Lesson 007 — Basic Korean Consonants Part 2: ㅇ ㅈ ㅊ ㅋ ㅌ ㅍ ㅎ
You are about to finish the full basic Korean consonant set. Today’s lesson adds ㅇ, ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, and ㅎ — and explains why ㅇ is one of the most important letters in Hangul.
Learn Korean from Zero to Practical Korean · Lesson 007 · Hangul Foundation
⏱ 10–12 min read · 20–25 min practice · Basic Korean consonant lesson
Course: Learn Korean from Zero to Practical Korean
Lesson: 007 — Basic Korean Consonants Part 2: ㅇ ㅈ ㅊ ㅋ ㅌ ㅍ ㅎ
Module: Hangul Foundation
Level: Absolute beginner
Focus: Korean consonant names, example blocks, stronger-air sounds, and silent initial ㅇ
Listening support: Includes short pronunciation audio for block reading and consonant names
Today’s practice result: Read the seven example blocks out loud: 아 자 차 카 타 파 하.
Saved task: Write each consonant with its Korean name and example block.
In Lesson 006, you learned the first seven basic Korean consonants: ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ, ㄹ, ㅁ, ㅂ, ㅅ. Today, you complete the basic consonant set with ㅇ, ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, ㅎ.
The most important letter in this lesson is ㅇ. At the beginning of a syllable block, ㅇ is silent. That is why vowel blocks like 아, 오, and 이 begin with ㅇ even though you do not hear a consonant sound first.
You do not need to master every Korean sound-change rule today. Your first job is to recognize each consonant, learn its Korean name, and read the example blocks 아 자 차 카 타 파 하 with beginner-safe support.
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to recognize ㅇ ㅈ ㅊ ㅋ ㅌ ㅍ ㅎ, identify their Korean names, read their example blocks with ㅏ, and explain why beginning ㅇ is silent.
• Recognize the remaining seven basic Korean consonants: ㅇ, ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, ㅎ.
• Understand the Korean names: 이응, 지읒, 치읓, 키읔, 티읕, 피읖, 히읗.
• Read the example blocks: 아, 자, 차, 카, 타, 파, 하.
• Explain that initial ㅇ is silent when a block starts with a vowel sound.
• Notice that final ㅇ can sound like ng, without studying all final consonant rules yet.
• Prepare for Lesson 008, where you will build Korean blocks with consonants and vowels.
R1. What is the difference between a consonant name and a consonant sound?
Show answer
A consonant name is what the letter is called, such as 기역 or 니은. A consonant sound is the sound the letter helps make inside a block, such as the g/k-like sound in 가.
R2. In the example ㄱ → 가, which one is the finished syllable block?
Show answer
가 is the finished syllable block.
Follow this lesson from silent ㅇ to the final seven basic Korean consonants.
1. Read the Korean consonant first, then check the name and example block.
2. Say each example block slowly: 아, 자, 차, 카, 타, 파, 하.
3. Keep the sound guide beginner-safe. Do not force Korean into exact English sounds.
4. Mark the letters that feel hardest: usually ㅇ, ㅊ, ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, or ㅎ for many beginners.
5. Save the full second-half consonant set at the end: ㅇ ㅈ ㅊ ㅋ ㅌ ㅍ ㅎ.
▲ Lesson 007 completes the basic Korean consonant set with ㅇ ㅈ ㅊ ㅋ ㅌ ㅍ ㅎ.
🔤 Why We Learn These Consonants Now
In Lesson 005, you learned the ten basic vowel sound blocks. In Lesson 006, you started matching consonants with ㅏ through blocks like 가, 나, 다, 라, 마, 바, 사.
Now you need the rest of the basic consonants. Once you recognize ㅇ, ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, ㅎ, you have met all 14 basic Korean consonants. That gives you the foundation for more active block-building in the next lesson.
Korean consonants become easier when you connect three things together: the letter shape, the Korean name, and a simple example block.
⭕ Why ㅇ Is Silent Here
A Korean syllable block needs something in the beginning position. When the sound begins with a vowel, Korean writes ㅇ first. In that starting position, ㅇ does not make a sound.
In normal Korean writing, vowels do not stand alone as full syllable blocks. A block needs a beginning position. When there is no real beginning consonant sound, Korean uses ㅇ as a silent placeholder.
That is why you read ㅏ as a vowel letter, but you see and read the complete block as 아.
🇰🇷 Korean: ㅇ
🔊 Name: 이응 / ieung
💬 Beginner role: silent at the beginning of a vowel-starting block
🌿 Natural note: In 아, the first ㅇ is silent. The sound comes from ㅏ.
