POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL FOR FOLA 40023

FOREIGN LANGUAGE II

COMPILED BY

JHOANNA B. CASTILLO
FOLA 40023
FOREIGN LANGUAGE II
(Hangeul/Korean Language)
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview ………………………………………………………………………………………. 1
Lesson 1
Introduction …………………………………………………………………………… 2
Lesson 2
Consonants ….………………………………………………………………………. 9
Lesson 3

Vowels ……………………………………………………………………………….. 15
Lesson 4
Writing order and orientation ……………..……………………………………….. 21
Lesson 5
Double consonants and vowels .…….……………………………………………. 34
Lesson 6
Sound change rules …………….…………………………………………………. 42
Lesson 7
20 Starter phrases ………………………………………………………………… 49
Lesson 8
Korean numbers ……………………………………………….………………… 53
Lesson 9
Self-Introduction …………………………………………………………………. 63
OVERVIEW

Koreans use their own unique alphabet called Hangeul. It is considered to

be one of the most efficient alphabets in the world and has garnered unanimous
praise from language experts for its scientific design and excellence. Hangeul
was created under King Sejong during the Joseon Dynasty (1393-1910).

The name of the script, Hunmin Jeongeum (訓民正音), which is same as the
name of the document in which it was first published, mean literally "The Correct
Sounds for the Instruction of the People", thus revealing the king's true intentions. Since the
1920s, the script has been called Hangeul, meaning "the alphabet of the Han country"(韓), later,
the syllable "han" begun to be interpreted as meaning "great" or "unique".
A Korean syllable is divided into three parts: Ch'osong (initial consonant), chungsong (peak
vowel), and chongsong (final consonant).
Hospitality Industry deals with the people all around the globe, it is an advantage for the student
to know a foreign language to easily communicate. For this semester, Foreign Language II (Fola
II) introduces the Korean Language/Hangeul.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After successful completion of this module, you should be able to:
 Know the history and origin or Korean language and writing system;
 Write and read in Hangeul;
 Know how to pronounce Hangeul properly;
 Know the different rules in the Korean writing system;
 Learn some Korean culture and manners;
 Speak basic words and conversational phrases in Korean.

1
 Lesson Introduction
1

Overview
Nowadays Kpop and Kdrama are everywhere that’s why I know that most of you are
already familiar with Korean language and maybe some of you are really willing to study Korean
but before you get excited on learning this new language, let’s a take a look first on it’s history.
The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the Hangeul to you. This will discuss some facts,
how was the Hangeul created, and some background information.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, the student should be able to:
 Know the History Hangeul
 Know the old writing system of Koreans
 Know the difference of Hangeul and Hanja
 Know how was Hangeul creataed
 Be familiar with the Korean writing system
 Be familiar with Korean alphabet

What to do in Korea. Korean Alphabet: A brief history to Hangul (한글). (n.d.). Retrieved from:
https://whattodoinkorea.com/a-brief-history-of-hangeul/

Antique Alive. Hangeul (Korean Alphabet) – the sole writing system in the world whose founder
is known. (2015). Rlessonetrieved from:
http://www.antiquealive.com/Blogs/Hangeul_Korean_Alphabet.html

2
History

Before the 15th century, the preferred writing system in Korea was Hanja (漢字). These
were Chinese characters brought over from Buddhist and Chinese literature. The Korean
ruling class adapted Hanja to suit their needs. They used Hanja for their bureaucracies,
literature. and official record keeping.

Adapting Hanja

The word Hanja derived from the characters 汉子 (TC: 漢字), pronounced hàn zì in
Mandarin, and which simply means “Chinese Characters” . In Korean, Hanja is written 한자.

The word “Hanja” is the same basic word as “Kanji” in Japanese. All three
pronunciations — Hanja, Kanji, and hàn zì, all come from the same Chinese characters, 漢字.

In Chinese, each Chinese character has its own distinct meaning, and usually just one
pronunciation (there are notable exceptions that are known as exceptions).
Hanja used to be the only way in which Korean was written before Hangeul was devised
as a writing system in 1443. But even after Hangeul was invented, Hanja remained the primary
way in which Korean was written until the turn of the 20th century.
How did they adapt a foreign language writing system and use it for their own? Not easily.
Hanja and Chinese characters are logographic. Meaning, you can’t sound out the characters
phonetically, as in Spanish, German, and English (sometimes). Many Chinese characters derive
from illustrations, like the Egyptian hieroglyphs. A brief sketch of a bird means bird. In this Chinese
script, 山 means mountain. Before the creation of Hangeul, Koreans used Hanja in two ways.
First, they used characters as is. Many of the elite could speak and write in Chinese. However,
the Korean language was created and existed parallel to Chinese. Koreans wanted to preserve
their uniqueness. They weren’t Chinese. Their words sounded different. So, the Korean elite
decided to adapt Hanja characters o Korean phonetically. If a Hanja symbol sounded like a
Korean word, Koreans used the symbol to represent the Korean word. Imagine banana was a
Chinese word that meant, well, banana. And, imagine Korea had a word pronounced vamama,
which means ‘tax refund‘. Pre-Hangeul Korean’s might have written: “I can’t wait to get my
‘banana‘ so I can buy that sweet new iPhone.” Confusing, right? Well, even today the average
Chinese person must know around 8,000 characters to function in the world. Imagine life in Korea
a couple of hundred years ago. No centralized education. The only written language is borrowed
from another language but adapted to sound like Korean words.
Learning to read and write was a real barrier. Education in Korea was based on
Confucianism. If you weren’t a monk or had a top-tier bank account, Hanja was out of reach for
the lower classes. Therefore, most people in Korea were illiterate. Ordinary people couldn’t
petition their government, write love letters, or learn about the world outside their villages. Their
identity was limited to oral traditions. And, even for the elite, their part of their cultural identity was
borrowed.

3
 Children spend a significant part of the school years devoted to learning the often
complicated Chinese characters, but Hangeul can be learned in a few days for an average adult.
Hanja over 5000 characters for Chinese and 2000 characters for Japanese are used commonly.

The enter of the King: Sejong the Great (세종대왕)

If you take a stroll down Gwanghwamun Square (광화문광장)

towards Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁) in the heart of Seoul, you’ll
stumble upon a six-meter statue. Say hello to Sejong the Great, one of
Korea’s most celebrated leaders. Born in 1397, at the dawn of the Joseon
Dynasty, King Sejong was a scholarly leader. He helped codify the calenders
and organized the first farmer’s handbook to spread useful farming
techniques across the peninsula. Following his reformist tendencies, King
Sejong brought a peasant inventor named Jang Yeong-sil (장영실) into his
court. This drew the ire of the upper crust. They thought Jang Yeong-sil
didn’t deserve such status. However, King Sejong overruled their classism.
With King Sejong’s assistance, Jang Yeong-sil went on to invent a catalog
of useful inventions, including one of the first water gauges. Portrait of King Sejong the great

King Sejong was a patriot. He thought if Korea were to advance and compete with other
nations, it needed a way to express its own thoughts and ideas. His purpose for inventing Hangeul
as follows: "Because the language of our nation is different from China, there are many among
our ignorant people who are unable to express what they wish to say. I took pity on this state of
affairs and made 28 letters to correct it."

