Practicing reading Korean

Here are some basic Korean sentences. Practice reading them without needing romanization.

* When learning korean, this is the step that takes the longest so practice alot and don't cheat by just looking at the answers at the bottom!

1. 사랑해 - I love you.

2. 감사합니다 - I am grateful. (thank you)

3. 나는 미국입니다 - I am american.

4. 당신은 너무 예쁘다 - You are very pretty.

5. 이것은 정말 크다 - This is very big.

~ when saying - "ㅂ니다" as in 감사합니다 or 입니다, the "b and n" mix together to form a "m" sound. So "감사합니다" sounds like "kamsamida" when you say it. And "입니다" sounds like "imida" when you say it.

Answers:

1. saranghae

2. kamsahabnida

3. naneun miguk ibnida

4. dangsineun neomu yebbeuda

5. ikeoteun cheongmal K'euda

How to write words in Korean

~ First off, Vowels in the Korean language may be attached to the right or beneath the consonant.

Examples:

가 - vowel to the right

고 - wowel underneath

더 - vowel to the right

두 - vowel underneath

~ when constructing a word, you must add a mixture of consonants and vowels in certain patterns.

Examples:

"consonant + vowel" pattern --

ㄱ + ㅏ = 가 (gah)

ㅂ + ㅣ = 비 (bee)

ㅁ + ㅗ = 모 (moh)

"consonant + vowel + consonant" --

ㄲ + ㅜ + ㅇ = 꿍 (kkoong)

ㅁ + ㅓ + ㄱ = 먹 (meok)

"consonant + vowel + consonant + consonant" --

ㅇ + ㅣ + ㄹ + ㄱ = 읽(eelk)

* www.learn-korean.net

Before Starting

Before we begin studying Korean, It's necessary that you know how to read Korean letters, also knows as "Hangeul" because I write primarily in them.

Hangeul consists of 10 vowels, 11 compound vowels, 14 consonants, and 5 compound consonants

Vowels:

ㅏ - a (ah)

ㅗ - o (oh)

ㅜ - u (oo)

ㅓ - eo (similiar to "oh" but more of a "ah-oh" sound)

ㅣ - i (ee)

ㅡ - eu (similiar to "oo" but more of a "eh-oo" sound)

ㅑ - ya

ㅛ - yo

ㅠ - yu

ㅕ - yeo

Compound vowels:

ㅐ - ae (sounds like "a" as in "ate")

ㅒ - yae

ㅔ - e (eh)

ㅖ - ye

ㅘ - wa

ㅙ -wae

ㅚ - oi (sounds like oh-ee)

ㅝ - weo (sounds like woh)

ㅞ - we

ㅟ - wi (sounds like oo-ee)

ㅢ - eui (sounds like eu-ee or Just "ee")

Consonants:

ㄱ - g or k

ㄴ - n

ㄷ - d or t

ㄹ - r or l

ㅁ - m

ㅂ - b or p

ㅅ - s

ㅇ - (silent when used in front of vowels) or ng

ㅈ - j or ch

ㅊ - Ch'

ㅋ - k'

ㅌ - t'

ㅍ - p'

ㅎ - h

Compound consonants:

ㄲ - gg or kk

ㄸ - dd or tt

ㅃ - bb or pp

ㅆ - ss

ㅉ - jj

Korean Alphabet Rap

Instructions on how to install the Korean-letter font to your keyboard: