Basic Korean Lesson 1.06: The 오 Vowel

In Lesson 5, we have learned about the vowel 애 which sounds as soft “ae” as in speck.

In this lesson, we will learn a new vowel – the vowel 오, which sounds as “o” in toss or “ow” in float.

Hangeul	오
Phonetic Symbol	[o]	*from the International Phonetic Alphabet)
Romanization	o	*from the Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 2000)

As you can see, this vowel looks like the vowel 어 that’s been rotated 90 degrees clockwise. Sounds a bit complicated? Let’s put it more simply then. The vowel 오 is like letter O resting on the upside-down letter T. That’s your vowel 오! Very easy to recall, isn’t it?

Do your best to be familiar with this vowel, memorize its appearance, so that you will be able to combine it with the other vowels that we have studied before and the rest of the vowels and consonants that we will be studying on the next lessons.

Now, for you to get familiar with the vowel 오, we will use it the way we used the previous vowels. We will begin by using it as a substitute for the sound /o/ in English words.

오ver
m오rn이ng
b오wt아e
cr어ssr오d
st오ne
l어wnm오애r
w아rdr오be

Are you now familiar with the vowel오? Let’s take it to the next level by using it in Korean words this time.

오ppa	older brother (of a female)
오s	clothes or dress
Jeung오haeyo	detest
오da	come
radi오	radio (a borrowed word)
오cheonwoneochi	five thousand won worth
아niy오, moreugess어yo.	No, I don’t understand.
Annyonghi kashipshiy오.	Good-bye.
Yogi kyesanso chom kacho-osey오.	Please bring me the check.
오run-jjok uro doll아 ka-jusaeyo.	Please turn right.

(… to be continued)
Korean Lesson 1.05 << | >> Korean Lesson 1.07 More Korean Lessons

Learn Korean – Lesson 1.05: The Vowel 애

In Lesson 1.04, we have learned about the vowel 에 which sounds as soft “ey” as in paint.

In this lesson, we will learn another vowel that looks a little like the vowel 에 – the vowel 애, which sounds as soft “ae” as in speck.

Hangeul	애
Phonetic Symbol	[e/Ɛ]	*from the International Phonetic Alphabet)
Romanization	ae	*from the Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 2000)

As you can see, this vowel looks very similar to the vowel 에. But for an even more clearer perception, let’s put it this way: the vowel “ae” in Hangeul is like the letters “O” and “H” written very close together. That’s your vowel 애! Very easy to recall, isn’t it?

Do your best to be familiar with this vowel, memorize its appearance, so that you will be able to combine it with the other vowels that we have studied before and the rest of the vowels and consonants that we will be studying on the next lessons.

Now, for you to get familiar with the vowel 애, we will use it the way we used the previous vowels. We will begin by using it as a substitute for the sound /e/Ɛ/ in English words.

cr어mp애ts
sc이n애ry
m아ttr애ss
t에st이애r
p에nk이ll애r
애th이opia
p어p애r

(… to be continued)
Korean Lesson 1.04 << | >> Korean Lesson 1.06 More Korean Lessons

Learn Korean – Lesson 1.04: The Vowel 에

In Lesson 1.03, we have learned about the vowel 어 which sounds as soft “uh” as in bought. In this lesson, we will learn another vowel that looks a little like the vowel 어 – the vowel 에, which sounds as soft “ey” as in paint.

Hangeul	에
Phonetic Symbol	[ e ]	*from the International Phonetic Alphabet)
Romanization	e	*from the Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 2000)

As you can see, this vowel looks very similar to the vowel 어. The only difference is that it has an extra vertical line on the right side. Do your best to be familiar with this vowel, memorize its appearance, so that you will be able to combine it with the other vowels that we will be studying next time. Now, for you to get familiar with the vowel 에, we will use it the way we used the previous vowels that we have learned. We will start by using it as a substitute for the sound /e/ in English words.

sp에de
sn에l m에l
t에st이er
p에nk이ller
ass에l어nt
r에d이o

Are you now familiar with the vowel에? Let’s take it to the next level by using it in Korean words this time.

Chilpan에 sseuseyo.	Write it on the chalkboard(, please).
Urin seoro cheonnun에 banhaess어yo.	It was love at first sight.
PAL 112 Pyeon에 yeyakago sip어yo.	I’d like to reserve a seat on PAL Flight 112.

(… to be continued)

Korean Lesson 1.03 << | >> Korean Lesson 1.05 More Korean Lessons

Learn Korean – Lesson 1.03: The Vowel 어

In Lesson 1.02, we have learned about the vowel 아 which sounds as "a" as in smart.
In this lesson, we will learn another vowel that looks quite similar to the vowel 아 - the vowel 어, which sounds as soft "uh" as in bought.

