The 14 basic Korean consonants

ㅈ — How is this letter romanized?

j · b · h · k → j

ㅈ is /tɕ/, [dʑ] between voiced sounds — between the j in jar and the ch in itch.

ㅋ — How is this letter romanized?

n · r · k · b → k

ㅋ is /kʰ/ — the k in kite, with a strong puff of air.

ㅊ — How is this letter romanized?

g · r · ch · h → ch

ㅊ is /tɕʰ/ — the ch in cheese, with a strong puff of air.

ㅁ — How is this letter romanized?

m · k · h · s → m

ㅁ is /m/ — the m in me.

ㅂ — How is this letter romanized?

b · j · g · t → b

ㅂ is /p/, [b] between voiced sounds — between the b in boy and the p in spin.

ㅇ — How is this letter romanized?

k · g · silent (no sound of its own) · p → silent (no sound of its own)

ㅇ is silent before a vowel, /ŋ/ in final position — no sound at the start of a syllable; the ng in sing at the end.

ㄷ — How is this letter romanized?

g · s · b · d → d

ㄷ is /t/, [d] between voiced sounds — between the d in do and the t in stop.

ㄹ — How is this letter romanized?

n · t · r · k → r

ㄹ is /ɾ/ before a vowel, [l] in final position — the tapped r of Spanish pero when a vowel follows; an l at the end of a syllable.

ㅅ — How is this letter romanized?

s · h · r · t → s

ㅅ is /s/, [ɕ] before i and y-vowels — the s in sea; closer to sh before ㅣ and ㅑ ㅕ ㅛ ㅠ.

ㄱ — How is this letter romanized?

ch · silent (no sound of its own) · g · k → g

ㄱ is /k/, [ɡ] between voiced sounds — between the g in go and the k in skin.