Your goal
Compare ㅐ, ㅔ, ㅒ and ㅖ. Learn 개, 게, 얘 and 예 with their meanings, then choose a spelling for a picture or situation and try reading it.
Before you start
Review the basic shapes. The short strokes of ㅏ and ㅑ point right; those of ㅓ and ㅕ point left. ㅣ is a vertical line.
Explore the situation
| Familiar shape | Add this shape | New letter |
|---|---|---|
| ㅏ | ㅣ | ㅐ |
| ㅓ | ㅣ | ㅔ |
| ㅑ | ㅣ | ㅒ |
| ㅕ | ㅣ | ㅖ |
The table is a visual memory aid. It does not mean you should read ㅐ as two separate syllables 아–이.
Learn the key points
| Vowel | Combination | Meaning or use |
|---|---|---|
| ㅐ | ㄱ + ㅐ = 개 | dog |
| ㅔ | ㄱ + ㅔ = 게 | crab |
| ㅒ | ㅇ + ㅒ = 얘 | informal reference to a person |
| ㅖ | ㅇ + ㅖ = 예 | a polite yes |
Connect meanings first
개
개: a dog, an animal often kept as a pet.
게
게: a crab, an animal with claws.
얘
얘: an informal way to refer to this child or a familiar person. Do not learn it as a polite form of address for strangers.
예
예: a polite response. Here, learn it as an affirmative answer: yes.
Listen and read
Listen with the written forms visible and try reading them. Even if two forms sound similar to you, keep their spellings and meanings separate.
Compare the sounds
Try it with help
With ㅇ, build 애, 에, 얘 and 예. Changing to ㄱ makes 개, 게, 걔 and 계. The four meaning targets today are 개, 게, 얘 and 예.
Examples by condition
| Consonant | Vowel | Final consonant | Syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| ㅇ | ㅐ | None | 애 |
| ㅇ | ㅔ | None | 에 |
| ㅇ | ㅒ | None | 얘 |
| ㅇ | ㅖ | None | 예 |
| ㄱ | ㅐ | None | 개 |
| ㄱ | ㅔ | None | 게 |
| ㄱ | ㅒ | None | 걔 |
| ㄱ | ㅖ | None | 계 |
Practice
Find just the vowel in each syllable. Separate the consonant on the left from the vowel on the right.
1. Choose the vowel in 개.
- ㅔ
- ㅐ
- ㅖ
2. Choose the vowel in 게.
- ㅔ
- ㅒ
- ㅐ
3. Choose the vowel in 얘.
- ㅐ
- ㅖ
- ㅒ
4. Choose the vowel in 예.
- ㅒ
- ㅖ
- ㅔ
Try a new situation
After studying the meaning cards, choose a spelling for each picture or situation. Then try reading the word. Text descriptions provide the same meaning when the picture is not useful.
Match meaning to spelling
1. Choose the spelling that matches the picture or situation.
The picture shows an animal with claws.
- 개
- 게
2. Choose the spelling that matches the picture or situation.
The picture shows an animal often kept as a pet.
- 개
- 게
3. Choose the spelling that matches the picture or situation.
A polite affirmative answer
- 얘
- 예
4. Choose the spelling that matches the picture or situation.
Referring to a child nearby
- 얘
- 예
Check your learning
These six questions check spelling, combinations and meaning—not your ability to produce contrasting sounds.
1. ㄱ + ㅐ = ?
- 게
- 걔
- 개
2. Which written form can you view as ㅓ + ㅣ?
- ㅔ
- ㅐ
- ㅒ
3. Which word names an animal with claws: a crab?
- 개
- 게
- 예
4. Which word did you learn as a polite yes?
- 얘
- 예
- 개
5. Which letter can you view as ㅑ with ㅣ added?
- ㅖ
- ㅔ
- ㅒ
6. Choose the word for a dog.
- 게
- 개
- 예
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 vowel in 개.
Answer: ㅐ
For a visual memory aid, look at ㅐ as ㅏ + ㅣ.
