Learn to read Korean
A short, active path into reading Korean: take a syllable block apart, decode ten real words before the full alphabet, learn the sound changes automatic romanizers get wrong, and read a small story before opening your first book.
Reading
3 sectionsFirst reading with help: two animals meet on the road
- Read the Korean line first, then use the pronunciation and the English.
- 미나mi-na“Mina” and 다라da-ra“Dara” are names — Korean has no capital letters, so nothing on the page marks a name.
- The animals speak, so their lines end in 요; the narrator’s lines end in 다.
- The goodbye fits who is leaving, and the last line proves who went where.
- Re-read it once without looking at the English.
One new shape before the story
On the road
어느 날 미나가 길에 있었다.
eo-neu nal mi-na-ga gi-re i-sseot-tta
One day Mina was on the road.
그때 다라가 왔다.
geu-ttae da-ra-ga wat-tta
Then Dara came.
“안녕하세요.” 하고 다라가 말했다.
an-nyeong-ha-se-yo, ha-go da-ra-ga mal-haet-tta
“Hello,” said Dara.
“어디 가요?” 하고 미나가 물었다.
eo-di ga-yo, ha-go mi-na-ga mu-reot-tta
“Where are you going?” asked Mina.
“배가 고파서 숲에 가요.” 하고 다라가 대답했다.
bae-ga go-pa-seo su-pe ga-yo, ha-go da-ra-ga dae-da-paet-tta
“I am going to the forest, because I am hungry,” answered Dara.
“안녕히 가세요.” 하고 미나가 말했다.
an-nyeong-hi ga-se-yo, ha-go mi-na-ga mal-haet-tta
“Goodbye,” said Mina.
그리고 다라는 숲에 갔다.
geu-ri-go da-ra-neun su-pe gat-tta
And Dara went to the forest.
Three delayed recalls before the new story
These first appeared several sections ago. No hints this time.
- 숲
Show answer +Hide answer −
숲sup“forest” - 나무
Show answer +Hide answer −
나무na-mu“tree” - 집
Show answer +Hide answer −
집jip“house”