Billy Go’s Beginner Korean Course | #2: Intro to 한글

Summary

In this introductory lesson on the Korean alphabet, Hangul, the script covers the basics of its structure and history. The lesson begins with a brief history of Hangul, created by King Sejong in 1446, and explains the importance of learning Hangul over romanization. It introduces essential concepts such as consonants, vowels, syllable formation, and stroke order. The lesson focuses on the correct pronunciation and writing of Korean characters, starting with simple syllables. By the end of the lesson, learners will be equipped to begin writing basic Korean syllables, setting the foundation for further study.

Takeaways

• 😀 Hangul is the Korean alphabet, created by King Sejong in 1446, and consists of 14 consonants and 10 vowels.
• 😀 Before Hangul, most Koreans were illiterate, and only the wealthy could learn Chinese characters.
• 😀 Learning Hangul takes only a few hours, and this course will teach it faster than that.
• 😀 Romanization is writing Korean with the Roman alphabet, but it does not accurately represent Korean sounds and should be avoided.
• 😀 Korean syllables require both a consonant and a vowel to be pronounced. A single consonant or vowel on its own cannot form a syllable.
• 😀 Stroke order in Hangul is important for writing efficiency and recognition, with a standard left-to-right, top-to-bottom pattern.
• 😀 Each letter in Hangul is written in a specific stroke order, which helps with faster writing and reading.
• 😀 The first vowel in Hangul makes an 'ah' sound, and every vowel needs a consonant to form a complete sound.
• 😀 The first consonant in Hangul is similar to the English 'k' or 'g' sound and is used to create syllables when combined with vowels.
• 😀 Korean syllables are structured in blocks, and consonants are placed to the left of vowels if the vowel is vertical in shape.
• 😀 Practice is key—students are encouraged to pause the lesson and practice writing each letter and syllable as they learn.

Q & A

What is Hangul, and how does it relate to the Korean language?

Hangul is the Korean alphabet, consisting of 14 consonants and 10 vowels. It is used to write the Korean language. It was created by King Sejong in 1446 to make literacy more accessible to all Koreans, as before its creation, only the wealthy and highly educated could read and write using Chinese characters.

Why is Romanization of Korean not recommended for learning?

Romanization uses the English alphabet to write Korean, but it cannot accurately represent Korean sounds, meanings, or spelling. It can hinder your learning progress by providing misleading information about how words should be pronounced or written in Korean.

How do consonants and vowels work together in Korean syllables?

In Korean, every syllable must have at least one consonant and one vowel. The consonants and vowels combine to form sounds, with the vowel sound being heard only when a consonant is present. This combination creates the structure of the syllables.

What is stroke order in Korean writing, and why is it important?

Stroke order refers to the sequence in which the strokes of a letter are drawn. In Korean, the stroke order is left to right, top to bottom. Following proper stroke order helps you write quickly, read more easily, and recognize different styles of handwriting.

What happens if stroke order is not followed in Korean writing?

If stroke order is not followed, the letters may not flow well, making them harder to read and potentially affecting the overall appearance of your writing. It can also slow down your writing speed and make it difficult to understand when reading other people's handwriting.

What is the proper stroke order for the vowel '아' in Hangul?

To write the vowel '아' (ah), you start by drawing a vertical line from top to bottom. Then, draw a shorter horizontal line starting from the middle of the vertical line and extending to the right.

How is the consonant 'ㄱ' pronounced, and how is it written?

The consonant 'ㄱ' is pronounced like a 'k' or 'g' sound, depending on the context. The stroke order involves one line going to the right and then one down, creating a simple two-stroke letter.

What is a syllable block in Korean, and how are consonants and vowels arranged within it?

A syllable block is the structure that combines consonants and vowels in Korean writing. When a vowel is vertical (going up and down), the consonant is placed to the left and the vowel to the right. This block structure is used to form sounds and is the basic unit of Korean writing.

How is the consonant 'ㄴ' pronounced, and what is its stroke order?

The consonant 'ㄴ' is pronounced like 'n' in English. The stroke order involves drawing a single line down from top to bottom, followed by a second line going to the right.

What does the combination '가' sound like in Korean, and how is it formed?

'가' (ga) is formed by combining the vowel '아' (ah) with the consonant 'ㄱ' (k/g). The resulting sound is a syllable pronounced 'ga,' which is used in many Korean words.