Yangban (양반)

However, Hangeul wasn’t received well by the Yangban (양반). A class of aristocrats,
government workers, and Confucian scholars, the Yangban held all the keys. They regulated and
bureaucratized Korea’s government. To become a Yangban, you needed to pass the gwageo
(과거). This was a monster test that measured reading and writing in Hanja. The test required
years of study and a deep bank account. Almost anyone could take and pass the exam. But,
where’s your average peasant farmer going to get that scratch? As you might have guessed, the
Yangban were Hanja fanatics. For them, Hanja was the one true writing system to rule them all.
It separated the (monetarily) superior from the (monetarily) inferior. If the new peasant writing,
were to infect their bureaucratic fortifications, Hangeul might have spelled the end of their rule.

In 1504, a few years after Hangeul’s birth, the newly empowered peasants threw up a few
posters around town that mocked the king, Yeonsangun. He didn’t take too kindly. He banned the
study and use Hangeul completely. The despotic Yeonsangun, went a step further. He limited the
use of Hanja and murdered all of the ministers who protested, cutting off their limbs and killing
their family members. (Yeonsangun‘s subjects overthrew and replaced him for obvious reasons.)
Hangeul retreated into the folk underworld for a few centuries. In the late 16th century, writers

4
began using Hangeul to write pop stories. This helped keep Hangeul alive. People learned to read
Hangeul so they could check out the latest [Korean] Stephanie Meyer or [Korean] Danielle Steel.

In the 1890s, rampant corruption, mass illiteracy, and westerns at the gates brought about unrest
in Korea. King Kojong (고종) had to make a change. He established the Gabo Reform (갑오 개혁).
This provisions of this reformation abolished slavery, threw out social classes and the Yangban,
and endorsed a merit-based system of education and employment. More importantly, the Gabo
Reforms declared that all government documents be written in Hangeul. Schools began to teach
Hangeul. Newspapers started printing the news in Hangeul.

Here Comes the Japanese

Japan annexed Korea in 1910. They declared Japanese the official language of Korea. They
banned the teaching of Korean literature and forced Koreas into economic and sex slavery.
However, the Japanese wanted to keep their blood pure. They forbid Korean’s from taking
Japanese names. They thought a wave of Koreans might infiltrate their borders and pass
themselves off as Japanese. The Japanese imperial government largely let Korea do its own thing.
They allowed Hangeul to be taught and studied in schools in universities. After a few centuries of
colloquial use by the brave Korean folk, Hangeul was messy. It lacked a central organizing body
for several centuries. There were some overgrown letterforms and grammar rules that needed
trimming. Through the efforts of groups like the Korean Language Society (한글 학회), reforms in
1912 and 1930 codified Hangeul’s letters and orthography. However, as WWII heated up, Japan
tightened its grip. In 1938, Japan adopted a policy of assimilation. Korean culture was outlawed.
Schools could no longer teach Hangeul. All official documents were to be written in Japanese.
The Korean Language Society fought to keep the language alive by publishing and spreading of
journals describing Hangeul.

Here Comes The Koreans

The year 1946. The fall of Imperial Japan brought Korea freedom. For the first time since
it’s birth, Hangeul became both the official language of the Korean government and the Korean
people. Though Korea split during the Korean War (한국전쟁), both North and South Korea
declare Hangeul their official language. Fruits of King Sejong‘s labors bear fruit today. With it’s
easy to read letters and logical based systems, both Korea’s declare their people nearly 100%
literate. The Korean alphabet-.Hangeul helps define the people of this small peninsula as uniquely
Korean. And, it aided South Korea in octupling it’s GDP and becoming a pop-culture and tech
powerhouse.

Hangeul was created under King Sejong during the Joseon Dynasty (1393-1910). On
October 9 (now Hangeul Day) year 1446, the Hunminjeongeum (훈민정음) was published. which
literally meant "the correct sounds for the instruction of the people.“

5
 Since the1920s, the script has been called Hangeul, meaning "the alphabet of the Han
country (Korea/Korean)", later, the syllable "han" begun to be interpreted as meaning "great" or
"unique”.
When first proclaimed by King Sejong, Hunminjeongeum had 28 letters in all, of which
only 24 are in use today.

Hunmin Jeongeum Haerye manuscript inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World list in 1997

The creation of Hangeul (한글)

The five basic Hangeul consonants are: ㄱ, ㄴ, ㅁ, ㅅ, and ㅇ. Other letters are made
by adding an extra stroke or stacking onto these basic five letters as follows: ㄱ ㅋ ㄲ.
Therefore, once one knows the first five letters, the rest are learned with ease. But even these
basic five letters don't need to be memorized because they have been created based on the
shapes of the parts of the body used to speak. That is:

"ㄱ" is the shape of the tongue's root blocking the throat;

"ㄴ" is the shape of the tongue touching the upper gums;

"ㅁ" is the shape of the open mouth;

6
 "ㅅ" is the shape of the teeth;

and "ㅇ" is the shape of the opening at the back of the throat.

The most prominent characteristic of Hangeul is the relationship between each individual
letter and its sound. For example, the English word "city" is actually closer in pronunciation to
"[siri]." The word "gentleman" is pronounced "[ʤénmən]," an indication that the letters t, r and n
share sounds due to their being in the same sound group. In English, the pronunciation and
shape of each alphabet letter have nothing in common, and therefore must be memorized
separately. However, all letters of Hangeul are designed in such a way that similarly
pronounced letters also look similar, as in ㄴ, ㄷ, ㅌ and ㄸ (for ㄹ: semi-lingual sound). This
highly scientific method is the reason why linguistics scholars around the world are amazed by
Hangeul.

Hangeul was invented as a scientific interpretation of the human vocal organs.

7
The Vowels

All vowels reflect the Eastern philosophy of heaven-Earth-human (YinYang). At the

root of Eastern philosophy is the idea that heaven, Earth, and human are one. Hangeul is also
based on this concept. Accordingly, "•" is based on the round shape of the sky, "ㅡ" the flatness
of Earth, and "ㅣ" the shape of a person standing. Varying combinations of these three shapes
are used to express all Hangeul vowels. For example, the vowel "ㅏ" is a combination of ㅣ and
·. The idea of expressing the complicated Korean vowel system with only a dot and two lines
(ㅡ, ㅣ) is pure genius, if not a complete mystery. One scholar even went so far as to point out
the scientific superiority of Hangeul as one of the reasons for the rise of Korea as an information
technology powerhouse.

