Ever wondered why 감사합니다 sounds more like “gamsahamnida” than “gamsahapnida”?
That’s nasalization (비음화) — the most common sound change rule in Korean.
What Is Nasalization?
Nasalization occurs when a stop consonant (ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ) appears before a nasal consonant (ㄴ, ㅁ). The stop changes to its nasal counterpart to make pronunciation smoother.
Here’s the pattern:
| Stop | → | Nasal | When before |
|---|---|---|---|
| ㄱ, ㅋ, ㄲ | → | ㅇ | ㄴ, ㅁ |
| ㄷ, ㅌ, ㅅ, ㅆ, ㅈ, ㅊ | → | ㄴ | ㄴ, ㅁ |
| ㅂ, ㅍ | → | ㅁ | ㄴ, ㅁ |
Common Examples
ㄱ → ㅇ
| Written | Pronounced | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 먹는 | 멍는 | eating |
| 국물 | 궁물 | broth |
| 학년 | 항년 | school year |
ㄷ → ㄴ
| Written | Pronounced | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 받는 | 반는 | receiving |
| 있는 | 인는 | existing/having |
| 맛있는 | 마신는 | delicious |
ㅂ → ㅁ
| Written | Pronounced | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 합니다 | 함니다 | (I) do |
| 십만 | 심만 | 100,000 |
| 입니다 | 임니다 | (it) is |
Why Does Nasalization Happen?
Try an experiment: Say “hapnida” (합니다) out loud, pronouncing every letter exactly as written.
Notice how awkward it feels? Your mouth has to:
- Stop airflow completely for the ㅂ
- Release it for the vowel ㅣ
- Then immediately redirect it through your nose for ㄴ
That’s three distinct articulation points happening rapidly. It’s phonetically inefficient and tiring to maintain in natural speech.
Now say “hamnida” (함니다). Feel the difference? By changing ㅂ to ㅁ (both are bilabial sounds), your mouth:
- Keeps airflow going through the nose continuously
- Uses the same lip position (both are bilabial)
- Flows smoothly without stopping
Nasalization isn’t laziness—it’s your mouth optimizing for efficiency.
The Phonetics Behind It
All nasal sounds (ㄴ, ㅁ, ㅇ) let air flow through the nose. Stop consonants (ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ) completely stop airflow.
When a stop consonant sits right before a nasal, Korean speakers assimilate (make similar) the stop into a nasal at the same position:
| Stop | Position | Becomes | Nasal Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| ㄱ (k/g) | Velar (back of tongue) | ㅇ (ng) | Velar nasal |
| ㄷ (t/d) | Alveolar (tongue tip) | ㄴ (n) | Alveolar nasal |
| ㅂ (p/b) | Bilabial (lips) | ㅁ (m) | Bilabial nasal |
This preserves the place of articulation (where in your mouth the sound is made) while changing the manner of articulation (how air flows).
How to Apply Nasalization: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Identify the Pattern
Look for these combinations in Korean text:
- [ㄱ/ㅋ/ㄲ] + [ㄴ/ㅁ] → ㅇ sound
- [ㄷ/ㅌ/ㅅ/ㅆ/ㅈ/ㅊ/ㅎ] + [ㄴ/ㅁ] → ㄴ sound
- [ㅂ/ㅍ] + [ㄴ/ㅁ] → ㅁ sound
Step 2: Mentally Replace the Sound
When you see 입니다, mentally hear it as 임니다.
When you see 먹는다, mentally hear it as 멍는다.
Step 3: Practice Until Automatic
At first, consciously apply the rule. With practice (hundreds of exposures), your brain will do it automatically—just like native speakers.
Timeline:
- Week 1-2: Conscious application (slow)
- Week 3-4: Semi-automatic (faster)
- Month 2-3: Fully automatic (native speed)
Common Nasalization Mistakes
Mistake #1: Forgetting It Exists
Many learners memorize vocabulary without realizing nasalization changes pronunciation:
Wrong: Memorizing “하ㅂ니다” as “hap-ni-da”
Right: Memorizing “하ㅂ니다” as “ham-ni-da” (actual pronunciation)
Mistake #2: Only Applying It to ㅂ → ㅁ
Students often learn 입니다 → 임니다 but forget that ㄱ and ㄷ nasalize too.