Initial ㅇ is silent. Final ㅇ at the bottom of a block can sound like ng, but that is not today’s main focus. For now, remember the position rule: beginning ㅇ = silent.
🔟 The Seven Consonants in This Lesson
The table below gives you the seven consonants for this lesson. The English sound guide is not perfect pronunciation. It is only a beginner support label to help you get started.
| Consonant | Korean Name | Name Guide | Example Block | Beginner Sound Note | Your Job Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ㅇ | 이응 | ieung / i-eung | 아 | Silent at the beginning; can sound like ng at the end. | Read 아 without adding an ng sound. |
| ㅈ | 지읒 | jieut / ji-eut | 자 | A j-like sound in this beginner example. | Connect ㅈ with 자. |
| ㅊ | 치읓 | chieut / chi-eut | 차 | A ch-like sound with more air. | Pair ㅊ with 차. |
| ㅋ | 키읔 | kieuk / ki-euk | 카 | A k-like sound with more air. | Pair ㅋ with 카. |
| ㅌ | 티읕 | tieut / ti-eut | 타 | A t-like sound with more air. | Pair ㅌ with 타. |
| ㅍ | 피읖 | pieup / pi-eup | 파 | A p-like sound with more air. | Pair ㅍ with 파. |
| ㅎ | 히읗 | hieut / hi-eut | 하 | An h-like sound in this beginner example. | Pair ㅎ with 하. |
▲ Each consonant becomes easier when you connect its shape, Korean name, and example block.
🗣️ First Four Blocks: 아 자 차 카
Start with the first four example blocks: 아 · 자 · 차 · 카. This group gives you silent initial ㅇ, the ㅈ/ㅊ pair, and the first stronger-air consonant ㅋ.
ㅇ → 이응 → 아 — a
ㅈ → 지읒 → 자 — ja
ㅊ → 치읓 → 차 — cha
ㅋ → 키읔 → 카 — ka
The arrow does not mean you say the letter name inside the block.
It means: letter → letter name → example block.
For example, ㅈ → 지읒 → 자 means the letter is called 지읒, but the block ㅈ + ㅏ is read 자.
Do not read 아 as “nga.” The ㅇ is silent at the beginning. Also, do not worry yet about every pronunciation difference between ㅈ, ㅊ, and ㅋ. For now, connect the letters to the blocks: 자, 차, 카.
Read this three times:
아 자 차 카 a · ja · cha · ka
🗣️ Last Three Blocks: 타 파 하
The last three example blocks are 타 · 파 · 하. Here, ㅌ and ㅍ continue the stronger-air pattern, and ㅎ gives you an h-like sound.
ㅌ → 티읕 → 타 — ta
ㅍ → 피읖 → 파 — pa
ㅎ → 히읗 → 하 — ha
For reading practice, the cleanest split is 아 자 차 카 / 타 파 하. This keeps the sequence easy to repeat out loud without leaving 하 awkwardly alone.
Read this three times:
타 파 하 ta · pa · ha
⚠️ Common Beginner Mistakes
In vowel-starting blocks such as 아 and 오, the first ㅇ is silent. Do not say “ng-a” or “ng-o.”
The guides ja, cha, ka, ta, and pa are temporary support labels. Korean sounds are not identical to English spelling.
You will meet more detailed rules later. Today is a recognition and first-reading lesson, not a complete pronunciation theory lesson.
The names may feel less urgent than the sounds, but they help you follow future lessons, spelling explanations, and dictionary-style learning.
🔊 Reading Practice — Letter Names vs Block Reading
Before you listen, separate two ideas: letter names and block reading. A consonant has a Korean name, but when it combines with a vowel, you read the finished syllable block.
When you point to the consonant by itself, you say the letter name.
When the consonant combines with ㅏ, you read the finished block.
ㅇ is called 이응 when you name the letter.
But ㅇ + ㅏ is read 아, not “이응아.”
ㅈ is called 지읒, but ㅈ + ㅏ is read 자.
ㅊ is called 치읓, but ㅊ + ㅏ is read 차.
ㅋ is called 키읔, but ㅋ + ㅏ is read 카.
