How to Write Korean Words: 한글, 안녕, 하늘, 대박
Knowing the letters is not the same as writing a word. Korean packs its letters into square syllable blocks, and inside each block there is a fixed order — top-left first, bottom last. These four words cover every block shape a beginner will meet.
In the animation, the numbered dots mark letter groups rather than individual strokes: ① is the first consonant, ② the vowel, ③ the final consonant. Watch how the block fills in that order every single time.
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How a syllable block is built
Every Korean syllable is one square block, and every block is read — and written — in the same sequence:
- 초성 (choseong) — the starting consonant, always top-left or across the top.
- 중성 (jungseong) — the vowel. A vertical vowel like ㅏ goes to the right; a horizontal vowel like ㅡ goes underneath.
- 종성 (jongseong) — the optional final consonant, sitting across the bottom. Korean calls this the 받침, the “support”.
So 한 is ㅎ + ㅏ + ㄴ, written in that order: the ㅎ first, then the ㅏ beside it, then the ㄴ underneath both. A block never has fewer than two parts — a syllable that starts with a vowel sound uses the silent ㅇ as a placeholder, which is exactly what is happening in 안.
Within each of those groups, the ordinary letter rules still apply: top to bottom, left to right, and circles counter-clockwise from the top. The consonant page covers those in full.
The four words
| Word | Romanized | Meaning | Built from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 한글 | Hangul | the Korean alphabet | 한 = ㅎ+ㅏ+ㄴ · 글 = ㄱ+ㅡ+ㄹ |
| 안녕 | annyeong | hello / hi (and goodbye) | 안 = ㅇ+ㅏ+ㄴ · 녕 = ㄴ+ㅕ+ㅇ |
| 하늘 | haneul | sky | 하 = ㅎ+ㅏ · 늘 = ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄹ |
| 대박 | daebak | awesome / jackpot — an everyday exclamation | 대 = ㄷ+ㅐ · 박 = ㅂ+ㅏ+ㄱ |
Notice 하 and 대 have no bottom letter, so the block only splits in two. 글 and 늘 use a horizontal vowel, so all three parts stack vertically. Those two patterns plus the 한 pattern account for the overwhelming majority of Korean syllables.
Now write it yourself
Trace one syllable at a time and keep it inside the square — even spacing between blocks is what makes Korean handwriting look natural. Start each group at its numbered dot.
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Keep going
- Consonant stroke order All 14 basic consonants, ㄱ to ㅎ, plus the five rules behind them.
- Vowel stroke order ㅏ ㅑ ㅓ ㅕ ㅗ ㅛ ㅜ ㅠ ㅡ ㅣ — and where each one sits in a block.
You can write 대박. Now learn when Koreans actually say it.
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