The Korean double batchim ㄳ is the pair ㄱ + ㅅ, as in 몫 (share), and it is said [ㄱ]: 몫 is [목]. ㄳ belongs to a group of four rare pairs, with ㄽ, ㄾ and ㄿ, that appear in only a handful of words. Three keep the left letter; ㄿ keeps the right letter, so 읊다 is [읍따].
What you'll learn
- Say 몫 [목], 넋 [넉], 핥다 [할따], 훑다 [훌따] and 읊다 [읍따].
- Explain why ㄿ, unlike the other three, keeps the right letter.
- Pronounce both letters before a vowel: 몫이 [목씨], 핥아요 [할타요], 읊어요 [을퍼요].
- Decide which of these words are worth learning now and which can wait.
Prerequisites: Double Batchim Rules. This page is optional reading for beginners: the pairs are rare, and nothing in later lessons depends on them. Estimated time: 20 minutes.
What Is the Korean Double Batchim ㄳ?
The Korean double batchim ㄳ is a final cluster of ㄱ (giyeok) on the left and ㅅ (siot) on the right, called 기역시옷 받침. Like every double batchim, it is heard in full only before a vowel. Before a consonant or a pause, the ㅅ is silent and the ㄱ is said as an unreleased [ㄱ].
This page also covers the three other rare pairs, because they are learned the same way and are too small to need separate lessons:
- ㄽ (리을시옷), ㄹ + ㅅ, as in 외곬 (one single path)
- ㄾ (리을티읕), ㄹ + ㅌ, as in 핥다 (to lick)
- ㄿ (리을피읖), ㄹ + ㅍ, as in 읊다 (to recite)
The forms on this page follow the Standard Pronunciation Rules (표준 발음법) of the National Institute of Korean Language (국립국어원). Article 10 covers ㄳ, ㄽ and ㄾ; Article 11 covers ㄿ; Article 14 covers vowels.
Is ㄳ a Ssangbatchim?
No. ㄳ is a double batchim (겹받침, gyeopbatchim): two different letters. A ssangbatchim (쌍받침) is the same letter written twice, ㄲ or ㅆ, as in 밖 (outside) or 있다 (to exist). A ssangbatchim is one tense consonant, not a cluster, so it simply reduces to [ㄱ] or [ㄷ]. The letters themselves are covered in double consonants.
Learners often search for "ssangbatchim" when they mean both kinds. The difference matters, because only double batchim follow the left-letter and right-letter rules below.
Why English Speakers Struggle with the Rare Pairs
English speakers struggle with these pairs for two reasons: English says the clusters in full, and the words are unfamiliar. "Licks", "pulse" and "help" end in clusters that English pronounces completely, so 핥다 tends to come out as "halt-da" and 몫 as "moks".
The second reason is rarity. Learners hear 몫 or 핥다 so seldom that there is no sound memory to check against. When a word is met only in print, the eye's version, with both letters, wins. The cure is to attach each word to one spoken form and one audio clip, which is what the next two sections do.
Which Words Use These Four?
Only about ten common words use these four pairs. The table lists them, with a note on how often you are likely to meet each.
| Pair | Word | Meaning | Spoken | Where you meet it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ㄳ | 몫 | share, portion | [목] | everyday speech |
| ㄳ | 넋 | soul, spirit | [넉] | idioms: 넋을 잃다 |
| ㄳ | 삯 | wages, fare | [삭] | older or written Korean |
| ㄽ | 외곬 | one single path | [외골] | written; 외곬으로 (single-mindedly) |
| ㄽ | 곬 | direction, channel | [골] | written, rare |
| ㄾ | 핥다 | to lick | [할따] | everyday speech |
| ㄾ | 훑다 | to strip, to scan | [훌따] | 훑어보다 (to skim) |
| ㄿ | 읊다 | to recite (poetry) | [읍따] | literary; 시를 읊다 |
| ㄿ | 읊조리다 | to recite softly | [읍쪼리다] | literary |
Two of these, 몫 and 핥다, come up in everyday conversation: 내 몫 (my share) when splitting a bill, and 핥다 for a dog or an ice cream. 훑어보다 (to skim through) is common in study and office contexts. The rest belong mainly to written Korean, idioms or poetry.
How Is Each Pronounced?
Each of the four pairs is pronounced with one letter before a consonant or a pause. Three keep the left letter; ㄿ keeps the right one.
| Pair | Kept letter | Sound | Example | Spoken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ㄳ | left, ㄱ | [ㄱ] | 넋 | [넉] |
| ㄽ | left, ㄹ | [ㄹ] | 외곬 | [외골] |
| ㄾ | left, ㄹ | [ㄹ] | 훑다 | [훌따] |
| ㄿ | right, ㅍ | [ㅂ] | 읊다 | [읍따] |
Why Is ㄿ a Right-Letter Pair?