Use this small table before listening. The left side answers “What is this consonant called?” The right side answers “How do I read the block with ㅏ?”
| Consonant | Letter name | Block with ㅏ | Read the block as |
|---|---|---|---|
| ㅇ | 이응 | ㅇ + ㅏ = 아 | 아 |
| ㅈ | 지읒 | ㅈ + ㅏ = 자 | 자 |
| ㅊ | 치읓 | ㅊ + ㅏ = 차 | 차 |
| ㅋ | 키읔 | ㅋ + ㅏ = 카 | 카 |
| ㅌ | 티읕 | ㅌ + ㅏ = 타 | 타 |
| ㅍ | 피읖 | ㅍ + ㅏ = 파 | 파 |
| ㅎ | 히읗 | ㅎ + ㅏ = 하 | 하 |
First, listen to the block reading audio: 아 자 차 카 / 타 파 하.
Then practice the same blocks with the pass cards.
After that, listen to the consonant name audio: 이응 지읒 치읓 키읔 티읕 피읖 히읗.
These two clips are for reading finished Korean blocks. They are not letter-name practice yet.
🇰🇷 Korean: 아 · 자 · 차 · 카
🔊 Reading: a · ja · cha · ka
💬 Practice focus: Silent ㅇ, ㅈ/ㅊ pair, and ㅋ
🌿 Listening note: This is block reading, so you hear 아, 자, 차, 카 — not 이응, 지읒, 치읓, 키읔.
🇰🇷 Korean: 타 · 파 · 하
🔊 Reading: ta · pa · ha
💬 Practice focus: ㅌ, ㅍ, and ㅎ
🌿 Listening note: This is the second natural block group after 아 자 차 카.
아 자 차 카 a · ja · cha · ka
타 파 하 ta · pa · ha
아 자 차 카 타 파 하 a · ja · cha · ka · ta · pa · ha
Cover the romanization after two or three rounds. Then read only the Korean blocks: 아 자 차 카 타 파 하.
Now listen to the Korean names of the consonants. This is different from reading the example blocks.
🇰🇷 Korean: 이응 · 지읒 · 치읓 · 키읔 · 티읕 · 피읖 · 히읗
🔊 Reading: ieung · jieut · chieut · kieuk · tieut · pieup · hieut
💬 Practice focus: Korean consonant names
🌿 Listening note: Use this audio when you want to name the letters themselves, not read syllable blocks.
이응 · 지읒 · 치읓 · 키읔 · 티읕 · 피읖 · 히읗 ㅇ · ㅈ · ㅊ · ㅋ · ㅌ · ㅍ · ㅎ
✍️ Practice Drill — Read the Consonant Blocks
Try each question first. Then open the answer card. Do not worry if ㅇ, ㅊ, ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, or ㅎ still feels unfamiliar.
1. Read this block: 아
Show answer
2. Read this block: 자
Show answer
3. Read this block: 차
Show answer
4. Read this block: 카
Show answer
5. Read this block: 타
Show answer
6. Read this block: 파
Show answer
7. Read this block: 하
Show answer
8. Which consonant is silent at the beginning of 아?
Show answer
9. Which block is made from ㅊ + ㅏ?
Show answer
10. Which block is made from ㅎ + ㅏ?
Show answer
🧩 Quick Check
Try answering first, then tap or click each card to check your instinct.
Q1. Why does 아 begin with ㅇ?
01 Show answer
The first ㅇ is a silent placeholder. It fills the beginning position when the block starts with a vowel sound.
Q2. Which consonant name matches ㅈ?
02 Show answer
지읒.
Q3. Which block is made from ㅋ + ㅏ?
03 Show answer
카.
Q4. What are the seven consonants in this lesson?
04 Show answer
ㅇ ㅈ ㅊ ㅋ ㅌ ㅍ ㅎ.
Q5. Should you master all final consonant rules today?
05 Show answer
No. Today is a beginner recognition and first-reading lesson. More detailed pronunciation rules come later.
🎯 Speaking, Writing, and Recognition Missions
1. Say this full block sequence out loud three times: 아 자 차 카 타 파 하.
2. Say the consonant names slowly: 이응, 지읒, 치읓, 키읔, 티읕, 피읖, 히읗.
3. Cover the romanization and read only the Korean blocks.
4. Do not aim for perfect pronunciation yet. Aim for clean recognition.
1. Write the seven consonants once: ㅇ ㅈ ㅊ ㅋ ㅌ ㅍ ㅎ.
2. Under each consonant, write its Korean name.
3. Write the example blocks: 아 자 차 카 타 파 하.
4. Write this sentence in English: “Initial ㅇ is silent when a Korean block starts with a vowel sound.”
1. Cover the example block column in the table.
2. Look only at the consonant letters.
3. Try to say the matching block from memory.
4. Repeat until ㅇ → 아, ㅊ → 차, and ㅎ → 하 feel familiar.
✅ Today’s Saved Practice
ㅇ → 이응 → 아
ㅈ → 지읒 → 자
ㅊ → 치읓 → 차
ㅋ → 키읔 → 카
ㅌ → 티읕 → 타
ㅍ → 피읖 → 파
ㅎ → 히읗 → 하
Then write one short note:
“The three hardest consonants for me today were ___, ___, and ___.”
