Sound Change Rules

Loading concept...

🎡 The Secret Music of Korean: Sound Change Rules

Welcome to the Hidden Symphony!

Imagine you’re learning a new song. The notes on the paper say one thing, but when you actually sing them together, they blend and dance into something beautiful! That’s exactly what happens in Korean. The letters (called jamo) sometimes change how they sound when they meet their neighbors.

Think of it like making friends at school. When you’re alone, you act one way. But with your best friend? You might talk differently, laugh differently, even walk differently! Korean sounds do the same thing.

πŸ”— 1. Linking Rules (μ—°μŒλ²•μΉ™)

When Sounds Hold Hands

The Big Idea: When a word ends with a consonant and the next syllable starts with γ…‡ (which is silent), the ending consonant β€œjumps over” and takes the empty ㅇ’s place!

🎯 Why Does This Happen?

The γ…‡ at the beginning of a syllable is like an empty chair. The consonant from the previous syllable sees the empty seat and says, β€œI’ll sit there!”

✨ Examples That Click

Written What Happens Sounds Like
μŒμ•… (music) ㅁ jumps to γ…‡ μœΌλ§‰ [eu-mak]
ν•œκ΅­μ–΄ (Korean language) γ„± jumps to γ…‡ ν•œκ΅¬κ±° [han-gu-geo]
λ¨Ήμ–΄ (eat) γ„± jumps to γ…‡ λ¨Έκ±° [meo-geo]
읽어 (read) γ„± jumps to γ…‡ 일거 [il-geo]

🧠 Remember It Like This:

β€œEmpty seat? Fill it!” - The consonant sees γ…‡ and moves right in!

πŸ›‘ 2. Batchim Neutralization (λ°›μΉ¨ 쀑화)

The Great Simplifier

The Big Idea: At the end of a syllable (called batchim), Korean only allows 7 sounds. Any other consonant must transform into one of these 7!

🎭 The Lucky 7 Club

Only these 7 sounds can sit at the end of a syllable:

γ„± γ„΄ γ„· γ„Ή ㅁ γ…‚ γ…‡
[k] [n] [t] [l] [m] [p] [ng]

πŸ”„ The Transformation Rules

Original Sound Becomes Example
γ…‹, γ„², γ„± β†’ γ„± [k] λΆ€μ—Œ β†’ λΆ€μ–΅ [bu-eok]
γ…Œ, γ……, γ…†, γ…ˆ, γ…Š, γ…Ž β†’ γ„· [t] 옷 β†’ 옫 [ot]
ㅍ, γ…‚ β†’ γ…‚ [p] μ•ž β†’ μ•• [ap]

✨ Real Examples

Word Meaning Written Sounds Like
꽃 flower γ…Š ending κΌ³ [kkot]
λ°– outside γ„² ending λ°• [bak]
μžˆλ‹€ to exist γ…† ending 읻닀 [it-da]
λΆ€μ—Œ kitchen γ…‹ ending λΆ€μ–΅ [bu-eok]

🧠 Remember It Like This:

Think of a nightclub with a strict dress code. Only 7 outfits are allowed inside. Everyone else must change clothes at the door!

πŸ‘« 3. Double Batchim Pronunciation (κ²Ήλ°›μΉ¨ 발음)

When Two Consonants Share One Spot

The Big Idea: Sometimes two consonants sit together at the bottom of a syllable. When you say the word alone, only ONE of them gets to be heard. But which one?

πŸ“‹ The Double Batchim Chart

Double Consonant Pronounced As Example
γ„³ γ„± μ‚― β†’ [μ‚­] β€œwages”
γ„΅ γ„΄ 앉닀 β†’ [μ•ˆλ‹€] β€œto sit”
γ„Ά γ„΄ λ§Žλ‹€ β†’ [λ§Œνƒ€] β€œmany”
γ„Ί γ„± 읽닀 β†’ [읡닀] β€œto read”
γ„» ㅁ μ‚Ά β†’ [μ‚Ό] β€œlife”
γ„Ό γ„Ή λ„“λ‹€ β†’ [널닀] β€œwide”
γ„½ γ„Ή 외곬 β†’ [외골] β€œsingle-minded”
γ„Ύ γ„Ή ν•₯λ‹€ β†’ [ν• λ‹€] β€œto lick”
γ„Ώ γ…‚ μŠλ‹€ β†’ [읍닀] β€œto recite”
γ…€ γ„Ή μžƒλ‹€ β†’ [일타] β€œto lose”
γ…„ γ…‚ μ—†λ‹€ β†’ [μ—…λ‹€] β€œto not exist”

