Back to RulesUnit 7 · Rule 3/10
국물[궁물]
Nasalization
The stop batchim [k], [t], [p] turn into the nasals [ng], [n], [m] before ㄴ or ㅁ. That is why 감사합니다 (thank you) sounds like [감사함니다].
Pattern
받침 [ㄱ/ㄷ/ㅂ] + ㄴ/ㅁ → [ㅇ/ㄴ/ㅁ] + ㄴ/ㅁ
How It Works
When a mouth-blocking stop meets a nasal consonant, it changes into the nasal made at the same place: ㄱ→ㅇ, ㄷ→ㄴ, ㅂ→ㅁ. The rule is clear-cut and easy to learn.
Transformation Examples
See — and hear — how the spelling turns into its actual pronunciation.
국물
[궁물]
gungmul
soup / broth
감사합니다
[감사함니다]
gamsahamnida
thank you
작년
[장년]
jangnyeon
last year
십만
[심만]
simman
100,000
Exceptions & Notes
The batchim is first neutralized to [k], [t], or [p], and only then nasalized. For instance 몇 명 goes ㅊ→[t]→[n], ending up as [면 명].
Check Your Understanding
01
How is 국물 (broth) pronounced?
02
A ㅂ batchim before a nasal becomes…