How to Pronounce Korean Loose Consonants80

In Korean, there are two sets of consonants: tense consonants and loose consonants. Tense consonants are pronounced with a tight vocal cord closure, while loose consonants are pronounced with a looser vocal cord closure. This difference in pronunciation can be heard in the following pairs of words:*

밥 (bap, "rice") vs. 바쁘다 (bappeuda, "to be busy")*

떡 (ddeok, "rice cake") vs. 떡볶이 (ddeokbokki, "spicy rice cake")*

김 (gim, "seaweed") vs. 김밥 (gimbap, "seaweed rice roll")

As you can hear, the initial consonant in the first word of each pair is pronounced with a tense voice, while the initial consonant in the second word of each pair is pronounced with a loose voice.

There are a few general rules for pronouncing loose consonants in Korean:*

Loose consonants are always followed by a vowel.*

Loose consonants are never aspirated (pronounced with a puff of air).*

Loose consonants are often devoiced (pronounced without vibration of the vocal cords) at the end of a word.

Here are some examples of how to pronounce loose consonants in Korean:*

밥 (bap, "rice") is pronounced with a loose "b" sound, similar to the "b" sound in the English word "but."*

떡 (ddeok, "rice cake") is pronounced with a loose "d" sound, similar to the "d" sound in the English word "dog."*

김 (gim, "seaweed") is pronounced with a loose "g" sound, similar to the "g" sound in the English word "gum."

It takes some practice to master the pronunciation of loose consonants in Korean. However, with a little effort, you will be able to speak Korean like a native.

Tips for Pronouncing Loose Consonants*

Start by practicing the following pairs of words: *

밥 (bap, "rice") vs. 바쁘다 (bappeuda, "to be busy") *

떡 (ddeok, "rice cake") vs. 떡볶이 (ddeokbokki, "spicy rice cake") *

김 (gim, "seaweed") vs. 김밥 (gimbap, "seaweed rice roll")*

Once you can pronounce these pairs of words correctly, start practicing other words that contain loose consonants.*

If you are having trouble pronouncing a particular loose consonant, try breaking it down into smaller parts. For example, the loose "b" sound in 밥 (bap) can be broken down into the following steps: 1.

Place your lips together and make a "b" sound. 2.

Loosen your lips and let the air flow out more freely. 3.

Add a vowel sound to the end of the "b" sound.*

With practice, you will be able to pronounce loose consonants in Korean correctly.

2024-12-02

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