Batchim Connection Rules: Consonants

In the last lesson, you learned how a final consonant (batchim) “slides” over when the next syllable starts with a vowel. But what happens when the next syllable starts with another consonant?

The answer is that the sounds often change to make pronunciation smoother. This lesson will cover the most important consonant-to-consonant connection rules. Understanding them is key to both understanding spoken Korean, and making your pronunciation sound natural.

However, there are a lot of rules to remember in this lesson, so don’t worry if you don’t remember them all perfectly right now. I suggest you come back to this lesson later on after you’ve completed some of Unit 2 and have more exposure to spoken Korean.

Aspiration (격음화)

Let’s start with the easiest rule. When one of the consonants ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, or ㅈ meets the ㅎ consonant, they merge to create the aspirated version of the first consonant.

The rule is: (ㄱ,ㄷ,ㅂ, or ㅈ) + ㅎ → (ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, or ㅊ)

• ㄱ + ㅎ = ㅋ
• ㄷ + ㅎ = ㅌ
• ㅂ + ㅎ = ㅍ
• ㅈ + ㅎ = ㅊ

This works whether ㅎ comes before or after the other consonant.

Aspiration Quiz

Let’s practice these aspirated sounds.

Nasalization (비음화)

Nasalization happens when a consonant that stops airflow (like ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ) comes before a nasal consonant (ㄴ, ㅁ). The first consonant changes to a nasal sound to make it easier to pronounce.

The rules are:

• [ㄱ] sound (ㄱ, ㅋ, or ㄲ) + ㄴ/ㅁ → [ㅇ] (ng)
• [ㄷ] sound (ㄷ, ㅅ, ㅆ, ㅈ, ㅊ, or ㅌ) + ㄴ/ㅁ → [ㄴ]
• [ㅂ] sound (ㅂ, ㅍ) + ㄴ/ㅁ → [ㅁ]

Nasalization Quiz

Let’s practice these nasal changes.

Lateralization (유음화)

Lateralization involves the consonant ㄹ (r/l). When ㄴ and ㄹ meet, the ㄴ sound changes to an ㄹ sound to make the pronunciation smoother.

The rule is simple: ㄴ + ㄹ → ㄹ + ㄹ (and vice-versa).

Lateralization Quiz

Test your understanding of this liquid sound change.

Tensification (경음화)

Tensification is when a consonant becomes a tense (or “double”) consonant. This rule is very common, so make sure you remember it!

After a final consonant with a [ㄱ], [ㄷ], or [ㅂ] sound, the next consonant becomes tense.

• ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ, ㅈ → ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ

Tensification Quiz

This is a big one! Let’s see how you do.

Final Quiz

You’ve learned the key assimilation rules. Let’s put it all together in this final quiz. Good luck!

All Words

Here is a chart of all the words in this lesson. I suggest spending some time trying to memorize these words. These are all very common words and studying them will help you remember the sound change rules.