Hi everyone!
Welcome back to another fun lesson in your Korean learning journey!
Today, we’re going to learn a very cool pronunciation rule involving ㅈ (j) and 이 (i). Let’s get into it!
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🔍 Today’s Rule
When a word ends in ㅈ (j) and is followed by a syllable starting with 이 (i)…
➡️ The ㅈ changes to ㅉ (jj) in pronunciation!
So the combination:
ㅈ + 이 → 찌 (jji)
This is a pronunciation change only – the spelling stays the same!
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🧠 Why Does This Happen?
Korean uses these kinds of changes to make speech flow more naturally.
Since ㅈ is a somewhat strong sound, and 이 is a light vowel, they merge into a more emphasized sound: ㅉ (jj).
This helps Korean sound smoother and more connected when spoken quickly.
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📘 Examples
Word Original Form Pronunciation Meaning
굳이 gud + i 구찌 (gudji) even if / unnecessarily
맞이 maj + i 마찌 (majji) to greet / welcome
가지 gaj + i 가찌 (gajji) branch (in pronunciation rule context)
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🎯 Pronunciation Practice
Say them out loud:
• 굳이 → 구찌 (gudji)
• 맞이 → 마찌 (majji)
• 가지 → 가찌 (gajji)
The change to a double consonant gives a crisp and clear sound!
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You’re doing an amazing job!
Tomorrow, we’ll cover another fun pronunciation rule to help you sound even more natural in Korean. Keep up the great work, and see you then!
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