Korean Hanja Pronunciation: A Comprehensive Guide391

The Korean language is a unique and fascinating one, with its own unique set of characters, grammar, and pronunciation. One of the most interesting aspects of Korean pronunciation is the use of Hanja, or Chinese characters. Hanja are used to write a significant number of words in Korean, and they can have multiple pronunciations depending on the context.

In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide to Hanja pronunciation, covering the different types of pronunciations, the rules for determining which pronunciation to use, and some common exceptions. We will also provide a table of the most common Hanja characters and their pronunciations.

Types of Hanja Pronunciations

There are two main types of Hanja pronunciations: Sino-Korean and native Korean. Sino-Korean pronunciations are based on the pronunciation of the corresponding Chinese character, while native Korean pronunciations are based on the pronunciation of the Korean word that the Hanja represents.

For example, the Hanja character for "mountain" is pronounced "san" in Sino-Korean and "mal" in native Korean. The Sino-Korean pronunciation is used in words like "sanjeong" (mountain peak) and "sanha" (mountain slope), while the native Korean pronunciation is used in words like "maldaji" (mountain pass) and "malbawi" (mountain rock).

Rules for Determining Which Pronunciation to Use

The general rule for determining which Hanja pronunciation to use is as follows:
If the Hanja is used in a word that is of Chinese origin, use the Sino-Korean pronunciation.
If the Hanja is used in a word that is of native Korean origin, use the native Korean pronunciation.

There are some exceptions to this rule, however. For example, some Hanja characters have both Sino-Korean and native Korean pronunciations, and the pronunciation that is used depends on the context. For example, the Hanja character for "water" is pronounced "su" in Sino-Korean and "mul" in native Korean. The Sino-Korean pronunciation is used in words like "susang" (water tank) and "suwon" (water source), while the native Korean pronunciation is used in words like "mulgogi" (watery meat) and "mulbam" (watermelon).

Common Exceptions

There are a number of common exceptions to the rules for Hanja pronunciation. Some of the most common exceptions include:
The Hanja character for "great" is pronounced "dae" in Sino-Korean and "keun" in native Korean. The Sino-Korean pronunciation is used in words like "daedong" (great river) and "daehak" (university), while the native Korean pronunciation is used in words like "keunjeong" (great affection) and "keunmu" (great work).
The Hanja character for "small" is pronounced "so" in Sino-Korean and "jae" in native Korean. The Sino-Korean pronunciation is used in words like "sohwa" (small flower) and "soryu" (small dragon), while the native Korean pronunciation is used in words like "jaegi" (small child) and "jaedo" (small island).
The Hanja character for "person" is pronounced "in" in Sino-Korean and "sa람" (saram) in native Korean. The Sino-Korean pronunciation is used in words like "insae" (human being) and "ingam" (humanity), while the native Korean pronunciation is used in words like "saramdeul" (people) and "saramin" (person).

Table of Common Hanja Characters and Their Pronunciations

The following table provides a list of the most common Hanja characters and their pronunciations. The Sino-Korean pronunciation is listed first, followed by the native Korean pronunciation.| Hanja | Sino-Korean | Native Korean |
|---|---|---|
| 山 | san | mal |
| 水 | su | mul |
| 大 | dae | keun |
| 小 | so | jae |
| 人 | in | saram |
| 日 | il | nal |
| 月 | wol | dal |
| 火 | hwa | bul |
| 土 | to | tteul |
| 金 | geum | keum |
| 木 | mok | namu |
| 火 | kwa | bul |
| 土 | do | tteol |
| 木 | moku | namu |
| 火 | hwa | bul |
| 水 | su | mul |
| 土 | do | tteol |
| 木 | mok | namu |
| 火 | hwa | bul |
| 土 | do | tteol |
| 木 | mok | namu |