Korean Alphabet - Learn to Read and Write Korean #1 - Hangul Basic Vowels: ㅇ,ㅏ,ㅣ, by Learn Korean with KoreanClass101.com on YouTube. 5 min 17 s.
- Video length
- 5 min 17 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Know that Korean is written in square syllable blocks, not in one long line of letters. Each block holds one consonant and one vowel, so you read block by block.
Learn the letter ㅇ first. At the start of a block it is silent and just holds the consonant spot. At the end of a block it sounds like ng in sing.
Learn the vowel ㅏ. It sounds like the a in father, with your mouth open. Draw a short horizontal line, a long vertical line down its right side, then a small tick pointing right.
Learn the vowel ㅣ. It sounds like the ee in see. Draw one plain vertical line.
Put ㅇ and ㅏ together to make 아, read as a. Write the ㅇ on the left and the ㅏ on the right, saying the sound as you go.
Put ㅇ and ㅣ together to make 이, read as i, like ee. Again the ㅇ sits on the left and the vowel on the right.
Draw a light grid of even squares on your paper and fit each block inside one square. Keep the letters the same size so your writing stays neat.
Write each block ten times while saying it out loud. Then cover your work and write it again from memory.
Read 아 and 이 back in a random order until you can say both without stopping to think.
Tips and common mistakes
ㅏ and ㅓ look alike, so check the tick: ㅏ points right and ㅓ points left.
Do not confuse ㅣ, one vertical stroke, with ㅡ, one horizontal stroke.
Never say nga for 아. The ㅇ at the start of a block is silent.
Write large at first, because cramped letters hide stroke order mistakes.
Questions
What does ㅇ sound like?
At the start of a syllable it makes no sound at all and simply fills the consonant spot. At the end of a syllable it sounds like the ng in sing.
How long does it take to learn Hangul?
Most people can read the basic letters after a few short sessions. A week or two of daily practice makes them feel natural.
Do I need to learn stroke order?
Yes. Write top to bottom and left to right, because the standard order keeps your handwriting clean and easy for Koreans to read.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
