Posted: 2011-03-11 / Updated: 2018-02-07
You may wonder why when you hear Korean words with consonants ㅂ ㄷ ㄱ or ㅈ , sometimes they are b-, d-, g- and j-like, but some other times they are p-, t-, k-, and ch-like respectively. One of the factors effecting their pronunciations is voicing.
Voicing is one of the 3 important concepts for Korean pronunciations. If you are not sure what voicing is, Pronunciations of Korean Consonants at the Beginning of a Word In a nutshell, all Korean vowels are always voiced, so are nasal consonants ㅁ ㄴ ㅇ and consonant ㄹ . On the other hand, all other consonants are voiceless when they are at the beginning of a word. As a result, ㅂ ㄷ ㄱ or ㅈ are more p-like, t-like, k-like, and ch-like than b-like, d-like, g-like and j-like respectively at the beginning of a word.
But how about when these consonants are pronounced in between a word? They become fully voiced, i.e., ㅂ ㄷ ㄱ or ㅈ becomes b-, d-, g- and j-like respectively when they are pronounced in between voiced sounds. It explains why, for the same consonant symbol, you may hear different sounds at different situations.
Examples
| Word | Meaning | Notes |
| 비 | rain | ㅂ is voiceless |
| 나비 | butterfly | ㅂ is b-like |
| 다 | all | ㄷ is voiceless |
| 바다 | sea | ㄷ is d-like |
| 개 | dog | ㄱ is voiceless |
| 무지개 | rainbow | ㄱ is g-like |
| 자리 | location | ㅈ is voiceless |
| 여자 | woman | ㅈ is j-like |
| Phrase | Pronunciation | Meaning | Notes |
| 잎 아니야 | [입] 아니야 | it is not a leaf | ㅂ is b-like |
| 맛 없어요 | [맏] 없어요 | it is tasteless | ㄷ is d-like |
| 밖 어두워 | [박] 어두워 | outside is dark | ㄱ is g-like |
As you can see from the second set of examples, voicing can apply across word boundary, if the ending consonant needs to be pronounced as ㅂㄷ or ㄱ, and the following word begins with a vowel.
Summary of Voicing and Pronunciations of Korean Consonants ㅂ ㄷ ㄱ ㅈ
| At the beginning of a word | |
| ㅂ | voiceless, more p-like than b-like |
| ㄷ | voiceless, more t-like than d-like |
| ㄱ | voiceless, more k-like than g-like |
| ㅈ | voiceless, more ch-like than j-like |
| Between two voiced sounds within a word | |
| ㅂ | fully voiced, b-like |
| ㄷ | fully voiced, d-like |
| ㄱ | fully voiced, g-like |
| ㅈ | fully voiced, j-like |
| At the end of a word followed by a word beginning with a vowel | |
| ㅂ | fully voiced, b-like |
| ㄷ | fully voiced, d-like |
| ㄱ | fully voiced, g-like |
| ㅈ | does not apply |
Related Grammar Points
- Pronunciations of Korean Consonants at the Beginning of a Word
- Resyllabification and Pronunciations of Korean Consonants
- Nasal Assimilation and Pronunciations of Korean Consonants
- Tensing and Pronunciations of Korean Consonants
- Easy Ways to Memorize Korean Hangul - Consonants
- Stroke Order of Korean Hangul
- Easy Ways to Memorize Korean Hangul - Vowels