- ㅔ — For a visual memory aid, look at ㅔ as ㅓ + ㅣ.
- ㅖ — For a visual memory aid, look at ㅖ as ㅕ + ㅣ.
2. Choose the vowel in 게.
Answer: ㅔ
For a visual memory aid, look at ㅔ as ㅓ + ㅣ.
- ㅒ — For a visual memory aid, look at ㅒ as ㅑ + ㅣ.
- ㅐ — For a visual memory aid, look at ㅐ as ㅏ + ㅣ.
3. Choose the vowel in 얘.
Answer: ㅒ
For a visual memory aid, look at ㅒ as ㅑ + ㅣ.
- ㅐ — For a visual memory aid, look at ㅐ as ㅏ + ㅣ.
- ㅖ — For a visual memory aid, look at ㅖ as ㅕ + ㅣ.
4. Choose the vowel in 예.
Answer: ㅖ
For a visual memory aid, look at ㅖ as ㅕ + ㅣ.
- ㅒ — For a visual memory aid, look at ㅒ as ㅑ + ㅣ.
- ㅔ — For a visual memory aid, look at ㅔ as ㅓ + ㅣ.
Learning check
1. ㄱ + ㅐ = ?
Answer: 개
개 combines ㄱ and ㅐ in one syllable block.
- 게 — 게 combines ㄱ and ㅔ in one syllable block.
- 걔 — 걔 combines ㄱ and ㅒ in one syllable block.
2. Which written form can you view as ㅓ + ㅣ?
Answer: ㅔ
For a visual memory aid, look at ㅔ as ㅓ + ㅣ.
- ㅐ — For a visual memory aid, look at ㅐ as ㅏ + ㅣ.
- ㅒ — For a visual memory aid, look at ㅒ as ㅑ + ㅣ.
3. Which word names an animal with claws: a crab?
Answer: 게
게 names the crab and is written with ㅔ.
- 개 — 개 was paired with the dog picture, not the crab.
- 예 — Here, 예 is a polite affirmative response.
4. Which word did you learn as a polite yes?
Answer: 예
예 is the affirmative answer, written with ㅖ.
- 얘 — In this lesson, 얘 refers informally to a child or familiar person.
- 개 — 개 is an animal name.
5. Which letter can you view as ㅑ with ㅣ added?
Answer: ㅒ
For a visual memory aid, look at ㅒ as ㅑ + ㅣ.
- ㅖ — For a visual memory aid, look at ㅖ as ㅕ + ㅣ.
- ㅔ — For a visual memory aid, look at ㅔ as ㅓ + ㅣ.
6. Choose the word for a dog.
Answer: 개
개 means dog; its vowel is ㅐ.
- 게 — 게 means crab.
- 예 — 예 is a polite yes.
1. Choose the spelling that matches the picture or situation.
The picture shows an animal with claws.
Answer: 게
게: a crab, an animal with claws.
Now try reading it: 게
2. Choose the spelling that matches the picture or situation.
The picture shows an animal often kept as a pet.
Answer: 개
개: a dog, an animal often kept as a pet.
Now try reading it: 개
3. Choose the spelling that matches the picture or situation.
A polite affirmative answer
Answer: 예
예: a polite response. Here, learn it as an affirmative answer: yes.
Now try reading it: 예
4. Choose the spelling that matches the picture or situation.
Referring to a child nearby
Answer: 얘
얘: an informal way to refer to this child or a familiar person. Do not learn it as a polite form of address for strangers.
Now try reading it: 얘
Review and continue
Come back to these
Review this lesson
Find the vowel in each of the four written forms.
Recall before looking
Recall each meaning and spelling: 개 and 게.
A different order
Read 예, 얘, 게 and 개; check each meaning.
Connect earlier learning
Combine ㄱ with ㅐ or ㅔ and write 개 and 게 again.
Review what felt difficult
Review the basic vowelsRevisit the shapes of ㅏ and ㅓ. →Compare the four spellingsReview the shape breakdown and meaning cards. →Repeat an activity whenever you need more practice.