HANGEUL 01 · START FROM ZERO · 10 MIN
Letters work together.
By the end, you can identify the consonant and vowel in a simple syllable block and place a final consonant underneath.
Visual reading lesson. No previous Korean is needed. This page teaches written structure, not pronunciation from an English spelling.
1. A block is not a single letter
Korean letters are grouped into syllable blocks. A simple block has an initial consonant and a vowel; some blocks also have a final consonant, called 받침.
| ㄱ | ㅏ |
| ㄱ |
| ㅗ |
| ㅎ | ㅏ |
| ㄴ | |
The outlines above show the parts, not an additional writing system. In normal text the parts appear together as 가, 고, 한.
2. Look inside a familiar word
한국어 → 한 / 국 / 어
한 → ㅎ + ㅏ + ㄴ
국 → ㄱ + ㅜ + ㄱ
어 → ㅇ + ㅓ
한국어 means the Korean language. It has three syllable blocks. A consonant letter can occur at the beginning or the end of a block; its pronunciation depends on position and context.
When a syllable starts with a vowel sound, ㅇ fills the initial consonant position without adding a consonant sound. Do not apply that rule to final ㅇ; final consonants are a later sound lesson.
3. Try before opening the answer
2. In 고, is the vowel to the right or below the consonant?
Check the answer and reason
Below. The horizontal vowel ㅗ sits below ㄱ.
3. Copy 한 and circle its final consonant.
Check the answer and reason
Circle the bottom letter, ㄴ. The initial consonant is ㅎ, and the vowel is ㅏ.
Selections are practice aids, not saved scores. Say or write your answer before checking.
Your turn: build something new
On paper, combine ㅁ + ㅏ, then ㅁ + ㅗ. Show where the vowel goes.
Compare your blocks
ㅁ + ㅏ = 마 / ㅁ + ㅗ = 모
Tomorrow, try both again before reopening this page. These are syllable-building examples; not every practice block is a standalone word.
Original lesson and diagrams prepared with AI assistance. Reference: National Institute of Korean Language: About Hangeul. No official-course equivalence or teacher-review certification is claimed. Editorial notes.