KoreanRead

Tense and aspirated consonants

The hardest distinction in Korean for English speakers: ㄱ ㅋ ㄲ sound like one letter to an untrained ear but separate three different words.

10 questions, drawn from 14. Free, no sign-up. Your score stays in this browser.

Question 1 of 10

ㅉ

How is this letter romanized?

Show all 10 questions and answers

  1. ㅉ — How is this letter romanized?

    jj · j · b · s → jj

    ㅉ is /t͈ɕ/ — a tense, unaspirated j — sharp and clipped.

  2. ㄲ — How is this letter romanized?

    pp · p · kk · j → kk

    ㄲ is /k͈/ — a tense, unaspirated k — like the k in sky, said with a tight throat.

  3. ㅃ — How is this letter romanized?

    ss · s · pp · g → pp

    ㅃ is /p͈/ — a tense, unaspirated p — like the p in spy.

  4. ㄸ — How is this letter romanized?

    ss · tt · t · s → tt

    ㄸ is /t͈/ — a tense, unaspirated t — like the t in sty.

  5. ㅆ — How is this letter romanized?

    k · ss · j · ch → ss

    ㅆ is /s͈/ — a tense, sharper s — the hiss is longer and the throat tighter.

  6. ㄷ — How is this letter romanized?

    d · s · pp · t → d

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

  7. ㅈ — How is this letter romanized?

    j · t · ss · s → j

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

  8. ㅍ — How is this letter romanized?

    p · d · ss · t → p

    ㅍ is /pʰ/ — the p in pot, with a strong puff of air.

  9. ㅌ — How is this letter romanized?

    d · ss · tt · t → t

    ㅌ is /tʰ/ — the t in top, with a strong puff of air.

  10. ㅂ — How is this letter romanized?

    jj · b · ch · d → b

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