How to Pronounce “Integrity“ in Korean36

The English word "integrity" has a similar meaning to the Korean word "정직 (jeongjik)".

Pronunciation of "정직 (jeongjik)"* Initial sound: The initial sound of "정직" is pronounced as "j" (IPA: /t͡ɕ/). It is a voiceless alveolar affricate, which means that it is produced by placing the tongue behind the upper teeth and releasing it with a burst of air.
* Medial sound: The medial sound is "ㅓ" (eo), which is a mid-front rounded vowel (IPA: /ʌ/). It is pronounced with the lips rounded and the tongue in the middle of the mouth.
* Final sound: The final sound is "ㄱ" (g), which is a voiceless velar plosive (IPA: /k/). It is pronounced by raising the back of the tongue towards the soft palate and releasing it with a burst of air.

Putting it all together* Full pronunciation: The full pronunciation of "정직 (jeongjik)" is /t͡ɕʌŋkt͡ɕik/.
* Syllable division: The word is divided into two syllables: "정" (jeong) and "직" (jik).
* Stress: The stress is on the first syllable.

Tips for pronouncing "정직 (jeongjik)"* Practice the individual sounds: Before trying to pronounce the entire word, practice pronouncing the individual sounds "j", "ㅓ", and "ㄱ" separately.
* Pay attention to the tongue placement: For the initial sound "j", the tongue should be placed behind the upper teeth. For the medial sound "ㅓ", the tongue should be in the middle of the mouth. For the final sound "ㄱ", the back of the tongue should be raised towards the soft palate.
* Listen to native speakers: Listen to how native Korean speakers pronounce the word. This will help you to get a sense of the correct pronunciation and intonation.

Example sentences* 저는 정직함이 중요하다고 생각합니다. (I think integrity is important.)
* 그 사람은 매우 정직한 사람입니다. (That person is a very honest person.)
* 정직성은 좋은 삶을 사는 데 필수적입니다. (Integrity is essential for living a good life.)

ConclusionThe Korean word "정직 (jeongjik)" is pronounced as /t͡ɕʌŋkt͡ɕik/. It is a two-syllable word with the stress on the first syllable. By following the tips outlined above, you can master the pronunciation of "정직 (jeongjik)" and use it confidently in your conversations with Korean speakers.

2024-11-22

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