ㄿ is a right-letter pair because Article 11 of the Standard Pronunciation Rules groups it with ㄺ and ㄻ, the other two pairs that keep the second letter. The kept ㅍ then reduces to its representative sound [ㅂ], exactly as single ㅍ does in 앞 [압]. That gives a two-step result: ㄿ → ㅍ → [ㅂ].
This link to the general double batchim rules is the main reason to learn ㄿ at all. If you remember "the odd three are ㄺ, ㄻ and ㄿ", you already know the only surprising fact on this page.
The Tense Consonant after ㄾ and ㄿ Verbs
After the verb stems 핥-, 훑- and 읊-, the next ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅅ or ㅈ becomes tense. 핥다 is [할따], 훑소 is [훌쏘], 읊고 is [읍꼬]. For ㄾ, Article 25 states this directly; for ㄿ, Article 23 lists it among the batchim that tense a following plain consonant, because its spoken sound is [ㅂ].
What Changes before a Vowel?
Before a vowel ending or particle, both letters are heard: the first stays and the second moves to the next syllable. Article 14 of the Standard Pronunciation Rules adds that a moving ㅅ becomes tense [ㅆ].
| Written | Spoken | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 몫이 | [목씨] | ㅅ moves and becomes tense |
| 넋이 | [넉씨] | ㅅ moves and becomes tense |
| 외곬으로 | [외골쓰로] | ㅅ moves and becomes tense |
| 핥아요 | [할타요] | ㅌ moves with its puff of air |
| 훑어보다 | [훌터보다] | ㅌ moves |
| 읊어요 | [을퍼요] | ㅍ moves with its puff of air |
Notice that ㅌ and ㅍ keep their aspiration when they move: [할타요] has a strong puff on 타, and [을퍼요] on 퍼. The idiom 넋을 잃다 (to be dazed, literally "to lose one's soul") shows two rules at once: [넉쓸 일타], with a tense ㅆ from ㄳ and an aspirated ㅌ from ㅀ.
Two more changes apply before ㄴ. With ㄾ, the ㄴ becomes [ㄹ]: 핥는 [할른], 핥네 [할레]. With ㄿ, the [ㅂ] becomes [ㅁ]: 읊는 [음는]. More examples are in the lesson on double batchim before a vowel.
Before a Word That Starts with a Vowel
When the next part is a separate word or word root rather than a particle, only the kept sound links. Article 15 of the Standard Pronunciation Rules gives 넋 없다 as [너겁따]: the ㄳ first reduces to [ㄱ], and that [ㄱ] moves into 없다. The ㅅ never appears. The same reasoning gives the adjective 넋없다 (absent-minded, dazed), also [너겁따]. Compare 넋이 [넉씨], where 이 is a particle and both letters are heard.
How the Rare Pairs Compare with Common Ones
Each rare pair has a common cousin that behaves the same way, so you can learn the rare one by analogy instead of from scratch.
| Rare pair | Common cousin | Shared behaviour | Rare example | Common example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ㄳ | ㅄ | left letter kept; ㅅ moves and becomes tense | 몫이 [목씨] | 값이 [갑씨] |
| ㄽ, ㄾ | ㄼ | ㄹ kept; after the verb stems 핥- and 훑-, the next consonant is tense | 핥다 [할따] | 넓다 [널따] |
| ㄾ | ㄼ | ㄴ becomes [ㄹ] after the ㄹ | 핥는 [할른] | 넓네 [널레] |
| ㄿ | ㄺ, ㄻ | right letter kept | 읊다 [읍따] | 닭 [닥], 삶 [삼] |
If you can already say 값이, 넓다 and 닭, every row on this table is a small step. That is the practical reason the rare pairs can wait: they add almost no new rules, only new words.
Do I Need to Learn Them Now?
No, not all of them. If you are a beginner, learn 몫 [목] and 핥다 [할따] by sound and skip the rest until you meet them in reading. Your time is better spent on the frequent pairs: ㅄ in 값 and 없다, ㄶ in 많다, ㄺ in 닭 and 읽다.
| Priority | Words | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Learn now | 몫, 핥다 | heard in everyday speech |
| Learn when you meet them | 훑어보다, 넋을 잃다 | common in study texts and idioms |
| Reading only | 삯, 외곬, 곬, 읊다, 읊조리다 | mainly written or literary |
The one exception to "skip" is the rule for ㄿ. Knowing that ㄿ is a right-letter pair completes the "odd three" and protects you from a wrong guess. The full overview of where these pairs fit is in batchim pronunciation.
Worked Example: 몫
Follow 몫 (share) through four forms.
- 몫 alone. Nothing follows. ㄳ keeps the left letter, ㄱ. Say [목], with an unreleased [ㄱ] and no s.
