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Back to RulesUnit 7 · Rule 8/10
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Final Neutralization

In the final position only 7 sounds are allowed: ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ, ㄹ, ㅁ, ㅂ, ㅇ. That is why 꽃 becomes [꼳] and 부엌 becomes [부억].

Pattern

받침 ㄲ/ㅋ → [ㄱ], ㅅ/ㅆ/ㅈ/ㅊ/ㅌ/ㅎ → [ㄷ], ㅍ → [ㅂ]

How It Works

The 16 consonants that can be a batchim collapse into the 7 nearest representative sounds. ㄲ, ㅋ become [k]; ㅅ, ㅆ, ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅌ, ㅎ become [t]; ㅍ becomes [p].

Transformation Examples

See — and hear — how the spelling turns into its actual pronunciation.

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kkot

flower

부엌

[부억]

bueok

kitchen

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ap

front

있다

[읻따]

itta

to exist

Exceptions & Notes

This collapse happens only before a consonant or at the end of a word. Before a vowel, liaison takes over and the original sound revives: 꽃 is [꼳] but 꽃이 is [꼬치].

Check Your Understanding

01

How is 부엌 (kitchen) pronounced?

02

How many sounds can actually occur in the batchim position?