Learn Korean (For Beginners : Level 1)

How To Write The Alphabet (Part 2/5)

How To Write The Alphabet : Part 2/5

Characters covered:

ㄹ

ㅁ

ㅂ

The next character kind of looks like a snake or a backward 5. Just like ㄱ, this character has two different ways of pronouncing it. When you say the character's name, it's an 'r' sound when you pronounce "ri" and it becomes an 'l' when you say 'eul'. Again, this is where a batchim is used. You don't have to know it yet, so just know the name, sound, and how to write/read it.

ㄹ
Sound : 'r' 'l'
Name : 리을 (ri-eul)

I've noticed that many people get this mixed up and end up writing it backwards. Make sure you don't do that. Try to write this a few times until you get it perfectly.

"Mi-eum" is the next character, and it's shaped like a box. There's nothing special about this one. It's just like the letter 'm' in the English alphabet.

ㅁ
Sound : 'm'
Name : 미음 (mi-eum)

Try writing this one about 30 times--

I'm kidding. Just write it about five times, and you should be done. :)

We're already on the sixth letter! This one's shaped weird. Personally, I think it looks like a purse. This weird one makes the sound 'b'. This is another one of the characters that make two noises. It makes an 'eup' noise, almost like a p, when it's a batchim and a 'b' when it's at the front. Again, don't worry about it for now.

ㅂ
Sound : 'b'
Name : 비읍 (bi-eub)

Write this about ten times.

There is something I'd like to add about the way you write it before we get to the extra practice section.

You know how everyone writes differently in English or any other language? Some people write their o's clockwise while others go counterclockwise. (Source: I know someone who does this) There are different stroke orders you can take here. I wanted to show you some other ways people write them. I chose to show you guys the way I was taught to write or the way that seemed easier for beginners.

Here are some stroke orders I found off the internet ⬇️

(Link: https://www.quora.com/Does-Hangul-have-a-stroke-order)

I've noticed that other people have their own thoughts about the stroke orders in Korean. To be honest, Korean is very easy to distinguish, so I don't think there's an issue with writing it how you want. Unless you make it totally unrecognizable.

Here's another way you can write this. I should've used this one instead to show you guys how I would've done it and not the way my old teacher taught me when I was younger.

I usually use one stroke for most of my writing.

Note that using one stroke for characters like this will never hurt.

(Examples of other letters you can write in one stroke are ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ)

Extra practice:

Try to solve these questions on a piece of paper or comment your answers.

1. What is the name of the character ㅁ?

2. What sound does the character ㅂ make?

3. Write the character ㄹ or explain your stroke orders.

Answers will be on the next chapter! Have a wonderful week!