Advanced · Hangul & sounds
Korean pronunciation rules: nasalize batchim before ㄴ and ㅁ
Apply the standard nasal-assimilation rule to written Korean, preserve the spelling, and recognise where a different pronunciation rule is needed.
Keep the spelling while changing the sound prediction
The word 국물 is written with final ㄱ followed by ㅁ, but its standard pronunciation is [궁물]. Writing 궁물 would lose the spelling; insisting on [국물] would miss the sound change.
This advanced lesson extends the batchim linking lesson into a different environment. You will apply Standard Pronunciation Rule 18 when a batchim group represented by ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ comes before ㄴ or ㅁ, then identify boundaries where another rule is required.
Bracketed forms show pronunciation for analysis. Keep the ordinary spelling in normal writing. The prepared audio supplies a model, but use the official rule and reference recordings when studying fine sound distinctions.
Map three oral final groups to three nasal sounds
Rule 18 groups several written finals under three representative final sounds. Before ㄴ or ㅁ, the ㄱ group becomes [ㅇ], the ㄷ group becomes [ㄴ], and the ㅂ group becomes [ㅁ]. This change is commonly called nasal assimilation or nasalization.
The notation describes a sound sequence, not a new spelling. Read the written form first, locate the boundary and then predict the sound.
Apply the rule to one word at a time
| Spelling | Boundary | Standard pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 먹는 | 먹- + -는 | [멍는] |
| 국물 | 국 + 물 | [궁물] |
| 닫는 | 닫- + -는 | [단는] |
| 맞는 | 맞- + -는 | [만는] |
| 잡는 | 잡- + -는 | [잠는] |
| 앞마당 | 앞 + 마당 | [암마당] |
| 없는 | 없- + -는 | [엄는] |
In 맞는, written ㅈ has the representative final value [ㄷ] before the next consonant, and that sound becomes [ㄴ] before ㄴ. In 앞마당, written ㅍ belongs to the ㅂ final group and becomes [ㅁ] before ㅁ.
Complex batchim can require a representative-final step before assimilation. 없는 is not read by naming both ㅄ letters separately; the resulting pronunciation is [엄는]. Learn the complete word along with the rule.
Listen across a word boundary when the phrase is connected
| Written phrase | Rule 18 form | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| 책 넣는다 | [챙 넌는다] | ㄱ before ㄴ becomes [ㅇ]. |
| 밥 먹는다 | [밤 멍는다] | ㅂ before ㅁ becomes [ㅁ]; 먹는 also changes. |
| 옷 맞추다 | [온 맏추다] | The ㄷ-group final before ㅁ becomes [ㄴ]. |
| 값 매기다 | [감 매기다] | The representative ㅂ-group final becomes [ㅁ]. |
The official rule includes connected pronunciation across two words. A deliberate pause can change how a boundary is realised, so the table models each phrase as one connected unit.
Spaces remain in the writing. Do not rewrite 밥 먹는다 as 밤 멍는다. The bracketed line is a pronunciation aid only.
Use a four-step sound check instead of memorising the result
| Step | Question | Example with 국물 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What is written at the boundary? | 받침 ㄱ + initial ㅁ |
| 2 | What is the representative final group? | ㄱ group |
| 3 | Is the next sound ㄴ or ㅁ? | Yes: ㅁ |
| 4 | What nasal replaces the final? | [ㅇ], giving [궁물] |
The trigger is the following ㄴ or ㅁ. The rule does not begin merely because a word contains a batchim. This check also keeps learners from changing the next consonant or the spelling.
For complex examples, consult the relevant final-consonant rule before assuming which group remains. The rule list names ㄲ, ㅋ, ㄳ and ㄺ with the ㄱ group; ㅅ, ㅆ, ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅌ and ㅎ with the ㄷ group; and ㅍ, ㄼ, ㄿ and ㅄ with the ㅂ group.
Stop when the trigger is missing
| Spelling | What follows | Relevant result |
|---|---|---|
| 꽃이 | A vowel-initial particle | [꼬치]: linking plus palatalization, not Rule 18. |
| 국밥 | Initial ㄱ | [국빱]: fortition is relevant, not nasal assimilation. |
| 꽃길 | Initial ㄱ | [꼳낄]: do not invent [꼰길]. |
| 문법 | Final ㄴ before ㅂ | [문뻡]: Rule 21 explicitly rejects changing it to [뭄뻡]. |
Rule 18 is powerful, but its trigger is narrow. A following vowel, ㄱ or ㅂ requires a different analysis. Standard Pronunciation Rule 21 explicitly rejects other assimilations such as 문법 [뭄뻡].
