Korean TOPIK I Starter — MintDeck

Note: Shaped like a bent pipe / the tongue touching the soft palate. Sounds like 'g' between vowels, closer to 'k' at the start of a word.

Note: Mnemonic: the shape shows the tongue tip pressing the ridge behind the upper teeth, exactly where English 'n' is made.

Note: ㄴ with a roof added. Like 'd' between vowels, 't' word-initially. Same place of articulation as ㄴ.

Note: Flap 'r' between vowels (like Spanish 'pero'), but 'l' at the end of a syllable or when doubled (ㄹㄹ).

Note: A closed square = closed lips. ㅂ and ㅍ are built on this same lip shape.

Note: ㅁ with two upward strokes. 'b' between vowels, 'p' at the start of a word.

Note: Like a tent. Before ㅣ or 'y' vowels it softens toward 'sh' (시 = 'shi').

Note: Silent placeholder as an initial (it just carries the vowel); pronounced 'ng' only as a 받침 final, e.g. 강 = 'gang'.

Note: ㅅ with a top stroke. Like 'j' in 'jam' between vowels.

Note: A 'hat' over ㅇ. Soft 'h'; often very weak or nearly silent between vowels.

Note: Vertical line with a stroke to the right. Open 'ah' as in 'father'.

Note: Stroke points left. An open 'uh' as in 'sun' — NOT 'ee-oh'. RR spells it 'eo'.

Note: Horizontal line, stroke on top. Rounded 'oh'. Top/bottom strokes = 'bright/yang' vowels.

Note: Horizontal line, stroke below. Rounded 'oo' as in 'moon'.

Note: A flat horizontal line. Say 'oo' but with lips unrounded and spread — the 'uh' in 'good' without rounding.

Note: A single vertical line. 'ee' as in 'see'.

Note: ㅏ with a double stroke = add a 'y' glide: 'ya'. The extra stroke always signals a 'y' sound.

Note: ㅓ with a double stroke: 'yuh' (yeo). Heard in 여자 (yeoja, woman).

Note: ㅗ with two strokes: 'yo' as in 'yoga'.

Note: ㅜ with two strokes: 'yu' as in 'you'.