Every-Korean

  Why Are There Two Korean Number Systems? If you're trying to learn Korean, one of the most surprising discoveries is that there are two number systems ! Yes—Korean uses both native Korean numbers and Sino-Korean (Chinese-based) numbers , and each has specific uses. Let’s break it down so you’ll never mix them up again. 1. Native Korean Numbers (고유어 숫자) Used for: Counting objects (1–99) Hours (in time) Age (in casual speech) Counting things and people Native Numbers 1–10: Number Korean Romanization 1 하나 hana 2 둘 dul 3 셋 set 4 넷 net 5 다섯 daseot 6 여섯 yeoseot 7 일곱 ilgop 8 여덟 yeodeol 9 아홉 ahop 10 열 yeol Example Sentences: 사과 세 개 주세요. ( Please give me three apples. ) 저는 스물다섯 살이에요. ( I’m 25 years old. ) 2. Sino-Korean Numbers (한자어 숫자) Used for: Dates Minutes and seconds Phone numbers Money Floors, addresses Numbers above 100 Sino-Korean Numbers 1–10: Number Korea...

  Learning Korean pronunciation can be challenging, especially when it comes to distinguishing similar consonant sounds. In this post, we’ll focus on mastering these tricky pairs: ㅂ/ㅍ (b/p), ㄱ/ㅋ (g/k), and ㅈ/ㅊ (j/ch) . We’ll provide practical examples and exercises to help you improve your pronunciation and sound more natural when speaking Korean. 🔹 Understanding the Differences 1.   ㅂ (b) vs. ㅍ (p) ㅂ (b) : Voiced bilabial stop. Similar to the English ‘b’ in “baby”. ㅍ (p) : Voiceless bilabial aspirated stop. Similar to the English ‘p’ in “paper”. Examples: 2.   ㄱ (g) vs. ㅋ (k) ㄱ (g) : Voiced velar stop. Similar to the English ‘g’ in “go”. ㅋ (k) : Voiceless velar aspirated stop. Similar to the English ‘k’ in “kite”. Examples: 3.   ㅈ (j) vs. ㅊ (ch) ㅈ (j) : Voiced alveo-palatal affricate. Similar to the English ‘j’ in “jungle”. ㅊ (ch) : Voiceless alveo-palatal aspirated affricate. Similar to the English ‘ch’ in “chocola...

  If you’ve started learning Hangul, you’ve probably noticed that many Korean syllables end with a little “tail” or extra letter under the block. That’s called batchim (받침) —the final consonant in a Korean syllable. In this post, we’ll explore what batchim is, how it affects pronunciation, and give you tons of real-world examples to help you learn Korean syllables like a native speaker. Mastering batchim is essential to reading K-pop lyrics, understanding everyday Korean, and sounding natural in conversation. 🔹 What Is Batchim (받침)? Batchim (받침) literally means “support” or “foundation” in Korean. In the structure of a Hangul syllable , batchim is the final consonant placed at the bottom of the syllable block. Basic Structure: 초성 (initial consonant) + 중성 (vowel) + 받침 (final consonant) Without Batchim      With Batchim 나 ( na )          낙 ( nak ) 무 ( mu )       문 ( mun ) 사 ( sa )   ...

  Welcome back to our “Learn Korean” series! If you’ve already read our first post on “Introduction to Hangul: Consonants, Vowels, and the Logic Behind the Korean Alphabet” , you now know that Hangul is made up of consonants (자음) and vowels (모음) grouped into blocks called syllables. But how do these blocks really work? How can you build real Korean words from individual letters? In this post, we’ll dive deeper into Hangul structure , learn how to form syllables , and give you real examples to practice. This is your next step to reading Korean naturally—whether you’re reading K-pop lyrics, menus, or messages from your Korean friends! 🔹 Recap: How a Hangul Syllable Is Formed Each Hangul syllable (글자) is formed like this: Initial Consonant (초성) + Vowel (중성) + [Optional Final Consonant (받침)] Think of it like a LEGO block. You snap together pieces to make a syllable. 🔹 Basic Syllables Without Final Consonant Let’s combine consonants and vowels to create ...

Have you ever listened to a K-pop song and wished you could understand the lyrics without subtitles? Maybe you’ve found yourself mimicking your favorite Korean idol’s lines or trying to sing along to BTS, BLACKPINK, or NewJeans—but it’s all written in a script that looks completely unfamiliar. That script is called Hangul (한글), the Korean alphabet—and the great news is, it’s one of the easiest writing systems to learn in the world . In this post, we’ll explore what Hangul is, how it works, and why learning the Korean alphabet is the perfect first step in your journey to learn Korean , especially if you’re a fan of K-pop , Korean dramas, or Korean culture. What Is Hangul? Hangul is the official writing system of Korea , created in 1443 by King Sejong the Great. Before Hangul, Koreans used Chinese characters (Hanja), which were difficult for commoners to learn. King Sejong wanted to create a writing system that was logical, easy to learn , and accessible to everyone. The ...