KONGLE
Linking Sounds
Recognize 연음 (linking) — when a batchim slides onto a following silent ㅇ — so spoken Korean matches what you actually hear.
Sounds like [으막] — the ㅁ batchim slides onto the empty ㅇ seat in 악.
Sounds like [한구거] — the ㄱ batchim in 국 slides onto the silent ㅇ in 어.
Sounds like [이거슨] — the ㅅ batchim in 것 carries its own sound onto 은, instead of collapsing to the ㄷ sound you learned for isolated batchim.
Sounds like [오시] — same pattern as 이것은: the ㅅ batchim in 옷 slides onto 이 as an ㅅ sound.
Sounds like [바름] — fittingly, the word for 'pronunciation' shows off the rule: the ㄹ batchim in 발 slides onto 음.
Say it out loud
Listen, then repeat aloud. Matching the rhythm matters more than perfection.
Why? Linking sounds: 연음
When a syllable ends in batchim and the very next syllable starts with the silent placeholder ㅇ, the batchim doesn't stay put — it slides over and becomes that syllable's starting sound. 음악 is written as 음 + 악, but because 악 starts with ㅇ, the ㅁ batchim jumps over and it's pronounced 으막. This is called 연음 (linking), and it happens constantly in natural speech. The spelling never changes — only the pronunciation shifts to make the syllables flow together.
Why? Why linking matters for listening
Linking is one of the biggest reasons written Korean and spoken Korean can feel like different languages at first. If you're listening for 이것은 but only know the spelling, the actual sound [이거슨] can go right past you. Once you recognize the pattern — batchim followed by silent ㅇ means the batchim moves — words you already know start clicking into place. You don't have to calculate this in real time forever; with enough listening, it becomes automatic.
Build the block
Every Korean syllable is packed into one block. Tap the letters in writing order — consonant first, then the vowel.
Check yourself
This lesson went through an AI-assisted review. It has not yet been reviewed by a certified teacher.