Hangeul	어
Phonetic Symbol	[ Ɔ/Ә ]	*from the International Phonetic Alphabet)
Romanization	eo	*from the Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 2000)

As you can see, this vowel looks very similar to the vowel 아. The only difference is that the small horizontal dash attached to its vertical line is on the left side instead of having it on the right side.
Do your best to be familiar with this vowel, memorize its appearance, so that you will be able to combine it with the other vowels that we will be studying next time.
Now, for you to get familiar with the vowel 어, we will use it the way we used the previous vowels that we have learned. We will start by using it as a substitute for the sound /Ɔ/ or /Ә/ in English words.

br어ght
p어per
s어ft
m어ck
c어gh

Are you now familiar with the vowel어? Let’s take it to the next level by using it in Korean words this time.

Algess어yo?	Do you understand?
Ne, algess어yo.	Yes, I understand.
아niyo, moreugess어yo.	No, I don't understand.
Jilmun iss어yo?	Are there any questions?
Ne, iss어yo.	Yes, there is.
아niyo, eops어yo.	No, there aren't. / No, there isn't.
Urin seoro cheonnune banhaess어yo.	It was love at first sight.
Uri heeojye어sse어.	We split up.
Nae yeojachinguga doe어jullae?	Will you be my girlfriend?
PAL 112 Pyeon에 yeyakago sip어yo.	I'd like to reserve a seat on PAL Flight 112.
Yeong어rul malsum halsu iss어yo?	Do you speak English?

Korean Lesson 1.02 << | >> Korean Lesson 1.04 More Korean Lessons

Learn Korean – Lesson 1.02: The Vowel 아

In Lesson 1.01, we have learned about the vowel 이 which sounds as “i” as in beet.
In this lesson, we will learn about a very similarly-looking vowel, the vowel 아, which sounds as “ah” as in swan.

Hangeul	아
Phonetic Symbol	[ a ]	*from the International Phonetic Alphabet)
Romanization	a	*from the Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 2000)

As you can see, this vowel looks very similar to the vowel 이, but note the difference on the right side of the vertical line in 아. It has a small horizontal dash attached to it.
Do your best to be familiar with this vowel, memorize its appearance, so that you will be able to combine it with the other vowels that we will be studying next time.
Now, for you to get familiar with the vowel 아, we will use it the way we used the vowel 이 previously. We will start by using it as a substitute for the sound /a/ in English words.

h아rd
m아d
sm아rt
s아l아d
sw아rm이ng
m아ttress

Are you now familiar with the vowel아? Let’s take it to the next level by using it in Korean words this time.

아niyo	No (informal)
아niya	(It's) not.
Orun-jjok uro doll아 ka-jusaeyo.	Turn right (, please).

(… I'll be posting more examples here in the future when I find more)
Korean Lesson 1.01 << | >> Korean Lesson 1.03 More Korean Lessons

Basic Korean Lesson 1.01: The Vowel 이

In this lesson, we will learn about the vowel 이 which sounds as “i” as in beet.

Hangeul	이
Phonetic Symbol	[ i ]	*from the International Phonetic Alphabet)
Romanization	i	*from the Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 2000)

This vowel, as you can see, is written as a small circle with a straight, vertical line on its right side. That’s your vowel /i/. Very simple, right?
Do your best to be familiar with this vowel, memorize its appearance, so that you will be able to combine it with the other vowels that we will be studying next time.
Now, for you to get familiar with the 이 vowel, we will put it into use. You might find this technique a little strange, but all the same, as long as it is effective. First, we will use the vowel as a substitute for the sound /i/ in English words.

b이t
m이tshop
s이horse
Eth이opia
st이l
s이nior
sc이nery
swarm이ng

Are you now familiar with the vowel 이? Let’s take it to the next level by using it in Korean words this time.

dar이	the moon
ra이to	lighter (a borrowed word)
이 jusoui upyeonbeonhoga mwoyeyo?	What’s the zip code for this address?
Urin cheonsaengyeonbun이ya.	We’re a match made in heaven.
Gaeuleun dokseoeui gyejeol이ya.	Autumn is season for reading.
이geo eolmayeyo?	How much is this?
이 jusoui upyeonbeonhoga mwoyeyo?	What’s the zip code for this address?
Naneun silmang이yeyo haeyo.	( I am / I feel) disappointed.
Geugeoseun) maeryeokjeok이yeyo haeyo.	It is charming.
Geugeoseun) gamdongjeok이yeyo heayo.	It is moving. (moving here refers feeling, not movement)

More Korean Lessons <<|>> Korean Lesson 1.02