Batchim is the final consonant written at the bottom of a Korean syllable block, named after 받치다 "to prop up". In 밥 (bap, "rice"), the ㅂ at the bottom is the batchim, and it closes the syllable with a consonant sound.
What Is the Batchim Meaning in Korean?
The batchim meaning in Korean is "something that props up". The noun 받침 comes from the verb 받치다, which means to hold something up from below, like a saucer under a cup. The final consonant sits under the rest of the block in the same way, so Korean teachers call it the supporting letter. Linguists use a more formal name for the same position, 종성 (jongseong), explained further down.
How Batchim Works in a Block
Batchim works by adding a consonant to the bottom of a block that already has an initial consonant and a vowel. The block 바 (ba) becomes 밥 (bap) when ㅂ is placed under it. Not every syllable has one: 바, 나 and 가 have none, while 밥, 난 and 감 have one. A block without a batchim ends in a vowel; a block with a batchim ends in a consonant sound.
Batchim comes in three types:
| Type | Korean term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 홑받침 | one basic consonant | 밥 (bap) |
| Doubled | 쌍받침 | ㄲ or ㅆ | 밖 (bak), 있다 (itda) |
| Cluster | 겹받침 | two different consonants | 닭 (dak), 앉다 |
Which Consonants Can Be Batchim?
Sixteen single or doubled letters can be batchim: the 14 basic consonants plus ㄲ and ㅆ. Eleven two-letter clusters can also be batchim, giving 27 spellings in all. The letters ㄸ, ㅃ and ㅉ never appear at the bottom of a block. For the full lesson on placing a final letter in each layout, see how batchim fits into a block, and for the clusters see cluster batchim.
Why Does Batchim Matter?
Batchim matters because it changes both spelling and sound. Korean spelling keeps the written consonant even when the sound is different. The word 꽃 ("flower") is written with ㅊ, but when nothing follows, it is pronounced [꼳]. Spelling has 27 final forms, while speech has only seven final sounds.
When a vowel-initial syllable follows inside a word, or as a particle or ending, the batchim usually moves forward and keeps its written sound: 꽃이 is pronounced [꼬치], and 음악 ("music") is pronounced [으막], because the ㅁ at the bottom of 음 joins the next syllable. This process is called liaison. The sound rules are covered under batchim pronunciation.
Batchim vs Jongseong
Batchim and jongseong refer to the same place in a block, but they are used differently.
| Feature | 받침 (batchim) | 종성 (jongseong) |
|---|---|---|
| Names | the written bottom letter | the final-consonant position or sound |
| Count | 27 spellings | 7 final sounds |
| Example | the ㄲ in 밖 | the [ㄱ] sound of 밖 |
| Used in | schools, learner books, apps | linguistics, dictionaries |
For more on the three slots of a block, see jongseong.
Examples of Batchim
Three words show the three types.
- 밥 ("rice"): single batchim ㅂ, pronounced [밥].
- 꽃 ("flower"): single batchim ㅊ, pronounced [꼳].
- 닭 ("chicken"): cluster batchim ㄺ; the sound heard is [닥] when nothing follows.
What Do Learners Get Wrong about Batchim?
Learners make three common mistakes.
- Assuming sound equals spelling. 꽃 ends in the letter ㅊ but sounds like ㄷ.
- Treating ㄸ as a batchim. ㄸ, ㅃ and ㅉ cannot be written at the bottom.
- Thinking batchim is silent. A single batchim is heard as one of the seven final sounds, or moves to the next syllable before a vowel. Letters drop out only in special cases: one letter of a cluster (닭 [닥]) and ㅎ before a vowel (좋아 [조아]).
The practice side is in the lesson on korean batchim practice, which teaches the sounds step by step. This page only defines the term.
Related Hangul Terms
A printable batchim chart lists every final. For related definitions, browse the Hangul terms glossary. In short, the batchim meaning is "the supporting final consonant" that closes a Korean syllable block.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is batchim a Korean or English word? Batchim is a Korean word, 받침, written in English letters by learners. English dictionaries rarely list it, but textbooks and teachers use it widely. You may also see it spelled "patchim", which is an older romanization. Korean grammar books use 받침 for the written letter and 종성 for the sound slot.
How many batchim are there? There are 27 written batchim: 14 basic consonants, the two double consonants ㄲ and ㅆ, and 11 two-letter clusters. These 27 spellings are pronounced as only seven sounds when nothing follows: [ㄱ ㄴ ㄷ ㄹ ㅁ ㅂ ㅇ]. The pronunciation lessons explain which spelling maps to which sound.
Do Koreans learn batchim at school? Yes. Korean-language lessons in elementary school teach 받침 as part of learning to read and spell, and the topic returns in spelling lessons about words such as 있다 and 앉다. Native speakers rarely need to think about it consciously when speaking, but spelling it correctly takes practice.
What happens to batchim before a vowel? When a vowel-initial syllable follows, the batchim usually moves over and is pronounced as the start of the next syllable. For example, 음악 is pronounced [으막], not [음악]. This process is called liaison, and it is the reason a spelled batchim can sound different from its written form.