📌 Save Your Output
Copy and complete this:
I can recognize these consonants: ㅇ ㅈ ㅊ ㅋ ㅌ ㅍ ㅎ. The hardest one today was ___.
🔁 Course Flow Preview
• In Lesson 005, you learned the ten basic vowel blocks: 아 야 어 여 오 요 우 유 으 이.
• In Lesson 006, you learned the first seven basic consonants: ㄱ ㄴ ㄷ ㄹ ㅁ ㅂ ㅅ.
• In Lesson 007, you completed the basic consonant set: ㅇ ㅈ ㅊ ㅋ ㅌ ㅍ ㅎ.
• Next, you will begin building more Korean blocks by combining consonants and vowels more actively.
For now, do not try to read every Korean word you see. Make sure these consonants and example blocks feel familiar first.
💡 Final Thought
Korean consonants may feel like abstract shapes at first, but they become easier when you attach each one to a name and a block. ㅊ becomes less abstract when you connect it to 치읓 and 차.
Your goal today is simple: recognize the seven consonants, read their example blocks, and understand that initial ㅇ is silent. This foundation will make the next block-building lesson much easier.
ㅇ ㅈ ㅊ ㅋ ㅌ ㅍ ㅎ complete the basic Korean consonant set, and ㅇ is silent at the beginning of vowel-starting blocks like 아.
🔗 Continue Learning
Continue in order if you are learning Korean from zero. The full roadmap shows where this lesson fits in the 100-lesson course.
👉 Previous Lesson: Lesson 006 — Basic Korean Consonants Part 1: ㄱ ㄴ ㄷ ㄹ ㅁ ㅂ ㅅ👉 Next Lesson: Lesson 008 — Build Korean Blocks with Consonants and Vowels (Coming soon)
👉 Full Roadmap: Learn Korean from Zero to Practical Korean — 100-Lesson Roadmap
🌿 Recommended Reading / 함께 보면 좋은 글
These are optional extra readings, not the next required course lesson. Use them when you want to review the Hangul foundation or see how Korean sounds, letters, words, and culture appear outside the lesson path.
These lessons help you review the building blocks behind today’s consonant practice. Use them only if today’s lesson felt too fast.
👉 Lesson 006 — Basic Korean Consonants Part 1: ㄱ ㄴ ㄷ ㄹ ㅁ ㅂ ㅅ👉 Lesson 005 — Basic Korean Vowels for Beginners: 아 야 어 여 오 요 우 유 으 이
👉 Lesson 004 — Korean Letters vs Syllable Blocks: See Them Inside Real Words
👉 Lesson 003 — How to Read Your First Korean Syllable Blocks
These posts are optional culture and K-content readings. They are useful when you want to see Hangul outside a textbook-style lesson.
👉 Korean Texting Codes: ㅋㅋㅋ, ㅠㅠ, ㄱㄱ, and Every Letter Your Idol Uses on Weverse
👉 Netflix K-Drama Words You Keep Hearing — Aigoo, Daebak, Chaebol, and Makjang Explained
👉 Korean Horror Vocabulary: Ghosts, Shamans, Curses, Grudges, and Death Warnings Explained
👉 Nunchi Meaning: 눈치, the Korean Skill of Reading the Room
Treat these as optional reading. They can make Korean more interesting, but they do not replace the lesson sequence. Finish the current course lesson first, then read one related post if you still have time.
Which consonant felt hardest today: ㅇ, ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, ㅎ, or something else? Leave a short comment and practice that consonant one more time.
📚 Sources / Checked as of June 2026
1. National Institute of Korean Language — used as a formal background reference for Hangul, Korean-language terminology, and the Korean writing system. This lesson simplifies the practice for absolute beginners.
Open official source
2. National Institute of Korean Language — Romanization of Korean. Used for the romanization note and the reminder that romanization is a temporary reading guide, not a replacement for Hangul.
Open official source
3. National Hangeul Museum — used as a general public reference for Hangeul as Korea’s writing system and its beginner-facing educational context.
Open official source
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