🌟 The Exception Stars: γ„Ί, γ„», γ„Ώ

When followed by a consonant, these special ones break the normal rule:

  • γ„Ί β†’ Usually γ„±, but before γ„± β†’ γ„Ή (읽고 β†’ [일꼬])
  • γ„» β†’ Usually ㅁ (μ‚Ά β†’ [μ‚Ό])
  • γ„Ώ β†’ Usually γ…‚ (μŠλ‹€ β†’ [읍닀])

🧠 Remember It Like This:

It’s like two kids trying to fit through a door at the same time. Usually the one on the LEFT goes through (γ„±γ…… β†’ γ„±), but some special pairs have different rules!

πŸ‘ƒ 4. Nasal Assimilation (λΉ„μŒν™”)

Catching the Cold

The Big Idea: When certain consonants meet nasal sounds (γ„΄, ㅁ, γ…‡), they β€œcatch a cold” and become nasal too!

🀧 What Are Nasal Sounds?

Nasal sounds come through your nose:

  • γ„΄ - like β€œn” in β€œnose”
  • ㅁ - like β€œm” in β€œmom”
  • γ…‡ - like β€œng” in β€œsing”

πŸ”„ The Transformation Magic

Original + Nasal Becomes
γ„±, γ…‹, γ„² + γ„΄, ㅁ β†’ γ…‡
γ„·, γ…Œ, γ……, γ…†, γ…ˆ, γ…Š + γ„΄, ㅁ β†’ γ„΄
γ…‚, ㅍ + γ„΄, ㅁ β†’ ㅁ

✨ Real Examples

Word What Happens Sounds Like
κ΅­λ¬Ό (soup broth) γ„± + ㅁ β†’ ㅇㅁ ꢁ물 [gung-mul]
λ°›λŠ” (receiving) γ„· + γ„΄ β†’ γ„΄γ„΄ λ°˜λŠ” [ban-neun]
ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€ (do/does) γ…‚ + γ„΄ β†’ ㅁㄴ ν•¨λ‹ˆλ‹€ [ham-ni-da]
μžˆλŠ” (existing) γ„· + γ„΄ β†’ γ„΄γ„΄ μΈλŠ” [in-neun]
μž‘λ…„ (last year) γ„± + γ„΄ β†’ γ…‡γ„΄ μž₯λ…„ [jang-nyeon]

🧠 Remember It Like This:

When you sit next to someone with a cold, you might catch it too! Nasal sounds are β€œcontagious” - they make their neighbors sound nasal as well!

🌊 5. Lateral Assimilation (μ„€μΈ‘μŒν™”/μœ μŒν™”)

The γ„Ή Magnet

The Big Idea: The sound γ„Ή (like β€œl” or β€œr”) is magnetic! When γ„΄ and γ„Ή meet, they both become γ„Ήγ„Ή!

🧲 The Simple Rule

Combination Result Example
γ„΄ + γ„Ή β†’ γ„Ήγ„Ή 신라 β†’ 싀라 [shil-la]
γ„Ή + γ„΄ β†’ γ„Ήγ„Ή μ„€λ‚  β†’ μ„€λž„ [seol-lal]

✨ Real Examples

Word Meaning Transformation Pronunciation
신라 Silla (kingdom) γ„΄+γ„Ή β†’ γ„Ήγ„Ή [싀라]
μ„€λ‚  New Year’s Day γ„Ή+γ„΄ β†’ γ„Ήγ„Ή [μ„€λž„]
연락 contact γ„΄+γ„Ή β†’ γ„Ήγ„Ή [열락]
μ›λž˜ originally γ„΄+γ„Ή β†’ γ„Ήγ„Ή [μ›”λž˜]
진리 truth γ„΄+γ„Ή β†’ γ„Ήγ„Ή [질리]

🧠 Remember It Like This:

γ„Ή is the popular kid at school. When γ„΄ hangs out with γ„Ή, γ„΄ wants to be just like γ„Ή too! They both become γ„Ή!

πŸ’¨ 6. γ…Ž Aspiration Rules (κ²©μŒν™”/γ…Ž νƒˆλ½)

The Breath of Change

The Big Idea: γ…Ž is like a puff of air. When it meets certain consonants, they combine to make a stronger, β€œbreathy” sound!

