Why was Hangul made, and who made it?
Before Hangul, Koreans wrote with Chinese characters. There are thousands of them, and each one must be learned one by one. Ordinary farmers and workers rarely had time to learn them, so most people could not read or write.
King Sejong (ruled 1418 to 1450) wanted every person to be able to write what they say. With a team of scholars he made a new alphabet in 1443 and published it in 1446 in a book called Hunminjeongeum, which means "the correct sounds for teaching the people". South Korea celebrates Hangul Day on 9 October.
Principle 1: consonants copy the mouth
The five basic consonants are drawings of the speech organs while we make the sound:
- γ± (g/k): the back of the tongue rising to block the throat.
- γ΄ (n): the tip of the tongue touching the ridge behind the upper teeth.
- γ (m): the closed lips, a square.
- γ (s): the sharp shape of teeth.
- γ (ng or silent): the round throat.
This is a very rare idea: the shape of a letter tells you how to say it.
Principle 2: add a stroke for a stronger sound
Sounds made in the same place of the mouth look alike. Each extra stroke means "more strength or more breath".
- γ± β γ (g β k, with a puff of air)
- γ΄ β γ· β γ (n β d β t)
- γ β γ β γ (m β b β p)
- γ β γ β γ (s β j β ch)
- γ β γ (silent β h)
Doubling a letter (γ², γΈ, γ , γ , γ ) makes a tense, tight sound. So 24 basic letters and a few rules build every sound.
Principle 3: vowels from heaven, earth and human
Vowels follow an old way of seeing the world: the round sky (a dot), the flat earth (a horizontal line γ ‘) and the standing human (a vertical line γ £). Today the dot is written as a short stroke.
- γ £ + stroke on the right = γ (a); on the left = γ (eo)
- γ ‘ + stroke up = γ (o); down = γ (u)
Add a second stroke and you get the y-sounds: γ γ γ γ . In all, modern Hangul has 14 basic consonants and 10 basic vowels, 24 letters.
Principle 4: letters sit in syllable blocks
Hangul is an alphabet, but it is written in square blocks, one block for each syllable. Every block starts with a consonant and has a vowel. If the vowel is upright (γ γ γ £) the consonant goes on its left: λ. If the vowel is flat (γ γ γ ‘) the consonant goes on top: κ³ . A final consonant can go at the bottom: ν.
A silent γ fills the first place when a syllable starts with a vowel, so every block looks complete. The word νκΈ (Hangul) is two blocks: ν + κΈ.
Key formulas and definitions
- Key idea: shape = how you say it
- Basic consonants: γ± γ΄ γ γ γ (mouth shapes)
- More strength = one more stroke (γ± β γ )
- Vowels: dot = sky, γ ‘ = earth, γ £ = human
- Block = consonant + vowel (+ final consonant)
- 24 basic letters: 14 consonants + 10 vowels
Worked examples
1. Which part of the mouth does γ΄ copy, and what sound does it make?
It copies the tongue tip touching the ridge behind the upper teeth. The sound is n.
2. Show how γ turns into γ and say why they look alike.
γ (m) + a stroke gives γ (b); one more stroke gives γ (p). All three sounds are made with the lips, so the shapes are in one family.
3. Build the vowel γ from the three basic shapes.
Start with the flat line for the earth (γ ‘). Add a short stroke pointing up. The result is γ , read "o".
4. Make the syllable block for "na". Where does each letter go?
Consonant γ΄ + vowel γ . γ is an upright vowel, so γ΄ goes on its left: λ.
5. Write "go" in Hangul and explain the layout.
γ± + γ . γ is a flat vowel, so γ± sits on top and γ below: κ³ .
6. Why does a block like μ (a) begin with γ ?
Each block needs a consonant at the start. At the beginning of a syllable γ is silent, so it only fills the place and the block reads "a".
Common mistakes
- Thinking Hangul is picture-writing like Chinese characters. It is an alphabet: each letter is a sound.
- Reading the letters inside a block in the wrong order. Read the consonant first, then the vowel, then any final consonant.
- Saying γ is always "ng". At the start of a block it is silent; at the end it is ng.
- Forgetting that the extra stroke means more breath or strength, so γ is not the same as γ±.