Vowels reflect to the eastern Philosophy (YinYang)

8
 Lesson Consonants
2

Overview
Hangeul characters are “built” using consonant and vowel parts. Using these individual
parts over 12,000 characters can be constructed.
Don’t worry about memorizing the chart on this page, it is mainly to be used as a reference.
The next few lessons will gradually teach you how to read and write Hangeul. You will be
pleasantly surprised as to how easily you learn it.
For this lesson, we will be focusing first on the single consonants, how to write it, how do
you call it and what its equivalent in English alphabet.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, the student should be able to:
 Know the single consonants of Hangeul
 Know what does each letter called
 Know what’s its equivalent in English alphabet
 Write the single consonants in Hangeul

Bong S., et al. (2015). Korean From Zero 1. From Zero LLC. Eastern Ave., Henderson.
ISBN-13: 978-0-9896545-2-4

Diana. (2020) A Quick Guide to Hangul, the Korean Alphabet – Pronunciation and Rules.
Retrieved from:
https://www.mondly.com/blog/2020/05/25/hangul-korean-alphabet-pronunciation/

Lee, A. (2017). [Hangul 101] Lesson 3: 14 Basic Consonants. Retrieved from:

http://aeriskitchen.com/2017/12/%E3%80%90hangul-101%E3%80%91-lesson3-14-
basic-consonants/

Antique Alive. Hangeul (Korean Alphabet) – the sole writing system in the world whose founder
is known. (2015). Retrieved from:
http://www.antiquealive.com/Blogs/Hangeul_Korean_Alphabet.html

9
Name of the Consonants

10
Single Consonants
Here are the Hangeul single consonants and its equivalent in English alphabet.

ㄱ= g/k ㅇ= silent/ng

ㄴ= n ㅈ= j

ㄷ= d/t ㅊ= ch

ㄹ= r/l ㅋ= k

ㅁ= m ㅌ=t,

ㅂ= b/p ㅍ=p

ㅅ= s ㅎ=h

How to write
There is proper way on writing the Korean alphabet (Hangeul). The figures below will
show you on how to write it properly.

Giyeok nieun digeut

11
 rieul mieum bieup

shiot ieung jieut

chieut kieuk tieut

pieup hieut

Activity #01
Writing Practice
Practice by writing the given Korean alphabet many times.

ㄱ ㄱ
ㄴ

12
ㄷ
ㄹ
ㅁ
ㅂ
ㅅ
ㅇ
ㅈ
ㅊ
ㅋ
ㅌ
ㅍ
ㅎ
ㅅ
ㅁ
ㄹ

13
Practice Boxes
Write the equivalent Korean alphabet of the given English alphabet. Write it many times until
you reach the last box.

m
s
r/l
g/k
j
ng
p
b/p
h
ch
t
k
n
d/t

14
 Lesson Vowels
3

Overview
Hangeul characters are “built” using consonant and vowel parts. Using these
individual parts over 12,000 characters can be constructed.
Don’t worry about memorizing the chart on this page, it is mainly to be used as a reference.
The next few lessons will gradually teach you how to read and write Hangeul. You will be
pleasantly surprised as to how easily you learn it.
For this lesson, we will be focusing first on the basic/single vowels, how to write it, how
do you call it and what its equivalent in English alphabet.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, the student should be able to:
 Know the basic/single vowels of Hangeul
 Know what does each letter called
 Know what’s its equivalent in English alphabet
 Write the basic/single vowels in Hangeul

Bong S., et al. (2015). Korean From Zero 1. From Zero LLC. Eastern Ave., Henderson.
ISBN-13: 978-0-9896545-2-4

Diana. (2020) A Quick Guide to Hangul, the Korean Alphabet – Pronunciation and
Rules.
Retrieved from:
https://www.mondly.com/blog/2020/05/25/hangul-korean-alphabet-pronunciation/

15
Name of the vowels

/weo

16
Basic/Single Vowels
Here are the Hangeul single consonants and its equivalent in English alphabet.

ㅏ=a ㅜ=u

ㅑ = ya ㅠ = yu

ㅓ = eo ㅡ = eu

ㅑ = yeo ㅣ=i

ㅗ=o ㅐ = ae

ㅛ = yo ㅔ=e

How to write
There is proper way on writing the Korean alphabet (Hangeul). The figures below will
show you on how to write it properly.

a ya eo

yeo o yo

17
 u yu eu

i ae e

Quiz #01

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1NCsbeJtdZwXHZJcYj4V
2u6poT5mnvx3guv62YNsf8Us/edit?usp=sharing

Activity #02 – Writing Practice

Practice by writing the given Korean alphabet 14 times.

ㅏ ㅏ

18
ㅑ
ㅓ
ㅕ
ㅗ
ㅛ
ㅜ
ㅠ
ㅡ
ㅣ
ㅐ
ㅔ
ㅕ
ㅠ
ㅛ
ㅐ

19
Practice Boxes
Write the equivalent Korean alphabet of the given English alphabet. Write it many times until
you reach the last box.

ae
o
u
e
a
i
ya
yo
yu
eu
ae
eo
a
u

20
 Lesson Writing order and orientation
4

Overview
Now that you already know the single consonants and single/basic vowels, let’s move on
to another level.
This chapter will be focusing on the different kinds of writing order and orientation in
Hangeul. We will be focusing on how to combine the different letters to create a simple Korean
character which is the foundation in writing Korean. Also, there will be some Hangeul points that
will be discuss that you should remember in writing Hangeul so you will not get confuse and
wrong.
I’m hoping that this chapter will be exciting and fun to you.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, the student should be able to:
 Know the different kinds of Hangeul writing order and orientation
 Create basic Hangeul characters
 Know some Hangeul points
 Be familiar in some rules in writing Hangeul
 Write a short Korean words

Bong S., et al. (2015). Korean From Zero 1. From Zero LLC. Eastern Ave., Henderson.
ISBN-13: 978-0-9896545-2-4

21
Hangeul Points
Using consonants and vowels to create simple Hangeul. When creating a Hangeul
character you will always start with a consonant, and then follow it with a vowel. Let’s look at some
simple consonant + vowel combinations:

Writing order and orientation

There are standing (vertical) and laying (horizontal) vowels. Standing vowels always
“stand” to the right of the consonant. Laying vowels always “lay” below the consonant.

