Where the Seven-Sound Map Applies
At the end of a Korean syllable, a final consonant is heard through one of seven representative sounds . This basic map applies when the syllable is at the end of a word or before a consonant. It describes the sound you hear, not a spelling rewrite.
See the spelling
Read the normal spelling first. For example 밖 is heard as [박] and 옷 as [옫]. Keep the written forms unchanged.
Predict the environment
Word end: the final syllable closes the word.
Before a consonant: the next syllable begins with a consonant.
Before a vowel: use a different prediction because linking may occur.
Spelling and Sound Table
The core set is [ㄱ], [ㄴ], [ㄷ], [ㄹ], [ㅁ], [ㅂ], [ㅇ] .
Spelling · Sound · Why
밖 · [박] · Final ㄲ is heard with the ㄱ representative sound.
산 · [산] · Final ㄴ keeps the ㄴ representative sound.
옷 · [옫] · Final ㅅ is heard with the ㄷ representative sound.
달 · [달] · Final ㄹ keeps the ㄹ representative sound.
밤 · [밤] · Final ㅁ keeps the ㅁ representative sound.
앞 · [압] · Final ㅍ is heard with the ㅂ representative sound.
공 · [공] · Final ㅇ keeps the ㅇ representative sound.
Common single final spellings group as ㄱ, ㄲ, ㅋ → [ㄱ]; ㄴ → [ㄴ]; ㄷ, ㅅ, ㅆ, ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅌ → [ㄷ]; ㄹ → [ㄹ]; ㅁ → [ㅁ]; ㅂ, ㅍ → [ㅂ]; and ㅇ → [ㅇ]. Complex final spellings have separate conditions and are reserved for later lessons.
Sentence Applications
Keep the standard spelling and predict the marked final sound in a complete sentence. Then listen for the whole line and repeat it.
산길이 조용해요. The final sound in 산 is [산].
밤 기차가 곧 출발해요. The final sound in 밤 is [밤].
공 하나가 굴러가요. The final sound in 공 is [공].
달빛이 밝아요. The final sound in 달 is [달].