2. Hangul in one train ride

Hangul letters combine into square syllable blocks. Read the blocks left to right. A block begins with a consonant, contains a vowel, and may end with a consonant.

Learn the most visible vowels first.

• ㅏ a as in father: 가 ga
• ㅓ eo, an open uh: 거 geo
• ㅗ o: 고 go
• ㅜ u as in food: 구 gu
• ㅡ eu, lips unrounded: 그 geu
• ㅣ i: 기 gi
• ㅐ / ㅔ both sound close to e for many speakers: 개 gae, 게 ge

Core consonants are softer or stronger depending on position. Use these approximations as a start.

• ㄱ between g/k: 가 ga
• ㄴ n: 나 na
• ㄷ between d/t: 다 da
• ㄹ between a light r/l: 라 ra
• ㅁ m: 마 ma
• ㅂ between b/p: 바 ba
• ㅅ s: 사 sa
• ㅇ silent at the start, ng at the end: 아 a, 강 gang
• ㅈ j: 자 ja
• ㅎ h: 하 ha

Read your first signs

출구 (chulgu) — exit

입구 (ipgu) — entrance

역 (yeok) — station

약국 (yakguk) — pharmacy

병원 (byeongwon) — hospital

화장실 (hwajangsil) — restroom

계산 (gyesan) — checkout or bill

Final consonants are released briefly. In 입구, the final ㅂ meets ㄱ and sounds closer to ip-kku. Do not chase perfect rules on day one. Recognize the block and make a clear attempt.

Five-minute drill

Write 가, 나, 다, 라, 마. Then replace ㅏ with ㅗ: 고, 노, 도, 로, 모. Find 출구 and 입구 in a station photo. Circle the shared 구. You are learning reusable pieces, not copying pictures.