22
Hangeul Points

Creating pure vowels with ㅇ. In this part we introduce the Hangeul character ㅇ. In
order to say a pure vowel, meaning a vowel all by itself, you must use ㅇ in the consonant spot.
Here are some examples:

아=a 이=i 오=o 애 = ae

You MUST start a pure vowel Hangeul with ㅇ. In other words, you can never have a vowel
by itself. When ㅇ is the first character then it is silent and makes no sound. Notice how the
orientation of the ㅇ changes depending on the vowel it’s used with. The shape of the ㅇ doesn’t
have to change, but many Korean fonts change the shape for balance reasons.

Here are some example words using the Hangeul you have already learned. See if you
can read them.

아이 - child 요리 - cooking

우유 - milk 어디 - where

이유 - reason 아기 - baby

오다 - to come 이 - teeth

23
Hangeul with a “final consonant”
So far all of the Hangeul characters in prior lessons have ended with a vowel and only had two
parts. Now we will add consonants to the bottom of the character. These “final” consonants are
called 받침 (batchim).

1 – This shows the first consonant with a horizontal vowel and final consonant.
2 – This shows the first consonant and a vertical vowel and final consonant.
3 – This shows the first consonant with a vertical vowel and double final consonant.
4 – This shows the first consonant with a horizontal vowel and double final consonant.
Note: The 3 and 4 writing order will further discuss in the next lesson.

Now let’s look at some actual complete Hangeul that have final consonants.

24
The following Hangeul characters below are all built using the same initial consonant and vowel
combination. The final consonant, 받침 (batchim), is the only thing that is different. The black
portion is the 받침 (batchim).

Here are some words that contain Hangeul containing final consonant.

한국 (Korea) 책 (book) 눈 (eye, snow) 손 (hand)

지갑 (wallet) 택시 (taxi) 감자 (potato) 발 (foot)

남자 (man) 친구 (friend) 사람 (person) 돈 (money)

Activity #03
Hangeul matching
Direction: Write the equivalent Romanization of the given Hangeul characters.

1. 하 - 9. 크 –
2. 야 - 10. 라 –
3. 츠 - 11. 뱌 –
4. 세 - 12. 슈 –
5. 머 - 13. 주 –
6. 쟈 - 14. 뇨 –
7. 페 – 15. 애 –
8. 묘 –

25
Writing Practice 1
Direction: Write the equivalent Hangeul character of the given English alphabet, continually until
you reach the last box.

ga
가 가
na
da
ra
ma
ba
sa
a
ja
cha
ka
ta
pa
ha
gya
nya
dya
rya
mya
bya
sya
ya
jya
chya

26
kya
tya
pya
hya
geo
neo
deo
reo
meo
beo
seo
eo
jeo
cheo
keo
teo
peo
heo
gyeo
nyeo
dyeo
ryeo
myeo
byeo
syeo
yeo
jyeo

27
chyeo
kyeo
tyeo
pyeo
hyeo
go
no
do
ro
mo
bo
so
o
jo
cho
ko
to
po
ho
gyo
nyo
dyo
ryo
myo
byo
syo
yo

28
jyo
chyo
kyo
tyo
pyo
hyo
gu
nu
du
ru
mu
bu
su
u
ju
chu
ku
tu
pu
hu
gyu
dyu
ryu
myu
byu
syu
yu

29
jyu
chyu
kyu
tyu
pyu
hyu
geu
neu
deu
reu
meu
beu
seu
eu
jeu
cheu
keu
teu
peu
heu
gi
ni
di
ri
mi
bi
si

30
i
ji
chi
ki
ti
pi
hi
gae
nae
dae
rae
mae
bae
sae
jae
chae
kae
tae
pae
hae
ge
ne
de
re
me
be
se

31
 e
je
che
ke
te
pe
he

Writing practice 2
Direction: Practice by writing the given Korean character 14 times.

상
헐
문
영
찬
열
학
를

32
 백
훈
랑
물
울
필
텍
면
햄
현

Activity #04
Direction: Search 50 Korean words and then write it in a yellow pad (in Hangeul) together with
its English translation.

33
 Lesson Double consonants and vowels
5

Overview
After knowing the Hangeul single consonants and single/basic vowels together with the
writing order and orientation, I know that you can now write some Hangeul words and short
phrases.
This chapter will be focusing on the Hangeul double consonants and vowels, of course if
there is single there is double. In this part, you will know what are the Hangeul double
consonants and vowels and how to use them. Also, we will be discussing the writing order and
orientation.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, the student should be able to:
 Know what are the Hangeul double consonants and vowels
 Write the Hangeul double consonants and vowels
 Know its proper sound
 Know the different rules in Hangeul double consonants and vowels
 Know how to use it properly
 Make some words using the Hangeul double consonants and vowels

Bong S., et al. (2015). Korean From Zero 1. From Zero LLC. Eastern Ave., Henderson.
ISBN-13: 978-0-9896545-2-4

Amber. (n.d.). Double Final Consonant 겹받침. Retrieved from:

https://aminoapps.com/c/korean--school/page/blog/double-final-consonant-
gyeobbadcim/7er8_xPvcPu4Jw3BpKEDvdDvBpq4dZz0pEL

34
Double consonants
Here are the Hangeul double consonants and its equivalent in English alphabet.

ㄲ = kk ㅃ = pp

ㄸ = dd ㅆ = ss

ㅉ = jj

How to write

There is proper way on writing the Korean alphabet (Hangeul). The figures below will
show you on how to write it properly.

ssanggiyeok ssangdigeut ssangbieup

ssangsiot ssangjieut

Double consonants sound

The ㅂ (b / p), ㅈ ( j ), ㄷ (d / t), ㄱ (g / k) have a “hard” and “soft” sound. The double
consonants ㅃ,ㅉ,ㄸ,ㄲ, and ㅆ are sounded out with more energy than single consonants. You
push air into your mouth that is held back, you PAUSE slightly to let the pressure build. Then you
release to make the sound. Try not to spit on anyone.

35
Double vowels
Double vowels are made by writing, or typing two of the vowels you have already
learned together. They are written and input from the left vowel to right. Here are the Hangeul
double vowels and its equivalent in English alphabet.

ㅒ = yae ㅝ = wo

ㅖ = ye ㅞ = we

ㅘ = wa ㅟ = wi

ㅙ = wae ㅢ = ui

ㅚ = oe

How to write
There is proper way on writing the Korean alphabet (Hangeul). The figures below will
show you on how to write it properly.

36
Written form when using alone

Just like the single vowels when they are used alone they still require the “null or ㅇ”
character.

