Learn Korean with Aydan

This is probably one of the most common questions that beginners ask when learning 한글. Just like every beginner learners, I went through this as well which is why I decided to study pronunciation rules too. I created this post to help clear up any confusion. When ㄹ is located at the beginning of a word, it sounds more like an R. Example: 라디오 (ra-di-o), 레슨 (re-seun), 로맨틱 (ro-man-tik) When ㄹ is located between two vowels, it sounds like an R. Example: 다리 (da-ri), 사랑 (sa-rang), 어렵다 (eo-ryeob-dda), 모르다 (mo-reu-da), 노력 (no-ryeok), 매력 (mae-ryeok) When ㄹ is located at the end of a word, it’s pronounced more like an L. Example: 딸 (ddal), 아들 (a-deul), 월 (weol), 달 (dal), 칼 (khal), 연필 (yeon-pil), 교실 (gyo-sil) When ㄹ is followed by a consonant or followed by another ㄹ, it sounds like L. Example: 딸기 (ddal-gi), 힘들다 (him-deul-da), 몰라 (mol-la), 살자 (sal-ja), 고릴라 (go-ril-la) When ㄹ comes after any consonant except ㄴ, ㄹ is pronounced as N. Example: 생리 (saeng-ni), 국립 (gung-nip), 능력 (neung-nyeok) When ㄹ co...

Reading is one of the four main language skills (the others are speaking, writing, and listening). How can you boost skills in this area? Just do it! The best way to become a better reader is to read! Practice as much as you can. Honestly, I think one of the hardest parts of doing good, effective reading practice is finding something that suits your level. A good guideline to go by is  something that you can mostly (perhaps 70~80%) understand . If you’re reading something and can just breeze through it, chances are it is below your level. While that can be good for maintaining your current level, it won’t really help you progress. On the other hand,  choosing something too hard will  have you running for a dictionary every few words. That will  break up your flow and will ultimately be more frustrating  than useful. Don’t dive into the dictionary That brings me to my next point…  avoid the urge to grab the dictionary  every time you see a new word! “Bu...

  General Plan: Weeks 1 and 2: Purpose: Learn the fundamentals sentence construction Learn how to spell and count Start building a phrase stockpile with basic greetings The Alphabet Numbers 1 - 100 Subject Pronouns Common Greetings Conjugate the Two Most Important Verbs: to be and to have Basic Definite and Indefinite Articles Weeks 3 and 4: Purpose: Learn essential vocabulary for the day-to-day Start conjugating regular verbs Days of the Week and Months of the Year How to tell the time How to talk about the weather Family Vocabulary Present Tense Conjugations Verbs Weeks 5 and 6: Purpose: Warm up with the last of the day-to-day vocabulary Add more complex types of sentences to your grammar Colours House vocabulary How to ask questions Present Tense Conjugations Verbs Forming negatives Weeks 7 and 8: Purpose: Learn how to navigate basic situations in a region of your target language country Finish memorising regular conjugation rules Food Vocabulary and Ordering at Restaurants Mone...

→ Action verbs and Descriptive verbs In English, words are like “pretty,” “big,” and “important” are categorized as adjectives, whereas words like “to add,” “to jump,” “to study” are categorized as verbs. However, most Korean equivalents of English adjectives are originally in the infinitive form and are treated like verbs, therefore they must be conjugated to be used in the “modifier” format, which works similarly to English adjectives. For example, “비싸다” is a descriptive verb (adjective in the infinitive form) that would translate to “to be expensive.” To use it as an adjective, you need to conjugate it to the adjective form, 비싼 (present tense), 비쌀 (future tense), or 비쌌던 (past tense). In English, this kind of difference is expressed through tense change of the “be” verb, but in Korean, the conjugation of the verb itself can contain the role of the “be” verb. Examples 크다 = to be big (descriptive verb) 큰 = big (base adjective form) 크다 = to grow (action verb) 큰 = that which has grown; ...