Remember: All three stop positions (ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ) undergo nasalization before nasals.
Mistake #3: Applying It Where It Doesn’t Belong
Nasalization ONLY happens when:
- A stop consonant (batchim)
- Is directly followed by a nasal initial consonant (ㄴ or ㅁ)
Does NOT happen:
- 가다 → Still “ga-da” (no nasal following)
- 감자 → Still “gam-ja” (ㅁ is not a stop, so no change needed)
Top 20 Words Using Nasalization
Master these high-frequency words and you’ll hear nasalization everywhere:
| Korean | Wrong Pronunciation | Right Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 감사합니다 | gamsahapnida | gamsahamnida | thank you |
| 입니다 | ipnida | imnida | (it) is |
| 있는 | itneun | inneun | having/existing |
| 먹는 | meokneun | meongneun | eating |
| 학년 | haknyeon | hangnyeon | grade/year |
| 국민 | gukmin | gungmin | citizen |
| 십만 | sipman | simman | 100,000 |
| 받는 | batneun | banneun | receiving |
| 합니다 | hapnida | hamnida | (I) do |
| 읽는 | ikneun | ingneun | reading |
| 밥먹는 | bapmneokneun | bammneongneun | eating rice |
| 학문 | hakmun | hangmun | learning |
| 꽃님 | kkonnim | kkonnim | (honorific flower) |
| 밖에 | bakke | bakke | outside/only |
| 갑니다 | gapnida | gamnida | (I) go |
Drill these daily and nasalization will become second nature.
Practice Tips
1. Listen and Repeat
Find audio examples of these words and pay close attention to the nasal sounds. Shadow the pronunciation until it feels natural.
2. Slow Down, Then Speed Up
Say the word slowly first, consciously applying the rule. Then gradually speed up until the nasalization becomes automatic.
3. Drill Common Patterns
Focus on high-frequency combinations:
- -ㅂ니다 (함니다, 임니다, 습니다)
- -는 verb endings (먹는, 가는, 하는)
- -십- number combinations (십만, 십년)
Frequently Asked Questions About Nasalization
What is nasalization in Korean?
Nasalization (비음화) is a sound change rule where stop consonants (ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ) transform into nasal consonants (ㅇ, ㄴ, ㅁ) when they appear before other nasal consonants (ㄴ, ㅁ). This makes Korean pronunciation flow more smoothly. Example: 입니다 is pronounced “imnida,” not “ipnida.”
Why is nasalization important?
Nasalization is one of the most frequent sound changes in Korean—it happens in almost every sentence. Without understanding it, you’ll mispronounce common words like 감사합니다 (thank you), struggle to understand natives, and sound unnatural when speaking.
Does nasalization happen in English?
Yes, but much less systematically. English has some assimilation (like “handbag” where the “d” becomes more nasal), but Korean nasalization is a strict, predictable rule that applies consistently. English speakers must consciously learn this pattern.
How do I practice Korean nasalization?
Practice with high-frequency words that use nasalization:
- Listen to audio of words like 입니다, 감사합니다, 먹는
- Repeat them, focusing on the nasal sound
- Use spaced repetition drills
- Read Korean aloud, consciously applying the rule
- Use apps like Batchim that provide immediate pronunciation feedback
When does nasalization NOT happen?
Nasalization only occurs when:
- A batchim (final consonant) is ㄱ, ㄷ, or ㅂ
- AND it’s directly followed by ㄴ or ㅁ
If there’s no nasal following, no nasalization: 가다 stays “gada,” not “ganda.”
Master Nasalization with the Batchim App
Nasalization is one of the first batchim rules you’ll master in the Batchim app. Our scientifically-designed drills help you:
See it: Written form shows you when nasalization applies
Hear it: Audio demonstrates the actual pronunciation
Practice it: Timed drills build automatic recognition
Master it: Spaced repetition ensures long-term retention
Real results: Learners typically master nasalization recognition in 2-3 weeks with 15 minutes of daily practice.
Start your free practice with Batchim today and make nasalization automatic.
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