얘 예 와 왜 외 워 웨 위 의
Writing order for double vowels
The writing order and orientation for double vowels are the same with the single vowels,
you can put/place the double vowels wherever you want as long as you are following the writing
order system and rules of Hangeul.

Sample Words using double vowels

왜요 – why 교회 – church

사과 – apple 고마워 - thanks

안녕 – hi/bye

Double vowels sound

ㅒ and ㅖ are both pronounced like the “ye” in “yen”. In modern Korean there is no
change in sound. You will see both symbols used in Korean words. Consider them just different
ways of spelling. Just like in English you will have to learn the correct spelling.

외 and 위, these two double vowel types are commonly used in Korean. Despite looking similar
in style, 외 is pronounced like the English word “WAY” and 위 is pronounced like the English
word “WE”. Perhaps this guy below will help you remember which is which.

ㅙ ,ㅚ, and ㅞ, despite having different parts, all sound like the “WE” in “wet”. When said
slowly by your Korean friends they might sound out the first part of the double vowel, but in
spoken Korean you might not hear the sound difference.

ㅟ and ㅢ might be tricky to pronounce since they are so close in sound. The sound
change of these characters is similar to the sound change for ㅜ and ㅡ. For each sound, start
with the “oo” part of “moon”, then transition into the “ee” (like clean). The only difference is the
shape of your mouth when you say the “oo” part.

Double final consonants (겹 받침)

37
 You just have to read one of them, although it has two consonants at the bottom you just
pronounce one of them. It would be too difficult to pronounce both.
Sometimes the pronunciation follows the first consonant and sometimes the second
consonant. It depends on the combination not the words.
Also, there's a limited number (11) of possible combinations for double final consonants. These
are:

ㄳ, ㄵ, ㄶ, ㄺ, ㄻ, ㄼ, ㄽ, ㄾ, ㄿ, ㅀ, ㅄ
Pronunciation following the first consonant are:

ㄳ ㄽ

ㄵ ㄾ

ㄶ ㅀ

ㄼ ㅄ

Pronunciation following the second consonant are:

ㄺ ㄻ ㄿ

Tip: You don't have to memorize ALL of them, just remember that ㄺ, ㄻ, ㄿ pronunciation
follows the second consonant.
Remember: When a consonant is at the end, it has a different pronunciation. This rule also
applies to this case.
Example:

낛 pronounce as [낙] Nak

닭 pronounce as [닥] Dak
외곬 pronounce as [외골] Wegol
삶 pronounce as [삼] sam

Exception:

 The ㄺ combination. As I said before, ㄺ follows the pronunciation in the second

consonant. But when the word's next syllable begans with ㄱ, in ㄺ we pronounce the ㄹ
instead.
Example:
읽고 read as [일꼬] ilkko

38
  You connect the sounds. When the next syllable begins with a vowel the second
consonant in the batchim jumps to that syllable with its original sound.
Examples:
값을 read as [갑슬] gabseul
닭이 read as [달기] dalgi
삶에 read as [살메] salme

Writing order for double final consonant

This is how you will write if you are using the double final consonants.

Left side - This shows the first consonant with a vertical vowel and double final consonant.
Right side - This shows the first consonant with a horizontal vowel and double final consonant.
Examples:

닦 없 있

Quiz #02

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/14x6OB38gGi9AU-
bstjKLCcvd6k62SnWacX9l_gUc75g/edit?usp=sharing

39
Activity #05
Writing Practice 1
Direction: Practice by writing the given Korean character 11 times.

짃
몭
밚
텕
큶
혋
댨
줉
섪
슗
맶
닦
넜

40
 때
빠
쯔
Writing Practice 2
Direction: Practice by writing the given Korean character 11 times.

얘
예
와
왜
외
워
웨
위
의

41
 Lesson Sound change rules
6

Overview
Now, I know that you can already read and write Hangeul but before we proceed in
learning the Korean language, let us first find out what are the different rules in Hangeul
changing sounds. Many people get confused about it, so you better take this seriously. Also,
these rules are important because you will encounter it most of the time in learning Korean
language.
This chapter will be focusing on Hangeul's sound change rules. There are a lot of sound
change rules in Hangeul but we will just be discussing some of it, only those that you will
encounter most of the time.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, the student should be able to:
 Know the different rules of Hangeul changing sounds
 Know when the particular letter changes its sound
 Know that some letters change its sound when put in another position or if combined
with other letter
 Read Korean words correctly by applying the sound change rules

Bong S., et al. (2015). Korean From Zero 1. From Zero LLC. Eastern Ave., Henderson.
ISBN-13: 978-0-9896545-2-4

42
Sound change rules
When certain Hangeul are combined, their sounds can change in unexpected ways. In the
beginning, knowing these sound changes might not be as beneficial. However, you will eventually
learn some words with spellings that might confuse you as to their pronunciation.
You should look at this section from time to time to see if there are any new words you
have learned that have a unique sound change. We are only listing some of the common changes.

T-stops

When certain characters are used as a 받침 they are converted to “T” sound. The “T Stop”
characters are ㅅ,ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅎ. ㄷ and ㅌ are also T sounds but since they are normally T sounding
they are left out of the examples.

Example with T-stops:

1. 이것 (pronounced 이걷) this one

2. 늦게 (pronounced 늗게) late

3. 몇 개 (pronounced 멷개) how many?

4. 좋다 (pronounced 조타) to be good

When any T stop consonant is followed by ㅇ(이응) then the T stop is cancelled.

43
ㅅ followed by ㅎ

When ㅅ is followed by a ㅎ in the next Hangeul character the sound moves into the ㅎ position
and is pronounced as ㅌ.

“S” to “SH” sound with ㅅ

When ㅅ is combined with ㅣ, ㅕ,ㅑ, ㅛ, ㅠ the “S” changes to an “SH” sound.

The sound remains as “S” when combined with ㅏ,ㅓ,ㅜ, ㅗ, ㅡ, ㅐ, ㅔ.

Word examples of S and SH sound for ㅅ

1. 소시지 – sausage
2. 셔츠 – shirt
3. 쇼핑 – shopping
4. 샴푸 – shampoo
5. 슈퍼마켓 – supermarket
6. 사서 – librarian

44
“L” and “R” sound for ㄹ (리을)
When there are two ㄹ back to back the sound is always “L”. When ㄹ is at the end of a
word it’s always an “L” sound. When ㄹ is at the beginning of a word it’s an “R” sound.

ㄹ (리을) and ㄴ (니은) combinations

When a ㄹ is followed by a ㄴ OR the ㄴ is followed by ㄹ the combined sound changes

to a double “L” sound.

Silent 겹받침 (double consonant)

As discussed in a prior lesson, sometimes one of the double consonants in a double

consonant is silent.

