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How to Translate Korean Letters

Hangul , the Korean writing system, is based in the sounds of the spoken language. Prior to its development, all writing in Korea was performed using Chinese characters, or Hanja. In 1443, King Sejong developed the Korean alphabet. The intention was to develop an easily adaptable writing system so commoners could be literate. It was originally composed of 17 consonants and 11 vowels, but only 14 consonants and 10 vowels are used presently. These vowels and consonants can be combined to form a total of 30 consonants and 21 vowels. Unlike Chinese, Hangul is a system of letters similar to the English alphabet. The difference is that they are used to form syllables rather than individual words, though there are single-syllable words.

Instructions

  1. Reading Hangul

    • 1

      Start from the left or top and read each syllable. A syllable is one set of letters and can be in six configurations: two next to one another; one on top of another; two next to one another with one or two below; one on top of another with two below next to one another; three letters stacked on top of one another.

    • 2

      Find the first letter on the chart. Many consonants display two sounds divided by either a comma or a slash. The first sound is if the letter is at the beginning of the syllable, and the second is if the letter comes at the end of a syllable. Syllables will always begin with a consonant, but not necessarily a consonant sound.

    • 3

      Find the second letter on the chart by reading the syllable either up or down.

    • 4

      Find the third letter on the chart.

    • 5

      Find the fourth letter, if there is one, on the chart. Four letter syllables are much less common in Hangul.

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