Learn Korean for Free | Beginner Korean Grammar #49
국물 is written with ㄱ before ㅁ but pronounced [궁물]. Neighboring consonants influence each other so speech can move more smoothly.
What Does 발음 규칙 4. 자음동화 Mean?
자음동화 means consonant assimilation. A consonant changes its pronunciation to become more similar to a nearby consonant. Korean spelling normally stays unchanged.
The Rule
Before nasal ㅁ or ㄴ, certain final stops become nasal: 국물 [궁물], 앞문 [암문], 받는 [반는]. ㄹ and ㄴ can also influence each other: 설날 [설랄]. Learn each common sound together with its spelling.
Useful Korean Words
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 국물 [궁물] | soup/broth |
| 앞문 [암문] | front door |
| 받는 [반는] | receiving |
| 설날 [설랄] | Lunar New Year |
| 한국말 [한궁말] | Korean language |
| 십만 [심만] | one hundred thousand |
| 작년 [장년] | last year |
| 자음동화 | consonant assimilation |
Korean Pronunciation Examples
국물이 뜨거워요. [궁무리]
The soup is hot.
앞문으로 들어오세요. [암무느로]
Please enter through the front door.
선물을 받는 사람이 누구예요? [반는]
Who is receiving the gift?
설날에 가족을 만나요. [설라레]
I meet my family on Lunar New Year.
한국말을 조금 할 수 있어요. [한궁마를]
I can speak a little Korean.
A Short Dialogue
A: ‘국물’을 [국물]이라고 읽어요? — Do I read 국물 exactly as written?
B: 자연스럽게는 [궁물]이라고 해요. — Naturally, it is pronounced [궁물].
A: 그럼 ‘한국말’은요? — Then what about 한국말?
B: [한궁말]처럼 들려요. — It sounds like [한궁말].
A Common Mistake to Avoid
Do not change the spelling to 궁물 or 암문. These bracketed forms show pronunciation only. Assimilation depends on the neighboring sounds, so avoid turning every final consonant into a nasal without checking what comes next.
Quick Quiz 🎯
Match each spelling and pronunciation: ① 국물 ② 앞문 ③ 받는 ④ 설날 / [설랄], [궁물], [반는], [암문].
Answers and Explanation
① 국물 [궁물] ② 앞문 [암문] ③ 받는 [반는] ④ 설날 [설랄]. Read slowly once, then repeat at natural speed.
Try It Aloud
Read the examples with 발음 규칙 4. 자음동화 slowly, then repeat them at a natural speed. Make two short sentences of your own and record yourself once. Compare the grammar form, spacing, or pronunciation with the model before trying again.
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