Your goal
Today, distinguish six pairs with and without a final consonant. Find the bottom position, then read each member as one syllable.
Before you start
Read the familiar 나, 사 and 바. Each has an initial and a vowel only. ㅏ sits to the right.
Left
Right
Point to the space beneath 나. Adding ㄴ there makes 난.
Explore the situation
Left
Right
Below the initial–vowel group
난: initial ㄴ, vowel ㅏ, Final underneath: ㄴ
삼: initial ㅅ, vowel ㅏ, Final underneath: ㅁ
방: initial ㅂ, vowel ㅏ, Final underneath: ㅇ
The initial, vowel and lower consonant share one syllable block. The lower consonant is called batchim, the final consonant.
Learn the key points
| No final | With a final | Bottom letter |
|---|---|---|
| 나 | 난 | ㄴ |
| 사 | 삼 | ㅁ |
| 바 | 방 | ㅇ |
| 소 | 손 | ㄴ |
| 아 | 암 | ㅁ |
| 고 | 공 | ㅇ |
For final ㄴ, touch the ridge behind the upper teeth with the tongue tip. For ㅁ, close the lips. Final ㅇ uses a closure at the back of the tongue with nasal airflow. Listen to and repeat each whole syllable.
Above
Below
Below the initial–vowel group
Listen and read
Listen to each open–closed pair. In 고–공 the vowel stays ㅗ and final ㅇ is added.
Compare the sounds
Try it with help
Switch the final selector between “None”, ㄴ, ㅁ and ㅇ. The upper group stays while the ending changes. These are letter-building combinations, not a vocabulary list.
Examples by condition
| Consonant | Vowel | Final consonant | Syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| ㄴ | ㅏ | None | 나 |
| ㄴ | ㅏ | ㄴ | 난 |
| ㄴ | ㅏ | ㅁ | 남 |
| ㄴ | ㅏ | ㅇ | 낭 |
| ㅅ | ㅏ | None | 사 |
| ㅅ | ㅏ | ㄴ | 산 |
| ㅅ | ㅏ | ㅁ | 삼 |
| ㅅ | ㅏ | ㅇ | 상 |
| ㅂ | ㅏ | None | 바 |
| ㅂ | ㅏ | ㄴ | 반 |
| ㅂ | ㅏ | ㅁ | 밤 |
| ㅂ | ㅏ | ㅇ | 방 |
| ㅇ | ㅏ | None | 아 |
| ㅇ | ㅏ | ㄴ | 안 |
| ㅇ | ㅏ | ㅁ | 암 |
| ㅇ | ㅏ | ㅇ | 앙 |
Practice
Choose by shape and position. The initial and final can have the same shape but different positions.
1. Where is batchim placed inside a syllable block?
- Below the initial and vowel
- Outside the block on the right
- With a vowel in the next block
2. Add final ㄴ to 나.
- 나
- 남
- 난
3. 사 + final ㅁ = ?
- 삼
- 산
- 사
4. Which letter is the final consonant in 방?
- ㅂ
- ㅇ
- ㅏ
Try a new situation
Choose as instructed in each of six pairs. After checking, try the syllable with batchim and record whether you used help.
Six open–closed pairs
1. Choose the syllable with a final consonant, then compare the pair aloud.
나 · 난
- 나
- 난
2. Choose the syllable without a final consonant, then compare the pair aloud.
사 · 삼
- 삼
- 사
3. Choose the syllable with a final consonant, then compare the pair aloud.
바 · 방
- 바
- 방
4. Choose the syllable with a final consonant, then compare the pair aloud.
소 · 손
- 손
- 소
5. Choose the syllable without a final consonant, then compare the pair aloud.
아 · 암
- 아
- 암
6. Choose the syllable with a final consonant, then compare the pair aloud.
고 · 공
- 공
- 고
Check your learning
1. Compare initial ㅇ in 아 with final ㅇ in 앙.
- Both are silent.
- Final ㅇ is also a vowel.
- Initial ㅇ has no consonant sound; final ㅇ has an ending sound.
2. ㅇ + ㅏ + final ㅁ = ?
- 암
- 아
- 앙
3. How are ㅅ, ㅗ and ㄴ arranged in 손?
- ㅅ at top, ㅗ in the middle, ㄴ at bottom
- Put ㄴ at the top.
- Write ㄴ in a separate syllable.
4. How many syllables are in 난?
- Two
- One
- Three
5. Remove final ㅇ from 공.
- 공
- 고
- 곰
6. How can you distinguish the two ㄴ letters in 난?
- Do not distinguish them because they look alike.
- The lower ㄴ is final; the upper ㄴ is initial.
- Both are vowels.
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. Where is batchim placed inside a syllable block?
Answer: Below the initial and vowel
The final consonant sits below the initial–vowel group.
- Outside the block on the right — Batchim stays inside the same syllable block.
