You’ve learned Hangul. You can read every character. But when you try to pronounce Korean words, something feels… off. Why does 받침 sound like “bat-chim” and not “bat-chip”?
Welcome to batchim rules (받침)—the pronunciation patterns that make spoken Korean sound natural.
What Is Batchim?
Batchim (받침) literally means “supporting floor” or “foundation.” In Korean linguistics, it refers to the final consonant at the bottom of a Hangul syllable block.
Look at this syllable: 한
- ㅎ = initial consonant
- ㅏ = vowel
- ㄴ = batchim (final consonant)
Not all syllables have batchim. Compare:
- 가 (ga) - no batchim
- 감 (gam) - has batchim (ㅁ)
Why Batchim Rules Matter for Reading
Here’s the problem most Korean learners face:
You can identify batchim consonants, but you don’t know how to pronounce them when they interact with the next syllable.
This is why Korean sounds “mumbly” to beginners—native speakers are applying batchim rules automatically, and you’re not catching it.
Example:
| Written | Beginner Reading | Native Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 한국말 | han-guk-mal | hang-gung-mal |
| 받침 | bat-chim | bat-chim |
| 입니다 | ip-ni-da | im-ni-da |
See the difference? That’s batchim rules in action.
The 7 Batchim Consonant Sounds
Here’s something crucial: while Korean has 27 possible batchim letters, they only produce 7 distinct sounds when pronounced:
| Batchim Letters | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ㄱ, ㅋ, ㄲ | [k] | 밖 (bakk) |
| ㄴ | [n] | 눈 (nun) |
| ㄷ, ㅌ, ㅅ, ㅆ, ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅎ | [t] | 꽃 (kkot) |
| ㄹ | [l] | 말 (mal) |
| ㅁ | [m] | 밤 (bam) |
| ㅂ, ㅍ | [p] | 밥 (bap) |
| ㅇ | [ng] | 강 (gang) |
This is the first batchim rule to memorize: Multiple consonants can produce the same final sound.
Batchim Pronunciation Rules
Now for the important part: what happens when a batchim meets the next syllable?
Rule 1: Liaison (연음)
When a batchim is followed by a vowel (ㅇ), the consonant moves to the next syllable.
Examples:
| Written | Pronunciation | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 한글 | [han-geul] | Hangul |
| 음악 | [eu-mak] | music |
| 읽어요 | [il-geo-yo] | (I) read |
Why it happens: Korean avoids ending words with strong consonants, so they flow into the next syllable when possible.
Rule 2: Nasalization (비음화)
When a stop consonant (ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ) meets a nasal consonant (ㄴ, ㅁ), it becomes nasal too.
Transformations:
- ㄱ → ㅇ (before ㄴ, ㅁ)
- ㄷ → ㄴ (before ㄴ, ㅁ)
- ㅂ → ㅁ (before ㄴ, ㅁ)
Examples:
| Written | Pronunciation | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 학년 | [hang-nyeon] | school year |
| 받는 | [ban-neun] | receiving |
| 입니다 | [im-ni-da] | (it) is |
For a deeper dive, check our full guide on Korean nasalization explained.
Rule 3: Tensification (경음화)
After certain consonants, the following consonant becomes “tense” (doubled).
Examples:
| Written | Pronunciation | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 학교 | [hak-kkyo] | school |
| 꽃다발 | [kkot-tta-bal] | bouquet |
| 국밥 | [guk-ppap] | rice soup |
Rule 4: Aspiration (격음화)
When ㅎ meets certain consonants, they merge into aspirated consonants (ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, ㅊ).
Examples:
| Written | Pronunciation | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 좋다 | [jo-ta] | good |
| 입학 | [i-pak] | entrance |
| 축하 | [chu-ka] | congratulations |
Rule 5: Palatalization (구개음화)
When ㄷ or ㅌ meets the vowel 이, it changes to ㅈ or ㅊ.
Examples:
| Written | Pronunciation | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 같이 | [ga-chi] | together |
| 굳이 | [gu-ji] | insistently |
| 해돋이 | [hae-do-ji] | sunrise |
Why Most Learners Struggle with Batchim
Here’s the honest truth: you can’t master batchim rules by memorizing tables.
You need to:
- Hear the difference repeatedly
- See the pattern in written form
- Practice recognition until it’s automatic
This is exactly what the Batchim app was designed for. Instead of studying grammar rules, you drill the patterns until your brain recognizes them without thinking.
Our Batchim Rules module includes:
- All 6 sound change rules
- Interactive drills with audio
- Real word examples
- Timed challenges to build automatic recognition
Try it free and see how fast you improve.
Common Batchim Mistakes
Mistake 1: Pronouncing Every Letter
Wrong: 학교 as “hak-gyo” Right: 학교 as “hak-kkyo” (tensification)
Mistake 2: Ignoring Sound Changes
Wrong: 입니다 as “ip-ni-da” Right: 입니다 as “im-ni-da” (nasalization)
Mistake 3: Over-Releasing Final Consonants
In English, we release final consonants strongly (“cat” with a hard T). Korean batchim is unreleased—your mouth gets ready for the sound but doesn’t fully pronounce it.
Practice Batchim with Real Words
Here are common Korean words that use different batchim rules. Try reading them:
Liaison:
- 먹어요 (meo-geo-yo) - (I) eat
- 좋아요 (jo-a-yo) - (I) like
Nasalization:
- 감사합니다 (gam-sa-ham-ni-da) - thank you
- 십만 (sim-man) - 100,000
Tensification:
- 국가 (guk-kka) - nation
- 학생 (hak-ssaeng) - student
Aspiration:
- 좋아 (jo-a) - good
- 입학생 (i-pak-ssaeng) - new student
Palatalization:
- 같이 (ga-chi) - together
- 맏이 (ma-ji) - eldest
How Batchim Rules Improve Your Reading Speed
Once you internalize batchim rules, something magical happens: you stop reading letter-by-letter.
Instead of seeing:
ㅎ-ㅏ-ㄱ-ㄱ-ㅛ
You see:
학교 (school)
This is called chunking—your brain recognizes syllables and words as single units. It’s the difference between reading at 45 characters per minute and 135 CPM.
Next Steps: Master Batchim
Batchim rules are the missing piece between knowing Hangul and reading Korean fluently. Once you master them:
✅ Korean pronunciation makes sense ✅ You can read K-pop lyrics accurately ✅ K-dramas sound less “mumbly” ✅ Your reading speed doubles or triples
The fastest way to master batchim? Targeted practice with immediate feedback.
That’s exactly what the Batchim app does. Our drills are specifically designed to train batchim recognition until it becomes automatic.
Related articles:
- Learn Hangul: Complete Korean Alphabet Guide - Hub pillar
- Mastering Batchim Rules: Complete Guide
- Korean Nasalization Explained
- Korean Reading Mistakes
Start practicing batchim rules today—your Korean reading speed will thank you. 🚀