Learn Korean with Mia Level1 Lesson4: Free Korean Lesson for Beginner

 

# Lesson 1‑4 – Master the First Korean Consonants: ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ, ㄹ — A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Hangul

If you're beginning your journey into the Korean language, your very first stop is learning Hangul, the Korean writing system. Unlike many other Asian languages, Korean uses an alphabet that is both logical and easy to learn. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into four essential Korean consonants: ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ, and ㄹ. These are the first consonants every learner should master, and they are the building blocks of Korean pronunciation, vocabulary, and writing.

This blog post is part of a complete beginner’s Korean language series based on a structured curriculum. Today’s focus? Lesson 1-4: Basic Consonants 1.

Why You Should Start with ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ, and ㄹ

Before you can speak Korean fluently or even form your first words, you need to know how to read and pronounce individual Korean letters. The Korean alphabet, Hangul (한글), is made up of 14 basic consonants and 10 basic vowels. Among those, ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ, and ㄹ are some of the most frequently used and foundational. They appear in thousands of Korean words—from beginner-level vocabulary like 고기 (meat) or 노래 (song) to advanced phrases.

Key Reasons to Focus on These Four First:

• They are phonetically simple for English speakers.
• They form common syllables like 가, 나, 다, 라.
• They're essential in beginner vocabulary.
• They introduce you to the structure of Hangul blocks.

Understanding Hangul Structure

To make sense of these consonants, it helps to understand how Hangul syllables work.

※ Hangul Syllable Blocks = Consonant + Vowel (+ Final Sound)

Korean letters aren’t written linearly like English. Instead, they’re grouped into square-shaped blocks, each representing one syllable.

For example:
    가 = ㄱ (consonant) + ㅏ (vowel)
    나 = ㄴ + ㅏ
    다 = ㄷ + ㅏ
    라 = ㄹ + ㅏ

Each block starts with a consonant, so learning consonants like ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ, and ㄹ is crucial.


# ㄱ (giyeok) – The G/K Sound

㉠ Romanized

    g or k

㉡ Pronunciation

    A soft ‘k’ sound at the start of words and a soft ‘g’ sound between vowels.

㉢ IPA

    /k/ or /g/

㉣ Stroke order

    Draw a horizontal line, then a vertical line hooked to the bottom.


Memory Tip
    Imagine a gun shape — the sound is like “g” or “k” depending on context.

Examples

Listen and Repeat
    Say: 가, 거, 기, 고, 구 — These are ㄱ + vowel combinations.

    Try repeating them aloud to get used to the sound.


# ㄴ (nieun) – The N Sound

㉠ Romanized

    n

㉡ Pronunciation

    Identical to the English “n” as in “no.”

㉢ IPA

    /n/

㉣ Stroke order

    One horizontal line, followed by a vertical line downward.

Memory Tip
    Think of "nose" — the shape even resembles a nose pointing down.


Examples

Practice
    Say: 나, 너, 느, 노, 누 — Practice saying them clearly with different vowels.

# ㄷ (digeut) – The D/T Sound

㉠ Romanized

    d or t

㉡ Pronunciation

    A soft “t” at the beginning of a word and a “d” sound in the middle.

㉢ IPA

    /t/ or /d/

㉣ Stroke order

    Top horizontal line, then a corner shape hooking down and across.


Memory Tip
        Think of "door" — open the door with a “d.”


Examples

Practice
    Try: 다, 더, 디, 도, 두 — Say them slowly and clearly, noting the soft “t” at the beginning.

# ㄹ (rieul) – The R/L Sound

㉠ Romanized

    r or l

㉡ Pronunciation

    This sound is tricky.

    It flaps like a Spanish “r” between vowels and sounds like “l” at the end of a syllable.

㉢ IPA

    /ɾ/ or /l/

㉣ Stroke order

    Zigzag pattern with four strokes.

Memory Tip
    Imagine a rattling ladder — it sounds like both R and L depending on placement.


Examples

Speak it
    Practice: 라, 러, 리, 로, 루 — These syllables help you get used to that unique Korean “r/l” sound.

Writing Practice: Mastering Stroke Order

Korean writing is all about correct stroke order. This builds proper muscle memory and helps your letters look native.

※ Practice Sheet Idea:

    Write each letter 10 times.
    Combine with the vowel ㅏ: 가, 나, 다, 라
    Combine with ㅗ: 고, 노, 도, 로

※ Reinforcement Exercise: Create Basic Words

Once you’ve practiced ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ, and ㄹ, try forming real words using these consonants and basic vowels (ㅏ, ㅓ, ㅗ, ㅜ).

※ Bonus: Pronunciation Position Guide

Pronouncing Korean accurately is key to being understood, especially with minimal pairs like 다 (da) and 라 (ra).

Final Thoughts: You’ve Just Taken Your First Real Step in Korean

Congratulations! By learning ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ, and ㄹ, you’ve unlocked the ability to read dozens of Korean syllables and words. These four consonants may seem simple, but they lay the groundwork for everything else you’ll learn in Korean. The next steps will introduce more consonants and the Korean vowels, so you can begin to read and pronounce more complex words and sentences.

Stay consistent, review your stroke order, and practice speaking aloud. Your journey into the Korean language has just begun — and you’re off to a strong start.