Syllable Blocks (음절 구성)

The Building Block Principle

Unlike English, where letters are written in a line from left to right (c-a-t), Korean letters are grouped into syllable blocks. Each block represents one syllable, and the individual letters (자모, jamo) are arranged within the block in a specific pattern.

This is one of Hangul's most distinctive features and what makes Korean text so compact and visually balanced.

Rule 1: Every Syllable Starts with a Consonant

Korean has one absolute rule for syllable blocks: every block must begin with a consonant.

But what about words that start with a vowel sound, like 아이 (child)? This is where ㅇ (ieung) plays a special role. When ㅇ appears at the beginning of a syllable, it is silent — it serves only as a placeholder to satisfy the rule that every block needs a starting consonant.

The Two Basic Syllable Types

Type 1: CV (Consonant + Vowel)

The simplest syllable has just a consonant and a vowel. The arrangement depends on the vowel type:

With vertical vowels (ㅏ, ㅑ, ㅓ, ㅕ, ㅣ, ㅐ, ㅔ, etc.):

The consonant sits to the left, and the vowel sits to the right.

[C][V]    Example: 가 = ㄱ + ㅏ
                   나 = ㄴ + ㅏ
                   미 = ㅁ + ㅣ

With horizontal vowels (ㅗ, ㅛ, ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅡ):

The consonant sits on top, and the vowel sits on the bottom.

[C]       Example: 고 = ㄱ over ㅗ
[V]              누 = ㄴ over ㅜ
                 무 = ㅁ over ㅜ

Type 2: CVC (Consonant + Vowel + Consonant)

When a syllable ends with a consonant, that final consonant is called 받침 (batchim, literally "support" or "foundation"). It sits at the bottom of the syllable block.

With vertical vowels + 받침:

[C][V]    Example: 한 = ㅎ + ㅏ + ㄴ
[ B ]            말 = ㅁ + ㅏ + ㄹ
                 집 = ㅈ + ㅣ + ㅂ

With horizontal vowels + 받침:

[C]       Example: 문 = ㅁ + ㅜ + ㄴ
[V]              곰 = ㄱ + ㅗ + ㅁ
[B]              줄 = ㅈ + ㅜ + ㄹ

The 6 Syllable Block Shapes

Korean syllables can take one of six arrangements. Understanding these shapes helps you read and write correctly.

Understanding 받침 (Final Consonants)

받침 is the consonant at the bottom of a syllable block. Not all consonants can appear as 받침 in native Korean words, but in modern Korean (including loanwords), many consonants appear in this position.

The 7 받침 Sounds

While many different consonants can be written as 받침, they are all pronounced as one of only 7 sounds when at the end of a word or before another consonant:

Key insight: ㅅ, ㅆ, ㅈ, ㅊ, and ㅎ all become a [t] sound when they are in the 받침 position. So 옷 (clothes), 있 (to exist), 낮 (daytime), and 꽃 (flower) all end with the same [t] sound.

Complex 받침 (겹받침)

Some syllables have two consonants in the 받침 position. These are called 겹받침 (gyeop-batchim, "double 받침").

Rule of thumb: When a 겹받침 syllable is followed by a vowel, the second consonant moves to the next syllable (연음, liaison — covered in Lesson 4). When it stands alone or before a consonant, usually only one of the two consonants is pronounced.

Reading Practice: Breaking Down Words

Let us practice analyzing syllable blocks in common Korean words:

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Forgetting the ㅇ Placeholder

Wrong: Writing 아 as just ㅏ. Korean requires every syllable to start with a consonant. When the syllable begins with a vowel sound, you must write ㅇ as a placeholder.

Mistake 2: Confusing Syllable Boundaries

The word 선생님 has three syllables: 선 / 생 / 님. Each syllable is its own block. Do not try to cram more than one syllable into a single block.

Mistake 3: Wrong Block Shape

Using the wrong arrangement for the vowel type. Remember: - Vertical vowels (ㅏ, ㅓ, ㅣ, etc.) → consonant to the left - Horizontal vowels (ㅗ, ㅜ, ㅡ, etc.) → consonant on top

Mistake 4: Misplacing the 받침

The 받침 always goes at the very bottom of the block, regardless of whether the vowel is vertical or horizontal.

Writing Exercise

Practice building these syllable blocks from their component letters:

1. ㅎ + ㅏ + ㄴ = ?
2. ㄱ + ㅜ + ㄱ = ?
3. ㅅ + ㅏ + ㄹ + ㅏ + ㅇ = ? (two syllables)
4. ㅁ + ㅜ + ㄴ + ㅎ + ㅘ = ? (two syllables)
5. ㅎ + ㅐ + ㅇ + ㅂ + ㅗ + ㄱ = ? (two syllables)

Answers: 1. 한 2. 국 3. 사랑 4. 문화 5. 행복