Korean Hanja Pronunciation262

Korean Hanja, also known as Hanja, is the Korean name for the Chinese characters used in the Korean writing system. Hanja are used alongside the Korean alphabet, Hangul, to write Korean words and phrases. While Hanja are often pronounced in the same way as their Chinese counterparts, there are some key differences in pronunciation due to the different sound systems of the two languages. In this article, we will discuss the general rules of Korean Hanja pronunciation and provide a list of the most common Hanja and their Korean pronunciations.

General Rules of Korean Hanja Pronunciation

There are a number of general rules that apply to the pronunciation of Korean Hanja. These rules include:
The initial consonant of a Hanja is usually pronounced as it is in Korean. For example, the Hanja for "sun" (日) is pronounced as "il" in Korean.
The final consonant of a Hanja is usually pronounced as it is in Chinese. For example, the Hanja for "water" (水) is pronounced as "su" in Chinese and "su" in Korean.
Vowels in Hanja are usually pronounced as they are in Chinese. For example, the Hanja for "mountain" (山) is pronounced as "shan" in Chinese and "san" in Korean.
There are a number of exceptions to these general rules. For example, the Hanja for "person" (人) is pronounced as "in" in Chinese but "nin" in Korean.

List of Common Hanja and Their Korean Pronunciations

The following table lists some of the most common Hanja and their Korean pronunciations. This list is not exhaustive, but it will provide you with a good starting point for learning how to pronounce Hanja.
Hanja
Korean Pronunciation
Meaning


日
il
sun


月
wol
moon


水
su
water


山
san
mountain


人
nin
person


火
hwa
fire


土
to
earth


金
geum
gold


木
mok
wood


天
cheon
heaven

Conclusion

Learning how to pronounce Hanja can be a bit challenging, but it is an essential skill for anyone who wants to read and write Korean. By following the general rules of pronunciation and memorizing the pronunciations of common Hanja, you will be well on your way to mastering this important aspect of the Korean language.

2025-01-17

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