What batchim is
받침 means "support", like the base under a pillar. A consonant at the bottom of a block closes the syllable: it turns 바 (ba) into 밤 (bam, night).
The 7 final sounds
At the end of a syllable, Korean keeps only 7 sounds. Learn these 7 and you can say any batchim.
| Sound | Letters at the bottom | Hear it |
|---|---|---|
| k | ㄱ ㅋ ㄲ | |
| n | ㄴ | |
| t | ㄷ ㅅ ㅆ ㅈ ㅊ ㅌ ㅎ | |
| l | ㄹ | |
| m | ㅁ | |
| p | ㅂ ㅍ | |
| ng | ㅇ |
Seven letters all end in a t sound. That's why 다섯 (five) ends in t, and 꽃 (flower) is said kkot.
Hold the sound, don't pop it
A final k, t or p is held, not released. Close your lips or tongue on the sound and stop there, with no puff of air. Say "top" but stop the moment your lips close: that's the p in 집 (jip, house).
Before ㅇ, the sound moves over
A block that starts with ㅇ has an empty first spot, so the final consonant before it usually moves in. 음악 (music) is read 으막, eu-mak. 한국어 (the Korean language) is read 한구거, han-gu-geo.
Two finals don't move: ㅇ stays where it is, as in 강아지 (gang-a-ji, puppy), and ㅎ goes silent, as in 좋아 (jo-a, good). Compound words and a few other sound changes break the pattern too, so check new words against a recording.
Two letters at the bottom
A few blocks have two final consonants, like ㄺ in 닭 (chicken). You usually say only one of them: 닭 is said dak. Beginners can save these for later.
