Your goal
Compare ㄱ/ㅋ/ㄲ, ㄷ/ㅌ/ㄸ and ㅂ/ㅍ/ㅃ. Sort nine cards by shape, then separately explore their syllable sounds.
Before you start
Pair ㄱ with ㄲ, ㄷ with ㄸ and ㅂ with ㅃ. You read ㅋ, ㅌ and ㅍ in Unit 1.
Explore the situation
The first is the basic shape, the second has an extra stroke, and the third has two matching shapes. Describe the visible difference before naming the letter.
Strokes may touch or change width in different fonts. Look at both the whole letter and its parts.
Learn the key points
| Basic shape | Different strokes/layout | Doubled shape |
|---|---|---|
| ㄱ → 가 | ㅋ → 카 | ㄲ → 까 |
| ㄷ → 다 | ㅌ → 타 | ㄸ → 따 |
| ㅂ → 바 | ㅍ → 파 | ㅃ → 빠 |
Compare strokes in ㅋ/ㄱ and ㅌ/ㄷ. For ㅍ/ㅂ, also compare where horizontal and vertical strokes sit. Do not use one universal rule of adding one pen stroke.
How to make the sound
Try each sound briefly. These are starting cues, not an automatic pronunciation judgement.
가 · 카 · 까
Practise one family first. 카 has a clearer puff; 까 starts more firmly. Compare both the contact point and the start of the sound.
Listen and read
Rather than memorizing three sounds at once, compare 가–카 and 가–까 separately. Do the same for 다/타/따 and 바/파/빠.
Compare the sounds
Try it with help
Keep ㅏ fixed and select ㄱ → ㅋ → ㄲ. Notice that only the consonant changes in the same position. Compare the other two families too.
Examples by condition
| Consonant | Vowel | Final consonant | Syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| ㄱ | ㅏ | None | 가 |
| ㅋ | ㅏ | None | 카 |
| ㄲ | ㅏ | None | 까 |
| ㄷ | ㅏ | None | 다 |
| ㅌ | ㅏ | None | 타 |
| ㄸ | ㅏ | None | 따 |
| ㅂ | ㅏ | None | 바 |
| ㅍ | ㅏ | None | 파 |
| ㅃ | ㅏ | None | 빠 |
Practice
Identify the consonant first, then its shape group. Do not record listening unless you heard the audio.
1. Choose the initial consonant in 카.
- ㄲ
- ㄱ
- ㅋ
2. Which is the extra-stroke shape in the ㄷ family?
- ㅌ
- ㄸ
- ㄷ
3. Choose the initial consonant in 빠.
- ㅍ
- ㅃ
- ㅂ
4. Which shape group does 까 belong to?
- Basic shape
- Different strokes/layout
- Doubled shape
Try a new situation
Nine syllables appear in mixed order. Classify the consonant shape, then try reading the syllable after checking. Listening controls are separate.
Sort nine cards
1. Look at the initial consonant and sort it into one of the three groups.
까
- Basic shape
- Different strokes/layout
- Doubled shape
2. Look at the initial consonant and sort it into one of the three groups.
타
- Basic shape
- Different strokes/layout
- Doubled shape
3. Look at the initial consonant and sort it into one of the three groups.
바
- Basic shape
- Different strokes/layout
- Doubled shape
4. Look at the initial consonant and sort it into one of the three groups.
카
- Basic shape
- Different strokes/layout
- Doubled shape
5. Look at the initial consonant and sort it into one of the three groups.
따
- Basic shape
- Different strokes/layout
- Doubled shape
6. Look at the initial consonant and sort it into one of the three groups.
파
- Basic shape
- Different strokes/layout
- Doubled shape
7. Look at the initial consonant and sort it into one of the three groups.
가
- Basic shape
- Different strokes/layout
- Doubled shape
8. Look at the initial consonant and sort it into one of the three groups.
빠
- Basic shape
- Different strokes/layout
- Doubled shape
9. Look at the initial consonant and sort it into one of the three groups.
다
- Basic shape
- Different strokes/layout
- Doubled shape
Check your learning
Complete six shape questions and your self-check. Note which family was most difficult.
1. Which is the basic shape among ㄱ, ㅋ and ㄲ?
- ㄱ
- ㅋ
- ㄲ
2. ㅌ + ㅏ = ?
- 따
- 다
- 타
3. Which letter contains two ㅂ shapes?
- ㅍ
- ㅃ
- ㅂ
4. ㄲ + ㅏ = ?
- 카
- 까
- 가
5. Choose the initial consonant in 파.
- ㅍ
- ㅂ
- ㅃ
6. Combine ㄷ, ㅌ, ㄸ with ㅏ in that order.
- 다 · 타 · 따
- 타 · 다 · 따
- 다 · 따 · 타
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. Choose the initial consonant in 카.
