Final Consonants · 받침

4. Common mistakes

❌ Mistake 1 — Reading the final letter by its name

✖ 꽃 → kkoch
✔ 꽃 → kkot

ㅊ is "ch" at the start of a syllable, but at the bottom it becomes t. The same is true for ㅅ, ㅆ, ㅈ, ㅌ and ㅎ. Always use the 7 final sounds.

❌ Mistake 2 — Adding a vowel after the final

✖ 밥 → bapu
✔ 밥 → bap

English speakers often add a small "uh" or "oo" after a stop sound. In Korean the syllable ends when your mouth closes. Close your lips on the p and stop.

❌ Mistake 3 — Reading the final ㅇ as silent

✖ 강 → ga
✔ 강 → gang

The silent ㅇ rule only applies at the top of a block. At the bottom, ㅇ is always "ng". If you drop it, you change the word.

❌ Mistake 4 — Releasing the stop with a puff of air

✖ 집 → jip with a strong puff
✔ 집 → jip, lips closed at the end

A puff of air at the end sounds like an extra syllable to Korean ears. Hold your hand in front of your mouth. You should feel almost no air at the end of 집.

❌ Mistake 5 — Reading both letters of a double batchim

✖ 닭 → dalk
✔ 닭 → dak

✖ 없다 → eops-da
✔ 없다 → eop-da

Two letters at the bottom do not mean two sounds. Only one is pronounced, so say the short form and stop cleanly.