- With a vowel in the next block — Do not add a new syllable or vowel for batchim.
2. Add final ㄴ to 나.
Answer: 난
난: initial ㄴ, vowel ㅏ, and final ㄴ underneath. Read one syllable.
- 나 — 나 combines ㄴ and ㅏ with no final consonant.
- 남 — 남: initial ㄴ, vowel ㅏ, and final ㅁ underneath. Read one syllable.
3. 사 + final ㅁ = ?
Answer: 삼
삼: initial ㅅ, vowel ㅏ, and final ㅁ underneath. Read one syllable.
- 산 — 산: initial ㅅ, vowel ㅏ, and final ㄴ underneath. Read one syllable.
- 사 — 사 combines ㅅ and ㅏ with no final consonant.
4. Which letter is the final consonant in 방?
Answer: ㅇ
방 is ㅂ + ㅏ + final ㅇ.
- ㅂ — ㅂ is the initial in 방.
- ㅏ — ㅏ is the vowel, not the final consonant.
Learning check
1. Compare initial ㅇ in 아 with final ㅇ in 앙.
Answer: Initial ㅇ has no consonant sound; final ㅇ has an ending sound.
아 starts with its vowel; 앙 adds the sound of final ㅇ.
- Both are silent. — Final ㅇ is pronounced. Do not treat it like initial ㅇ.
- Final ㅇ is also a vowel. — ㅇ is a consonant letter whose role changes with position.
2. ㅇ + ㅏ + final ㅁ = ?
Answer: 암
암: initial ㅇ, vowel ㅏ, and final ㅁ underneath. Read one syllable.
- 아 — 아 combines ㅇ and ㅏ with no final consonant.
- 앙 — 앙: initial ㅇ, vowel ㅏ, and final ㅇ underneath. Read one syllable.
3. How are ㅅ, ㅗ and ㄴ arranged in 손?
Answer: ㅅ at top, ㅗ in the middle, ㄴ at bottom
A final can sit below a horizontal vowel too. 손 is one syllable.
- Put ㄴ at the top. — ㄴ is the final in 손 and belongs underneath.
- Write ㄴ in a separate syllable. — All three letter parts fit into one block.
4. How many syllables are in 난?
Answer: One
ㄴ + ㅏ + ㄴ forms the single syllable 난.
- Two — Do not split it into 나 and 느.
- Three — The number of letter parts is not the number of syllables.
5. Remove final ㅇ from 공.
Answer: 고
고 combines ㄱ and ㅗ with no final consonant.
- 공 — 공: initial ㄱ, vowel ㅗ, and final ㅇ underneath. Read one syllable.
- 곰 — 곰: initial ㄱ, vowel ㅗ, and final ㅁ underneath. Read one syllable.
6. How can you distinguish the two ㄴ letters in 난?
Answer: The lower ㄴ is final; the upper ㄴ is initial.
Use position to identify initial and final ㄴ.
- Do not distinguish them because they look alike. — The same shape can have different positions and roles.
- Both are vowels. — The vowel in 난 is ㅏ.
1. Choose the syllable with a final consonant, then compare the pair aloud.
나 · 난 ·
Answer: 난
난: initial ㄴ, vowel ㅏ, and final ㄴ underneath. Read one syllable.
Now try reading it: 난
2. Choose the syllable without a final consonant, then compare the pair aloud.
사 · 삼 ·
Answer: 사
사 combines ㅅ and ㅏ with no final consonant.
Now try reading it: 삼
3. Choose the syllable with a final consonant, then compare the pair aloud.
바 · 방 ·
Answer: 방
방: initial ㅂ, vowel ㅏ, and final ㅇ underneath. Read one syllable.
Now try reading it: 방
4. Choose the syllable with a final consonant, then compare the pair aloud.
소 · 손 ·
Answer: 손
손: initial ㅅ, vowel ㅗ, and final ㄴ underneath. Read one syllable.
Now try reading it: 손
5. Choose the syllable without a final consonant, then compare the pair aloud.
아 · 암 ·
Answer: 아
아 combines ㅇ and ㅏ with no final consonant.
Now try reading it: 암
6. Choose the syllable with a final consonant, then compare the pair aloud.
고 · 공 ·
Answer: 공
공: initial ㄱ, vowel ㅗ, and final ㅇ underneath. Read one syllable.
Now try reading it: 공
Review and continue
Come back to these
Review this lesson
Point to the bottom letter in 난, 삼 and 방; then read.
Recall before looking
Without looking, add ㄴ to 나, ㅁ to 사, and ㅇ to 바.
A different order
Read 고, 공, 아, 암, 소 and 손 in a different order.
Connect earlier learning
Review the layouts of ㅏ and ㅗ together with the final position.
Review what felt difficult
Review vowel placementCompare where ㅏ and ㅗ sit. →Review the final positionSeparate the top group from the final. →Repeat an activity whenever you need more practice.