Answer: ㅋ
In the comparison table, ㅋ differs from ㄱ in its strokes or their arrangement.
- ㄲ — ㄲ contains two ㄱ shapes.
- ㄱ — ㄱ is the basic shape in this family.
2. Which is the extra-stroke shape in the ㄷ family?
Answer: ㅌ
In the comparison table, ㅌ differs from ㄷ in its strokes or their arrangement.
- ㄸ — ㄸ contains two ㄷ shapes.
- ㄷ — ㄷ is the basic shape in this family.
3. Choose the initial consonant in 빠.
Answer: ㅃ
ㅃ contains two ㅂ shapes.
- ㅍ — In the comparison table, ㅍ differs from ㅂ in its strokes or their arrangement.
- ㅂ — ㅂ is the basic shape in this family.
4. Which shape group does 까 belong to?
Answer: Doubled shape
The ㄲ in 까 contains two ㄱ shapes.
- Basic shape — 까 begins with ㄲ, not the basic ㄱ.
- Different strokes/layout — The extra-stroke ㅋ appears in 카.
Learning check
1. Which is the basic shape among ㄱ, ㅋ and ㄲ?
Answer: ㄱ
ㄱ is the basic shape in this family.
- ㅋ — In the comparison table, ㅋ differs from ㄱ in its strokes or their arrangement.
- ㄲ — ㄲ contains two ㄱ shapes.
2. ㅌ + ㅏ = ?
Answer: 타
타 combines ㅌ and ㅏ in one syllable block.
- 따 — 따 combines ㄸ and ㅏ in one syllable block.
- 다 — 다 combines ㄷ and ㅏ in one syllable block.
3. Which letter contains two ㅂ shapes?
Answer: ㅃ
ㅃ contains two ㅂ shapes.
- ㅍ — In the comparison table, ㅍ differs from ㅂ in its strokes or their arrangement.
- ㅂ — ㅂ is the basic shape in this family.
4. ㄲ + ㅏ = ?
Answer: 까
까 combines ㄲ and ㅏ in one syllable block.
- 카 — 카 combines ㅋ and ㅏ in one syllable block.
- 가 — 가 combines ㄱ and ㅏ in one syllable block.
5. Choose the initial consonant in 파.
Answer: ㅍ
In the comparison table, ㅍ differs from ㅂ in its strokes or their arrangement.
- ㅂ — ㅂ is the basic shape in this family.
- ㅃ — ㅃ contains two ㅂ shapes.
6. Combine ㄷ, ㅌ, ㄸ with ㅏ in that order.
Answer: 다 · 타 · 따
ㄷ→다, ㅌ→타, ㄸ→따.
- 타 · 다 · 따 — The first two initials are reversed.
- 다 · 따 · 타 — ㅌ and ㄸ are reversed.
1. Look at the initial consonant and sort it into one of the three groups.
까 ·
Answer: Doubled shape
ㄲ contains two ㄱ shapes.
Now try reading it: 까
2. Look at the initial consonant and sort it into one of the three groups.
타 ·
Answer: Different strokes/layout
In the comparison table, ㅌ differs from ㄷ in its strokes or their arrangement.
Now try reading it: 타
3. Look at the initial consonant and sort it into one of the three groups.
바 ·
Answer: Basic shape
ㅂ is the basic shape in this family.
Now try reading it: 바
4. Look at the initial consonant and sort it into one of the three groups.
카 ·
Answer: Different strokes/layout
In the comparison table, ㅋ differs from ㄱ in its strokes or their arrangement.
Now try reading it: 카
5. Look at the initial consonant and sort it into one of the three groups.
따 ·
Answer: Doubled shape
ㄸ contains two ㄷ shapes.
Now try reading it: 따
6. Look at the initial consonant and sort it into one of the three groups.
파 ·
Answer: Different strokes/layout
In the comparison table, ㅍ differs from ㅂ in its strokes or their arrangement.
Now try reading it: 파
7. Look at the initial consonant and sort it into one of the three groups.
가 ·
Answer: Basic shape
ㄱ is the basic shape in this family.
Now try reading it: 가
8. Look at the initial consonant and sort it into one of the three groups.
빠 ·
Answer: Doubled shape
ㅃ contains two ㅂ shapes.
Now try reading it: 빠
9. Look at the initial consonant and sort it into one of the three groups.
다 ·
Answer: Basic shape
ㄷ is the basic shape in this family.
Now try reading it: 다
Review and continue
Come back to these
Review this lesson
Write one confusing family of three.
Recall before looking
Find the initial consonants in 카, 따 and 바.
A different order
Sort the nine cards in a new order.
Connect earlier learning
Also compare ㅅ/ㅆ and ㅈ/ㅉ from the previous lesson.
Review what felt difficult
Review plain–doubled pairsCheck the five pairs first. →Compare the three groups againCompare the three table columns. →Repeat an activity whenever you need more practice.