When more than one process is present, apply only the rules whose conditions are met. The spelling is your evidence, not an obstacle to erase.
Read a six-sentence pronunciation notebook
민서는 받아쓰기에서 ‘국물’을 철자대로 [국물]이라고 읽었다.
교사는 받침 ㄱ이 다음 음절의 ㅁ 앞에서 [ㅇ]으로 바뀌므로 [궁물]이라고 발음한다고 설명했다.
그러나 민서는 같은 규칙을 모든 받침에 적용하여 ‘꽃길’까지 [꼰길]로 읽었다.
이 경우 다음 소리가 ㄴ이나 ㅁ이 아니므로 제18항의 비음화 규칙으로 설명할 수 없다.
민서는 먼저 음절 경계의 두 자음을 표시한 뒤 적용 조건을 확인하는 방식으로 연습을 바꾸었다.
그 결과 철자는 그대로 적으면서도 실제 발음의 변화를 더 정확하게 예측할 수 있었다.
Read an English translation
Minseo read 국물 as [국물] in dictation by following the letters directly.
The teacher explained that final ㄱ changes to [ㅇ] before ㅁ in the next syllable, producing [궁물].
However, Minseo applied the same rule to every batchim and even read 꽃길 as [꼰길].
In that case, the next sound is neither ㄴ nor ㅁ, so Standard Pronunciation Rule 18 cannot explain it.
Minseo changed the practice method by marking the two consonants at the syllable boundary before checking the conditions.
As a result, Minseo could preserve the spelling while predicting changes in actual pronunciation more accurately.
The passage diagnoses an overgeneralisation. The first correction is valid, but the learner then ignores the trigger. The improved method tests the environment before naming the rule.
Show the boundary and justify the sound
- Predict the standard pronunciation of 국물 and name the trigger.
- Predict 닫는 and identify the representative final group.
- Why does 앞마당 begin [암-] in connected pronunciation?
- Write 밥 먹는다 and its bracketed connected pronunciation without changing the normal spelling.
- Does Rule 18 explain 꽃이 [꼬치]? Why or why not?
- A learner reads 꽃길 as [꼰길]. What condition did the learner fail to check?
- List the three final-group changes before ㄴ or ㅁ.
- Explain why bracketed pronunciation should not replace the ordinary spelling in a sentence.
Check the answers and explanations
- [궁물]. The representative ㄱ-group final comes before ㅁ, so it changes to [ㅇ].
- [단는]. The written final belongs to the ㄷ group, which becomes [ㄴ] before ㄴ.
- Final ㅍ belongs to the representative ㅂ group. Before ㅁ it becomes [ㅁ], producing [암마당].
- Write 밥 먹는다; annotate it as [밤 멍는다] for connected pronunciation. The space and spelling remain.
- No. A vowel-initial particle follows, so linking and palatalization are relevant rather than the ㄴ/ㅁ trigger in Rule 18.
- The next consonant is ㄱ, not ㄴ or ㅁ. The actual standard form is [꼳낄], involving representative final pronunciation and fortition.
- ㄱ group → [ㅇ], ㄷ group → [ㄴ], and ㅂ group → [ㅁ]. The following nasal is ㄴ or ㅁ.
- The bracketed form records sound for analysis. Standard orthography preserves the morphemes and written word, such as 국물.
Build a two-column notebook: spelling on the left and pronunciation evidence on the right. Underline the exact two-consonant boundary. If the second sound is not ㄴ or ㅁ, leave Rule 18 and identify the correct next question.
A small listening check
Pronunciation help: Listen to both the noun and the final count
The correct line contains 국물 and 세 명. In connected speech, listen for the nasalized sounds without changing the written answer.
Listen and choose
Play the sound, then select the Korean you heard. The answer buttons unlock after playback. This is one short practice item, not a pronunciation assessment.
Listen before choosing.
Primary pronunciation rule and follow-up
- National Institute of Korean Language: Standard Pronunciation Rules — Official rule page containing Article 18 examples, its connected-word addition and the neighbouring rule boundaries.
- National Institute of Korean Language: explanation of nasal assimilation — Official explanation of the articulatory change and the full Article 18 example set.
- Korean With a Local: batchim foundations — Review representative final consonants before analysing complex Rule 18 examples.
- Korean With a Local: linking before a vowel — Compare the different environment created by a vowel-initial particle, ending or suffix.
Reviewed September 4, 2026. Found a mistake? Send a correction.