45
Random CH sound when not expected

When ㄷ is followed by ㅎ the resulting sound is “CH”. Similarly when ㅌ is followed by

이 the ㅌ changes to a “CH” sound.

Example CH sounds:

1. 끝이 (pronounced 끄치) tip, end

2. 같이 (pronounced 가치) together

3. 닫히다 (pronounced 다치다) to shut

The various sounds for 하다

While studying Korean language you will learn about 하다 verbs, and this sound change will be
important then. 하다 tends to blend into the Hangeul character before it.

1. Soft 하다

After you begin learning the 하다 verbs you might feel that it’s RARE to hear 하다
actually as HADA. It often sounds like 아다 instead of 하다, or the H sound is weak.

Examples:

1. 공부하다 (sounds like 공부아다) to study

2. 말하다 (sounds like 마라다) to tell, to talk

3. 단순하다 (pronounced 단수나다) to be simple

2. Harder sound before 하다

46
 When consonants like ㄱ, ㅂ are followed by 하다 they blend into a harder sound.

Examples:

1. 대답하다 (sounds like 대다파다) to reply, to answer

2. 착하다 (sounds like 차카다) to be kind

Note: Learning vs actual speaking is different. When you are learning Korean, and you have a
friend or teacher helping you they might actually say 하다 as “HADA” because they are saying it
slow.

The 하다 sound change is actually common with other words that start with ㅎ.

Examples:

1. 천천히 (sounds like 천천이) slowly

2. 안녕하세요 (sounds like 안녕아세요) hello

Shift to hard sound after and before ㅎ

When ㄱ,ㄷ,ㅂ, or ㅈ are before or after ㅎ their sound shifts to their harder sound
counterparts ㅋ,ㅌ,ㅍ, and ㅊ.

47
The different sounds of ㄱ, ㄹ

ㄱ can be pronounced like a G or a K. Typically at the beginning of a sentence or word

you will hear ㄱ like a K, and if it is in the middle of a word it’s closer to a G.

ㄹ can be pronounced like an R or an L. Typically at the beginning of a sentence you will

hear ㄹ like a R and in the middle more like L.

As you learn Korean you will find that, depending on the word, the sound of ㄱ and ㄹ will
shift. In many cases you just have to learn how that particular word is pronounced.

The sound difference between ㅓ and ㅗ

The sound for ㅓ doesn’t really exist in English so it might be hard to master. It is certainly one
of the sounds that Korean people will ALWAYS correct you on. One technique to getting closer to the
right sound is this trick:
1. Shape your mouth as if you are going to say “AH”
2. Now say the sound “OH”. It should feel as if the sound is coming from the back of your throat.

Quiz #03

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1qP2hr-
GLXvUZTclaMN8vLWrrKdYN7p3u4GoRTt
iE7r0/edit?usp=sharing

Quiz #04

One on one online reading

48
 Lesson 20 Starter Phrases
7

Overview

Maybe some of you have been waiting for this. Finally, we're going to start learning the
Korean language.
Starting from this lesson up to the last, we will be learning Korean language. Make sure
you have clearly understood the lessons about Hangeul and you've already memorized the
Korean alphabet. From this point on there will be no more Romanization, all Korean words and
phrases will be written in Hangeul.
I’m hoping that you will have fun learning this new language. This lesson will surely help
you if you were planning to visit Korea someday.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, the student should be able to:
 Know the common Korean phrases
 Speak basic Korean words and phrases
 Pronounce the words/phrases properly

Bong S., et al. (2015). Korean From Zero 1. From Zero LLC. Eastern Ave., Henderson.
ISBN-13: 978-0-9896545-2-4

49
Meeting a person
These phrases are handy when you begin using the Korean you have learned.

 안녕하세요.
= Hello, Good morning, Good afternoon, Good evening
 잘 지냈어요?
= How have you been?
 오래간만이에요!
= Long time no see!
 안녕히 가세요.
= Goodbye (said by the person staying)
 안녕히 계세요.
= Goodbye (said by the person leaving)
 안녕.
 Goodbye / Hello (used with friends only)

Communication

 천천히 말해 주세요.
= Please speak slowly.
 다시 한 번 말해 주세요.
= Please say it again once more.
 영어로 뭐예요?
 What is it in English?
 한국어로 뭐예요?
= What is it in Korean?
 한국어 잘 못 해요.
= I can’t understand Korean well.

Quick Answers
These are some quick answers you can give when questions are asked to you in Korean.

 네.
= Yes.
 아니요.
= No.
 아마도. (아마 can also be used as part of a sentence.)

50
 = Maybe.
 괜찮아요.
= It’s okay. / I’m okay.
 안돼요.
= No! (strong) / No way! / I can’t!

Manners

 감사합니다.
= Thank you.
 고맙습니다.
= Thank you.
 고마워.
= Thanks. (used only with friends)
 천만에요.
= You’re welcome. (not very commonly used)

Quiz #05

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Hnevm5ssEDemk
84fwmoog2emSTw7dgnITL1cf8cW3lE/edit?usp=sha
ring

51
Activity #06

Search 20 Korean phrases that have not yet discussed then list it down together with its
English Translation. Put the Korean phrase (in Hangeul) in “K:” then put the English translation
in “E:”.
K________________________________
K:________________________________
K________________________________
K:________________________________
K________________________________
K:________________________________
K________________________________
K:________________________________
K________________________________
K:________________________________
K________________________________
K:________________________________
K________________________________
K:________________________________
K________________________________
K:________________________________
K________________________________
K:________________________________
K________________________________
E:_________________________________
E:_________________________________
E:_________________________________
E:_________________________________
E:_________________________________
E:_________________________________
E:_________________________________
E:_________________________________
E:_________________________________
E:_________________________________
E:_________________________________
E:_________________________________
E:_________________________________
E:_________________________________
E:_________________________________
E:_________________________________
E:_________________________________
E:_________________________________
E:_________________________________

K:________________________________ E:_________________________________

Activity #07
Memorize 10 of the phrases you had put in your activity #06.

52
 Lesson Korean Numbers
8

Overview
Korean has two number systems. They are the “Korean numbers (Korean Native
Numbers)” and “Chinese numbers (Sino-Korean Numbers)”. Each one has its specific uses that
you will learn as we progress through the lessons.
The two systems are typically never mixed, with the exception of telling time.
You must know both systems to survive in Korea. Both systems will be taught in this
lesson.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, the student should be able to:
 Know the two number systems of Koreans.
 Know the different usage of the two number systems
 Count in Korean
 Tell the time in Korean
 Tell their phone number in Korean
 Tell the price and quantity in Korean

Bong S., et al. (2015). Korean From Zero 1. From Zero LLC. Eastern Ave., Henderson.
ISBN-13: 978-0-9896545-2-4

Kim K. (2019). A Crash Course in Korean Numbers. Retrieved from:

https://www.clozemaster.com/blog/korean-
numbers/#:~:text=The%20Korean%20word%20for%2010%2C000%20is%20%E
B%A7%8C.&text=%EB%A7%8C%20is%20an%20important%20word,form%20l
arger%20numbers%2C%20like%20this.