🌬️ The Aspiration Combinations

Original + γ…Ž Becomes
γ„± + γ…Ž β†’ γ…‹
γ„· + γ…Ž β†’ γ…Œ
γ…‚ + γ…Ž β†’ ㅍ
γ…ˆ + γ…Ž β†’ γ…Š

And it works both ways! γ…Ž + consonant OR consonant + γ…Ž!

✨ Real Examples

Word What Happens Sounds Like
μ’‹λ‹€ (good) γ…Ž + γ„· β†’ γ…Œ 쑰타 [jo-ta]
λ„£λ‹€ (put in) γ…Ž + γ„· β†’ γ…Œ λ„ˆνƒ€ [neo-ta]
μΆ•ν•˜ (congratulations) γ„± + γ…Ž β†’ γ…‹ μΆ”μΉ΄ [chu-ka]
μž…ν•™ (enrollment) γ…‚ + γ…Ž β†’ ㅍ 이팍 [i-pak]
κΈ‰νžˆ (quickly) γ…‚ + γ…Ž β†’ ㅍ κ·Έν”Ό [geu-pi]
λ§žνžˆλ‹€ (to hit) γ…ˆ + γ…Ž β†’ γ…Š λ§ˆμΉ˜λ‹€ [ma-chi-da]

🌬️ When γ…Ž Disappears!

Sometimes γ…Ž just vanishes between vowels or before γ„΄, γ„Ή, ㅁ:

Word What Happens Sounds Like
μ’‹μ•„μš” (it’s good) γ…Ž disappears μ‘°μ•„μš” [jo-a-yo]
μ•ŠλŠ” (not doing) γ…Ž + γ„΄ β†’ γ„΄ μ•ˆλŠ” [an-neun]
μžƒμ–΄ (losing) γ…Ž disappears 일어 [i-reo]

🧠 Remember It Like This:

γ…Ž is like a magic breath. When it touches γ„±, γ„·, γ…‚, or γ…ˆ, it gives them superpowers and makes them stronger (aspirated)! But sometimes γ…Ž is shy and just disappears!

🎯 Quick Summary Flow

graph LR
    A[Sound Change Rules] --> B[Linking]
    A --> C[Neutralization]
    A --> D[Double Batchim]
    A --> E[Nasal Assimilation]
    A --> F[Lateral Assimilation]
    A --> G[γ…Ž Aspiration]

    B --> B1[Consonant jumps to empty γ…‡]
    C --> C1[Only 7 sounds at syllable end]
    D --> D1[Pick one from the pair]
    E --> E1[γ„±γ„·γ…‚ become nasal near ㄴㅁ]
    F --> F1[γ„΄+γ„Ή both become γ„Ή]
    G --> G1[γ…Ž + consonant = aspirated]

πŸ† You’ve Got This!

These rules might seem like a lot at first, but here’s the secret: Native Korean speakers don’t think about these rules consciously. They just happen naturally when you speak!

The more you practice listening and speaking, the more these sound changes will become automatic for you too. Your mouth will learn the shortcuts before your brain even realizes it!

🎡 Final Thought

Think of these sound changes as Korean’s way of making speech flow like a beautiful melody. Every language has its own music, and now you know the secret notes that make Korean sing!

Practice tip: Listen to native speakers and try to catch these sound changes in action. Once you start noticing them, you’ll hear them everywhere! 🎧✨

Loading story...

No Story Available

This concept doesn't have a story yet.

Story Preview

Story - Premium Content

Please sign in to view this concept and start learning.

Upgrade to Premium to unlock full access to all content.

Sign In to Access Get Premium Access Close
Interactive Preview

Interactive - Premium Content

Please sign in to view this concept and start learning.

Upgrade to Premium to unlock full access to all content.

Sign In to Access Get Premium Access Close

No Interactive Content

This concept doesn't have interactive content yet.

Cheatsheet Preview

Cheatsheet - Premium Content

Please sign in to view this concept and start learning.

Upgrade to Premium to unlock full access to all content.

Sign In to Access Get Premium Access Close

No Cheatsheet Available

This concept doesn't have a cheatsheet yet.

Quiz Preview

Quiz - Premium Content

Please sign in to view this concept and start learning.

Upgrade to Premium to unlock full access to all content.

Sign In to Access Get Premium Access Close

No Quiz Available

This concept doesn't have a quiz yet.