Lesson 5
Lesson 5. Assimilation Part 1: 닫히다 and 다치다 are pronounced exactly the same way.
When a syllable that ends with ㄷ or ㅌ is followed by a syllable that starts with the vowel ㅣ, the pronunciation of ㄷ changes to ㅈ and ㅌ changes to ㅊ.
Ex)
굳이 [구지] obstinately
같이 [가치] together with
If a syllable that ends with ㄷ is followed by a syllable that begins with 히, ㄷ and 히 are combined and pronounced as 치.
Ex)
닫히다 [다치다] to be shut, to be closed
묻히다 [무치다] to be buried
When a syllable that ends with ㄱ is followed by a syllable that begins with ㄴ or ㅁ, the ㄱ is pronounced as ㅇ.
Ex)
먹는 [멍는] = 먹다 (to eat) + -는 (suffix)
국물 [궁물] soup
This is also the case when the 받침 is a consonant that is pronounced the same as ㄱ, such as these ㄲ, ㅋ, ㄳ, ㄺ.
Ex)
읽는 [잉는] = 읽다 (to read) + -는 (suffix)
부엌만 [부엉만] = 부엌 (kitchen) + -만 (only)
When a syllable ends with ㄷ and is followed by a syllable that starts with ㄴ or ㅁ, it is pronounced as ㄴ.
Ex)
닫는 [단는] = 닫다 (to close) + -는 (suffix)
받는 [반는] = 받다 (to receive) + -는 (suffix)
This is also the case with 받침 that are pronounced the same as ㄷ, such as these: ㅅ, ㅆ, ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅌ, ㅎ
Ex)
덧문 [던문] outer door
꽃말 [꼰말] the language of flowers
When a syllable that ends with ㅂ is followed by a syllable that starts with ㄴ or ㅁ, ㅂ is pronounced as ㅁ.
Ex)
밥만 [밤만] = 밥 (rice) + -만 (only)
잡는 [잠는] = 잡다 (to hold) + -는 (suffix)
This is also the case with 받침 that are pronounced the same as ㅂ, such as these: ㅍ, ㄼ, ㄿ, ㅄ
Ex)
앞만 [암만] = 앞 (the front) + -만 (only)
없는 [엄는] = 없다 (to not exist) + -는 (suffix)
Sentence examples that contain more than one of these sounds:
1. 핸드폰으로 뭐 읽는 중이에요? 앞만 보고 가야죠!
[핸드포느로 뭐 잉는 중이에요? 암만 보고 가야죠!]
What are you reading on your phone? You need to watch where you’re going!
2. 왜 밥만 먹는 거예요? 국물은 안 먹어요?
[왜 밤만 멍는 거예요? 궁무른 안 머거요?]
Why are you eating only rice? You don’t eat soup?