53
Korean number system

The singles

The Korean numbers only go up to 99. Let’s look at 1-10 first.

Some typical things that use the Korean numbers are: age, time (hours), and a variety of
counters. We will learn these in later lessons. For now, just learn how to count 1-10.

The teens

The teens (11-19) are very easy. Just add 열 (10) in front of the single numbers 1-9.

54
The tens
The Korean number system has unique words for the 10’s.

Combining the tens and singles to make 11-99

Now you know every word required to count from 1-99 with the Korean numbers. You
can make all the other numbers simply by stringing them together.
For example if you want to make 22 you just say 20 then 2.
Examples:
 22 is 스물 (20) + 둘 (2) = 스물둘
 45 is 마흔 (40) + 다섯 (5) = 마흔다섯
 76 is 일흔 (70) + 여섯 (6) = 일흔여섯
 99 is 아흔 (99) + 아홉 (9) = 아흔아홉

55
100 and above
The Korean counting system stops at 99. Above 99 you must jump to the “Chinese system”
also called “Sino-Korean numbers”. All numbers 100 and above will be taught in section 9-11.
Before you get there, let the first 99 absorb!

Chinese Number Sytem

Differences between the Korean and Chinese numbers
The Chinese number system is completely unique from the Korean system. The Korean system
stops at 99, but with the Chinese system, numbers from 1 to 1,000,000,000 and beyond can be
made. Depending on the usage, one number system will be used over the other. We will
discuss when each system is used as we learn counters and other Korean concepts in this book
and other books in the series.
It’s important to note that even though it’s called the “Chinese” system, these numbers
are considered part of the Korean language and not part of Chinese. In other texts you may see
the Chinese numbers referred to as “Sino-Korean”. “Sino” just means “Chinese”.
We feel that calling them “Chinese” is more comfortable.

The singles 1-10

Let’s look at the first 10 numbers in the Chinese counting system.

56
The teens
The teens (11-19) are just as easy as the Korean system. Just add십 (10) in front of the
single numbers 1-9.

The tens
The Chinese number system doesn’t have unique words for the 10’s. Instead you simply
say 2 in front of 10 to say 20. The pattern is very easy!
Examples:

 20 is 이 (2) + 십 (10) = 이십
 40 is 사 (4) + 십 (10) = 사십
 60 is 육 (6) + 십 (10) = 육십

57
Combining tens and singles for 11-99
In order to make 11-99 you can just string the numbers together to create them.
Examples:

 25 is 이 (2) + 십 (10) + 오 (5) = 이십오 (25)

 38 is 삼 (3) + 십 (10) + 팔 (8) = 삼십팔 (38)
 59 is 오 (5) + 십 (10) + 구 (9) = 오십구 (59)
 82 is 팔 (8) + 십 (10) + 이 (2) = 팔십이 (82)

Hundred & thousand

Saying the numbers above 100 is all about learning the large number units, and these
are words like hundred, thousand, and so on.
Below are the words for 100 and 1,000:

 100 – 백 (baek)
 1,000 – 천 (cheon)

Using these large number units, we can then use the number words from 1 to 10 to form
words for large numbers.

57
 Examples:

 240 – 이백사십
 3240 – 삼천이백사십

So in the first example, we make 200 by combining two (이) and hundred (백), and then add the
number 40 (사십). In the second example, we make 3,000 by combining 3 (삼) and thousand
(천) and adding that to the 240 (이백사십).

Here are few other examples:

 567 – 오백육십칠
 2650 – 이천육백오십
 7280 – 칠천이백팔십

Numbers 10,000 and above

The Korean word for 10,000 is 만.

10,000 – 만 (man)

만 is an important word in Sino-Korean numbers as we can use the words 십, 백, and 천

with 만 to form larger numbers.

Examples:

 100,000 – 십만
 1,000,000 – 백만
 10,000,000 – 천만

And as with the numbers below 100,000, we can then combine the smaller numbers with
만 to form it.

Examples:

 32,000 – 삼만이천
 20,000 – 이십만
 75,000 – 칠만오천
 43,968 – 사만삼천구백육십팔
 50,032 – 오만삼십이

58
Usage of Korean numbers (Native Korean numbers) and Chinese numbers (Sino-Korean
numbers)
The Native Korean number system is used for general counting, like when you’re counting
out loud, up to 99. It’s also used to count people, hours, things, ages, and more. Sino-Korean
numbers are used for things like dates, money, minutes, addresses, phone numbers, and
numbers above 100.
Let’s do some examples so you can understand how to use Native Korean numbers and
Sino-Korean numbers correctly.
Let’s say you want to buy two apples. Since the number two is below 99, you will use the
Native Korean number system. The world “apple” in Korean is 사과, so two apples would be 사과
두 개.

What if you need a lot more apples? How about 120 apples? Since 120 is above 99, you
will change to the Sino-Korean number system. So, “120 apples” in Korean would be 사과 백이십
개.

Let’s do an example with time. Let’s say someone asks you the time, and it’s 2:35 in the
afternoon. How would you answer? Here’s a hint, it’s a little tricky. The counter for hours is 시,
and we need a Native Korean number to read hours. So 2 o'clock will be 두 시 using Native
Korean number for "two." The counter for minutes is 분 and we need a Sino-Korean number to
read minutes. So 35 minutes will be 삼십오 분 using Sino-Korean number for "thirty five." Then if
needed, put the word for “afternoon” or “morning” at the beginning, followed by the time, the
Korean term for afternoon is 오후. All together it will be, 오후 두 시 삼십오 분입니다 - “It’s 2:35 in
the afternoon.”

Quiz #06

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1a2DF9V38gSXqJFuT
xnV7NjaXnbyOp9OQ7un7QSu_7kM/edit?usp=sharing

59
Activity #08
Number Practice I
Direction: Write the given numbers into Korean number (Native Korean number) and Chinese
number (Sino-Korean number). Write your answers in Hangeul.
1. 23
Korean:__________________
Chinese:_________________ 9. 67
Korean:__________________
2. 45 Chinese:_________________
Korean:__________________
Chinese:_________________ 10. 8
Korean:__________________
3. 18 Chinese:_________________
Korean:__________________
Chinese:_________________ 11. 52
Korean:__________________
4. 34
Chinese:_________________
Korean:__________________
Chinese:_________________ 12. 19
Korean:__________________
5. 11 Chinese:_________________
Korean:__________________
Chinese:_________________ 13. 57
Korean:__________________
6. 49 Chinese:_________________
Korean:__________________
Chinese:_________________ 14.
Korean:__________________
7. 70 Chinese:_________________
Korean:__________________
Chinese:_________________ 15. 23
Korean:__________________
8. 81 Chinese:_________________
Korean:__________________
Chinese:_________________

60
Number Practice II
Direction: Give the equivalent term in Chinese numbers (Sino-Korean numbers) of the following.
Write your answers in Hangeul.

