Your goal
Find ㅁ, ㅂ, ㅅ and ㅇ. Combine each with ㅏ to make 마, 바, 사 and 아.
Before you start
Find the consonant in 나. It is ㄴ. The vowel is ㅏ. Use the same pattern to make new blocks.
Left
Right
Explore the situation
ㅁ has a square shape. ㅇ is round. Compare the lines inside ㅁ and ㅂ. Look at ㅅ: the lines meet at the top and spread apart below.
Which letter is round? ㅇ. Now combine these letters with ㅏ.
Learn the key points
| Consonant | Combination | Syllable |
|---|---|---|
| ㅁ | ㅁ + ㅏ | 마 |
| ㅂ | ㅂ + ㅏ | 바 |
| ㅅ | ㅅ + ㅏ | 사 |
| ㅇ | ㅇ + ㅏ | 아 |
How to make the sound
Try each sound briefly. These are starting cues, not an automatic pronunciation judgement.
마 · 바
For 마, hum through your nose with closed lips, then open into ㅏ. For 바, briefly close your lips and release into ㅏ.
사 · 아
For 사, let air rub through a narrow gap near the ridge behind the upper teeth, then move into ㅏ. The initial ㅇ of 아 adds no consonant sound.
Listen and read
Compare 마 with 바, then 사 with 아. Listen to each syllable and repeat it.
Compare the sounds
Try it with help
First, choose ㅁ to make 마. Then change it to ㅂ, ㅅ and ㅇ. Keep ㅏ in place.
Change the letters and build a syllable
Left
Right
Left
Right
Left
Right
Left
Right
When you write 아, keep ㅇ on the left. Even though it adds no initial sound, it is part of the written block.
Practice
Try four questions. Check the letter shape first, then choose the correct combination.
1. Combine ㅁ and ㅏ.
- 바
- 마
- 사
2. Find the consonant in 바.
- ㅁ
- ㅂ
- ㅇ
3. Combine ㅅ and ㅏ.
- 아
- 바
- 사
4. Find the letter on the left of 아.
- ㅇ
- ㅅ
- ㅁ
Try a new situation
All eight consonants you have learned are mixed together below. Find the four new ones and combine each with ㅏ.
Find ㅁ, ㅂ, ㅅ and ㅇ. Make and read 마, 바, 사 and 아. Then match sounds and cards in a different order.
Tasks
Read the text and practise saying it aloud.
First order
- 아 → 아
- 사 → 사
- 마 → 마
- 바 → 바
Review order
- 바 → 바
- 마 → 마
- 아 → 아
- 사 → 사
Check your learning
These six questions check combinations and the use of initial ㅇ. Check reading aloud separately.
1. Combine ㅁ and ㅏ.
- 사
- 마
- 바
2. Find the consonant in 바.
- ㅂ
- ㅅ
- ㅁ
3. Combine ㅇ and ㅏ.
- 마
- 사
- 아
4. Does the initial ㅇ add a sound in 아?
- Say the name of ㅇ before the vowel
- It adds no consonant sound here
- Read it like 마
5. What differs between 마 and 바?
- The vowel on the right
- The consonant on the left
- Nothing is different
6. Combine ㅅ and ㅏ.
- 사
- 아
- 마
Reflect on your reading
Tick only what you actually checked. Feedback from another person is optional and is not required to finish the lesson.
Answers and explanations
Show answers and explanations
Practice questions
1. Combine ㅁ and ㅏ.
Answer: 마
ㅁ + ㅏ = 마.
- 바 — 바 contains ㅂ: ㅂ + ㅏ = 바.
- 사 — 사 contains ㅅ: ㅅ + ㅏ = 사.
2. Find the consonant in 바.
Answer: ㅂ
The consonant on the left of 바 is ㅂ.
- ㅁ — ㅁ is a consonant letter. ㅁ + ㅏ makes 마.
- ㅇ — ㅇ is a consonant letter. ㅇ + ㅏ makes 아.
3. Combine ㅅ and ㅏ.
Answer: 사
ㅅ + ㅏ = 사.
- 아 — 아 contains ㅇ: ㅇ + ㅏ = 아.
- 바 — 바 contains ㅂ: ㅂ + ㅏ = 바.
4. Find the letter on the left of 아.
Answer: ㅇ
Write 아 with ㅇ and ㅏ. Initial ㅇ adds no consonant sound here.
- ㅅ — ㅅ is a consonant letter. ㅅ + ㅏ makes 사.
- ㅁ — ㅁ is a consonant letter. ㅁ + ㅏ makes 마.
Learning check
1. Combine ㅁ and ㅏ.
Answer: 마
Combine the square-shaped ㅁ with ㅏ to make 마.
- 사 — 사 contains ㅅ: ㅅ + ㅏ = 사.
- 바 — 바 contains ㅂ: ㅂ + ㅏ = 바.
2. Find the consonant in 바.
Answer: ㅂ
바 = ㅂ + ㅏ.
- ㅅ — ㅅ is a consonant letter. ㅅ + ㅏ makes 사.
- ㅁ — ㅁ is a consonant letter. ㅁ + ㅏ makes 마.
3. Combine ㅇ and ㅏ.
Answer: 아
Write ㅇ in the first position, with ㅏ on the right, to make 아.
- 마 — 마 contains ㅁ: ㅁ + ㅏ = 마.
- 사 — 사 contains ㅅ: ㅅ + ㅏ = 사.
4. Does the initial ㅇ add a sound in 아?
Answer: It adds no consonant sound here
Initial ㅇ in 아 adds no consonant sound. Read the vowel sound, not the letter name.
- Say the name of ㅇ before the vowel — Do not add the letter name of ㅇ before the vowel sound.
- Read it like 마 — 마 includes the sound of ㅁ. 아 is a different syllable.
5. What differs between 마 and 바?
Answer: The consonant on the left
마 starts with ㅁ; 바 starts with ㅂ. Both use the same vowel ㅏ.
- The vowel on the right — Both blocks have the same vowel, ㅏ, on the right.
- Nothing is different — The left-hand letters are different: ㅁ in 마 and ㅂ in 바.
6. Combine ㅅ and ㅏ.
Answer: 사
Put ㅅ on the left and ㅏ on the right to make 사.
- 아 — 아 contains ㅇ: ㅇ + ㅏ = 아.
- 마 — 마 contains ㅁ: ㅁ + ㅏ = 마.
Task transcripts
Opening these transcripts marks this lesson’s sound-and-card tasks as supported practice.
Model order
마 · 바 · 사 · 아
First order
아 · 사 · 마 · 바
Alternate order
바 · 마 · 아 · 사
Review and continue
Come back to these
After this lesson
Point to the consonant on the left in 마 · 바 · 사 · 아.
Recall one item
Which letter do you write on the left of 아?
Change the order
Read 사 · 마 · 아 · 바.
Check again
From 가 · 마 · 나 · 바 · 다 · 사 · 라 · 아, find the four syllables from this lesson.
Review what felt difficult
I mix up ㅁ and ㅂ.Compare the inner lines, then build 마 and 바. →I left ㅇ out of 아.Look at ㅇ + ㅏ = 아 and write it again. →I need to review 가 · 나 · 다 · 라.Return to the syllable builder. →Repeat an activity whenever you need more practice.