If you see 한국 for the first time, you may recognize two small squares made of lines and circles. In fact, it says Hanguk – Korea.

The characters are neither images nor individual syllable characters. Several letters live together in each block. They just move closer together, as if they don’t want to waste space while writing.

Letters live in syllables

The modern Korean alphabet is called Hangeul – 한글, often also written Hangul. It has 24 basic letters: 14 consonants and 10 vowels.

The 24 basic letters

14 consonants

ㄱ · ㄴ · ㄷ · ㄹ · ㅁ · ㅂ · ㅅ · ㅇ · ㅈ · ㅊ · ㅋ · ㅌ · ㅍ · ㅎ

10 vowels

ㅏ · ㅑ · ㅓ · ㅕ · ㅗ · ㅛ · ㅜ · ㅠ · ㅡ · ㅣ

In today’s Korean we also encounter double consonants and compound vowels. They arise from these basic letters and are therefore not included as additional characters in the number 24.

When written, they are arranged into blocks of syllables. For example, the syllable 한 ( han ) consists of ㅎ ( h ), ㅏ ( a ) and ㄴ ( n ). The following block 국 ( guk ) is composed of ㄱ, ㅜ and again ㄱ.

This makes a Korean word look almost like a series of compact characters at first glance. However, an alphabet works inside.

A script with construction instructions

The new writing system was completed under King Sejong in 1443. In 1446 it was published with the work Hunminjeongeum . The name means “the right sounds to teach the people”.

It is noteworthy that the explanation was included. The basic forms of several consonants are based on the position of the tongue, lips, teeth and throat when speaking. ㄱ refers to the shape of the tongue when a sound is made at the back of the mouth.

The original basic vowels referred to heaven, earth and man. Additional letters were created from a few shapes using additional strokes and combinations. Of the original 28 characters, 24 are used as basic letters in modern Hangeul.

Hangeul is therefore not just pretty to look at. It shows how carefully sound, form and learning were thought together.

Jeong is slowly growing

A font can make words visible. But it cannot ensure that every word fits comfortably into another language.

Jeong – 정 is often explained as affection, connection or closeness. This can mean a feeling that arises between people, but also a connection to a place or a familiar thing.

Jeong doesn’t have to appear suddenly. It can grow with time spent together: through meals, small acts of kindness, recurring conversations, and even some friction. Maybe “affection” is the next German door. There is still another room behind it.

Nunchi also hears what is unsaid

Nunchi – 눈치 describes the ability to perceive a situation and the mood of others, even though not everything is said. In German, tact, attentiveness and social intuition are close.

This isn’t mind reading. It’s about looks, pauses, tone of voice and the right moment. Good nunchi can be considerate. However, too much pressure to conform can also become exhausting. A cultural term is rarely just convenient.

Han is not a national diagnosis

Han – 한, depending on the context, can touch on sadness, resentment, unfulfilled hope or deep-seated pain. The term plays an important role in literature, art and historical narratives.

Nevertheless, it would be wrong to treat Han as a built-in characteristic of every Korean person. Words carry history. People remain different.

Old values, new abbreviations

Other terms also open small windows. Hyodo – 효도 refers to concern and respect for parents and older family members. The expression is closely linked to Confucian-influenced ideas of family duties, but is lived differently in today’s everyday life.

Hwaiting – 화이팅, on the other hand, is a modern shout: “You can do it!” And dapjeongneo – 답정너 is an Internet abbreviation for a person who asks a question but has long since determined the desired answer.

A language doesn’t just preserve old ideas. She is constantly inventing new shortcuts for very current habits.

Sources

• National Hangeul Museum: Origin and design principles of Hangeul
• National Hangeul Museum: 24 modern basic letters and syllable blocks
• UNESCO Memory of the World: Hunminjeongeum manuscript
• National Institute of Korean Language: Dictionary entry 정 – Jeong
• National Institute of Korean Language: Dictionary entry 눈치 – Nunchi
• Academy of Korean Studies: Classification of the term 한 – Han
• Academy of Korean Studies: Historical context of 효도 – Hyodo
• Korea.net: Nunchi, Hwaiting and other Korean terms