Korean Batchim받침 & 발음 규칙
Master final consonants and the rules that change how they sound — from linking and nasalisation to aspiration and tensification.
Consonant & Vowel Foundation
💡 Structure of a syllable block: Every Korean syllable = Initial (초성) + Vowel (중성) + optional Final/Batchim (종성).
The 7 Batchim Sounds (받침 소리)
No matter which consonant sits in the final position, it always resolves to one of only 7 possible sounds. Consonants in the same row share the same final-position pronunciation.
| Final Sound | Written As | Mouth Position | Example Words |
|---|
Double Batchim (겹받침) — 11 Clusters
When two consonants sit in the final position, only one is pronounced (unless followed by a vowel). The choice of which consonant to pronounce follows the rules below.
Pronunciation Change Rules
Aspiration & Tensification
Aspiration (격음화)
When ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅈ meet ㅎ (in either order), they merge into their aspirated counterpart.
ㄱ + ㅎ → ㅋ | ㄷ + ㅎ → ㅌ
ㅂ + ㅎ → ㅍ | ㅈ + ㅎ → ㅊ
입학 → [이팍] 좋다 → [조타] 넣고 → [너코]
Tensification (경음화)
After ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ batchim, the following consonant becomes tense (된소리).
ㄱ → ㄲ | ㄷ → ㄸ | ㅂ → ㅃ
ㅅ → ㅆ | ㅈ → ㅉ
학교 → [학꾜] 갑자기 → [갑짜기] 먹다 → [먹따]
Palatalisation (구개음화)
ㄷ or ㅌ batchim before 이 shift to ㅈ / ㅊ.
굳이 → [구지] 같이 → [가치] 해돋이 → [해도지]
ㄹ Insertion (ㄹ 첨가)
In compound words, a ㄹ sound can be inserted between certain morphemes, triggering tensification or nasalisation.
솜이불 → [솜니불] 색연필 → [생년필]