1. 100 =______________________________________________________________

2. 670 =______________________________________________________________

3. 318 =______________________________________________________________

4. 773 =______________________________________________________________

5. 104 =______________________________________________________________

6. 15,095 =___________________________________________________________

7. 1,780 =_____________________________________________________________

8. 6,352 =_____________________________________________________________

9. 1,039 =_____________________________________________________________

10. 19,982 =____________________________________________________________

11. 10,945 =____________________________________________________________

12. 1,000 =_____________________________________________________________

13. 93 =________________________________________________________________

14. 51,264 =____________________________________________________________

15. 13,387 =____________________________________________________________

16. 10,000 =____________________________________________________________

17. 23,000 =____________________________________________________________

18. 45,789 =____________________________________________________________

19. 67,986 =____________________________________________________________

20. 93,167 =_____________________________________________________________

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 Lesson Self-Introduction
9

Overview
Understand fully the Korean numbers first since saying your age in Korean requires
them.
In this lesson we’re going to study on how to introduce yourself in Korean. Introducing
yourself is a key part of speaking Korean, so the only option at this point is to memorize the key
phrases. You don’t have to hurry yourself, you will eventually memorize by continually saying it
or talking with your classmates or friends using the Korean words and phrases that you know.
Tip, watching Korean dramas with English subtitle will help you on memorizing Korean
words and phrases, it will also help you to know a new vocabularies and to enhance your
pronunciation.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, the student should be able to:

 Learn the phrases to say to people you are meeting for the first time.
 Learn how to say your age in Korean.
 Introduce yourself (Basic)
 Learn new vocabularies

Bong S., et al. (2015). Korean From Zero 1. From Zero LLC. Eastern Ave., Henderson.
ISBN-13: 978-0-9896545-2-4

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First Meeting 첫인사

When you first meet new Koreans you will hear a variation of the first or second phrase.
If you are meeting in a more formal situation, then the first phrase will be used. In more casual
situations such as language meetups, the classroom, or among friends you will most likely hear
the second sentence.
습니다 despite written with a
1. 만나서 반갑습니다. “B” sound (ㅂ) is pronounced
= Nice to meet you. (very polite) like 슴니다 with an “M”
sound.

Pronunciation Note
As needed we will remind you of some of the pronunciation rules.

Simple Rule

When ㅂ (B) is followed by ㄴ (N) the sound always changes to ㅁ (M).

Longer Explanation

In Korean words, when the 받침, also called “the final consonant”, is ㅂ, the final sound of
the character would be a “b” sound. However, when ㅂ is immediately followed by ㄴ (n sound)
the sound changes to an “m” sound as if the ㅂ was actually ㅁ.

2. 반가워요.
= Nice to meet you. (Casual Polite)
This phrase is used when you are meeting new people in a casual situation. Perhaps a
friend introduced you to their friends, or you are at one of the many language meetups around
Korea.

Asking Names 이름 묻기

This simple phrase also has a few variations depending on the formality of the situation.
In formal situations, such as talking to someone above you in status, (bosses, someone older
than you, teachers) the first two can be used, but in more casual situations the third one is fine.

3. 성함이 어떻게 되세요?

= What is your name? (formal)

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 4. 성함이 어떻게 되십니까?
= What is your name? (formal)

5. 이름이 뭐예요?
= What is your name? (when talking to equals or people below you)

How to answer
When answering, there are a few ways to do it.
 The reality is that, since you are not Korean, any way will be fine. Koreans will be
tougher on native Koreans in regard to formality than a foreigner learning the language.
So if you get this wrong, you will not be summarily killed. Even Koreans will answer a
formal question with a more casual / polite response depending on the situation.

 Typically, you are safe to match formal to formal and casual to casual. But if the person
is older than you, your response should show them the respect they “deserve” as an
elder, even if they ask in a casual manner.

(name)
6. __________ 입니다.
= I am ___________.
This is very standard, yet formal and polite. Nothing bad can happen if you are polite.

(이) 라고 합니다.
(name)
7. __________
C
= I am called ____________.
This is used if your name and what you are called are different. If you are “Joseph” but
everyone calls you “Joe” this is the phrase you use. If the Korean version of your name ends with
a 받침 then use the 이 in the parenthesis.

8. 제 이름은 ____________ 입니다.

(name)

= My name is ______________.
This is the polite way to tell someone your name if you haven’t been asked.

Asking Age 나이 묻기

9. 나이가 어떻게 되세요?

= How old are you?
This literally means “What does your age become?” and it is polite.

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 10. 몇 살이에요? (sounds like 며쌀)
= How old are you?
This is polite, but is much closer to casual than formal. It can be asked to children.

(age)
11. _______________입니다. (sounds like 임니다) (always use Korean numbers in age)
= I am years old.
This is the polite way to say how old you are, either way you are asked your age.

Korean age vs International age

In Korea you might be surprised that even a baby can be born and in one month be 2
years old. Koreans use the Chinese New Year to count their age. So everyone in Korean age is
always 1-2 years older than their international age. It all depends on when they were born.

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 So when you ask a Korean person who hasn’t travelled abroad their age, they will most
likely give you their “Korean age”. So that “18” year old girl might actually be 16.

Example conversation:

A: 몇 살이에요? (How old are you?)

B: 열여덟 살이에요. (I am 18 years old.)

A: 몇 살이에요? (How old are you?)

B: 스무 살입니다. (I am 20 years old.)

Quiz #07

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Y58-
a4O1tsN8ELZJoS6AhRJRTpX4arbPAXv5kD9QzIY/e
dit?usp=sharing

Activity #09
Direction: Translate the following. Write your answer in Hangeul. Complete answer.
1. 22 years old =________________ 9. 20 years old =________________
2. 18 years old =________________ 10. 31 years old =________________
3. 38 years old =________________ 11. 9 years old =_________________
4. 41 years old =________________ 12. 70 years old =________________
5. 55 years old =________________ 13. 62 years old =________________
6. 90 years old =________________ 14. 83 years old =________________
7. 50 years old =________________ 15. 29 years old =________________
8. 10 years old =________________

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