• No air, no release

Example:

앞 → [ap̚]

숲 → [sup̚]


Syllables composed by ㅍ and examples of words
No.
Vowel
Syllable
Word
Meaning
1 ㅣ 피 피 blood
2 ㅔ 페 페트 pet
3 ㅐ 패 패배 defeat
1 ㅡ 프 프리 free
2 ㅓ 퍼 퍼지다 spread
3 ㅏ 파 파 green onion
1 ㅗ 포 포도 grape
2 ㅜ 푸 푸르다 blue
1 ㅕ 펴 펴다 open
2 ㅛ 표 표 ticket
3 ㅠ 퓨 리퓨지 refugee
4 ㅖ 폐 폐 lung

Pronunciation

ㅁ/m/

1. Basic identity of ㅁ

• Type: Bilabial nasal

• IPA: /m/

• Articulation: Lips closed, air flows through the nose

• Voiced

ㅁ is very close to English /m/.

2. How to pronounce ㅁ correctly

Step-by-step

1. Lips:

  • Close gently, not tightly

2. Air:

  • Let air pass through the nose

3. Voice:

  • Vocal cords vibrate

You should feel vibration if you touch your nose or throat.

3. Position rules

Word / syllable initial

• Clear /m/

Example:

마 → [ma]

물 → [mul]

Between vowels

• Still /m/

Example:

어머니 → [ʌ-mʌ-ni]

가마 → [ka-ma]

Final consonant (받침)

• Held /m/

• No release

Example:

밤 → [pam]

김 → [kim]


Syllables composed by ㅁ and examples of words
No.
Vowel
Syllable
Word
Meaning
1 ㅣ 미 미래 future
2 ㅔ 메 메일 daily
3 ㅐ 매 매력 charm
1 ㅡ 므 므훗하다 slight
2 ㅓ 머 머리 head
3 ㅏ 마 마시다 to drink
1 ㅗ 모 모자 hat
2 ㅜ 무 무기 weapon
1 ㅕ 며 며 both… and
2 ㅛ 묘 묘사 description
3 ㅠ 뮤 뮤직 music
1 ㅝ 뭐 뭐 what
Course Image

Greetings

This collection of 100 essential expressions focuses on greetings, daily interactions, politeness, and emotional connection—covering situations such as meeting someone, parting ways, showing gratitude, offering support, and expressing care.

Rather than memorizing isolated words, these phrases help learners understand how Korean is naturally used in real-life conversations. Many expressions include important cultural elements such as respect, hierarchy, and warmth, which are central to Korean communication.

By studying these phrases, learners will:

  • Develop practical speaking skills for daily conversations
  • Understand common sentence patterns and polite forms
  • Gain confidence in social and professional interactions
  • Become familiar with Korean cultural nuances

    Course Image

    Greetings

    This collection of 100 essential expressions focuses on greetings, daily interactions, politeness, and emotional connection—covering situations such as meeting someone, parting ways, showing gratitude, offering support, and expressing care.

    Rather than memorizing isolated words, these phrases help learners understand how Korean is naturally used in real-life conversations. Many expressions include important cultural elements such as respect, hierarchy, and warmth, which are central to Korean communication.

    By studying these phrases, learners will:

    • Develop practical speaking skills for daily conversations
    • Understand common sentence patterns and polite forms
    • Gain confidence in social and professional interactions
    • Become familiar with Korean cultural nuances

      Course Image

      Greetings

      This collection of 100 essential expressions focuses on greetings, daily interactions, politeness, and emotional connection—covering situations such as meeting someone, parting ways, showing gratitude, offering support, and expressing care.

      Rather than memorizing isolated words, these phrases help learners understand how Korean is naturally used in real-life conversations. Many expressions include important cultural elements such as respect, hierarchy, and warmth, which are central to Korean communication.

      By studying these phrases, learners will:

      • Develop practical speaking skills for daily conversations
      • Understand common sentence patterns and polite forms
      • Gain confidence in social and professional interactions
      • Become familiar with Korean cultural nuances