- 내 몫 (my share). 몫 is the last word, so nothing follows it. Say [내 목].
- 몫이 (share, subject). The particle 이 starts with a vowel. Keep ㄱ in the first syllable, move ㅅ to the second and make it tense. Say [목씨].
- 몫을 나누다 (to divide the shares). The particle 을 also starts with a vowel, so the same thing happens: [목쓸]. The next word, 나누다, starts with ㄴ and does not change the particle. Say [목쓸 나누다].
You'll know you have it when 몫 sounds exactly like 목 (neck), and 몫이 sounds like 목 followed by a sharp 씨. Try the same steps with 넋: [넉], 넋이 [넉씨].
Common Mistakes with the Rare Pairs
Mistake 1: saying both letters. Learners often say 몫 as "moks" or 핥다 as "halt-da". Actually only one letter is heard before a consonant: [목], [할따].
Mistake 2: keeping the left letter in ㄿ. Learners who apply the left-letter default say 읊다 as [을따]. Actually ㄿ keeps the right letter: [읍따].
Mistake 3: a plain ㅅ before a vowel. Learners often say 몫이 as [목시]. Actually the moving ㅅ becomes tense: [목씨].
Mistake 4: losing the aspiration. Learners often say 핥아요 as [할다요]. Actually the ㅌ moves with its puff of air: [할타요].
Mistake 5: treating ㄲ and ㅆ as clusters. Learners who call every two-letter batchim "double" sometimes try to split ㄲ in 밖. Actually ㄲ is one letter, a ssangbatchim, and 밖 is simply [박].
Practice: Korean Double Batchim ㄳ and the Rare Pairs
Exercise 1. Write the spoken form.
- 삯
- 핥고
- 읊고
- 곬
Exercise 2. Write the spoken form. Watch for vowels.
- 넋이
- 훑어요
- 읊어
Exercise 3. Write the spoken form. Watch for ㄴ.
- 핥는
- 읊는
Answers.
Exercise 1: 1 [삭], 2 [할꼬], 3 [읍꼬], 4 [골].
Exercise 2: 1 [넉씨], 2 [훌터요], 3 [을퍼].
Exercise 3: 1 [할른], 2 [음는].
If you wrote [을따] or [을꼬] for a ㄿ word, review the "odd three" before moving on. If you wrote [넉시] or [할다요], go back to the before-a-vowel table and listen again for the tense ㅆ and the puff of air on ㅌ.
Where to Go Next
With ㄳ, ㄽ, ㄾ and ㄿ done, you have met all 11 double batchim. The next step is mixed practice: Next: Korean Batchim Practice combines single and double batchim in one set of drills with audio. Individual pair lessons stay available in Double Batchim.
This lesson does not list every rare compound, and it does not cover regional forms. The pronunciation of 외곬 also varies with the vowel ㅚ, which many speakers say as [웨], giving [웨골]; both are allowed by the Standard Pronunciation Rules.
In short, the Korean double batchim ㄳ is said [ㄱ], ㄽ and ㄾ are said [ㄹ], and ㄿ keeps its right letter as [ㅂ]; before a vowel, both letters return.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ㄳ common? No. ㄳ appears in only a few nouns, mainly 몫 (share), 넋 (soul, spirit) and 삯 (wages, fare). Of these, 몫 is the one you are most likely to hear, for example 내 몫 (my share). All three follow the same pattern: [ㄱ] alone, as in 몫 [목], and [ㄱ] + tense [ㅆ] before a vowel, as in 몫이 [목씨].
How is 핥다 pronounced? 핥다 (to lick) is pronounced [할따]. ㄾ keeps its left letter, ㄹ, and the ㄷ of the ending becomes tense after a ㄾ verb stem. Before a vowel ending, the ㅌ comes back with its full puff of air: 핥아요 [할타요]. Before ㄴ, the ㄴ becomes [ㄹ]: 핥는 [할른].
Why is 읊다 [읍따]? 읊다 is [읍따] because ㄿ is one of the three right-letter pairs, with ㄺ and ㄻ. The ㄹ goes silent and the ㅍ is kept, then ㅍ reduces to its representative sound [ㅂ], just as 앞 is [압]. Finally, the ㄷ after [ㅂ] becomes tense. Before a vowel you hear both letters: 읊어요 [을퍼요].
How do I say 몫이? Say [목씨]. 몫 ends in ㄳ, and the particle 이 starts with a vowel, so both letters are heard: ㄱ stays in the first syllable and ㅅ moves to the second. Article 14 of the Standard Pronunciation Rules adds that a moving ㅅ becomes tense, so you hear [씨], not [시].
How is 훑다 pronounced? 훑다 (to strip, to run your eyes over) is pronounced [훌따]. Like 핥다, it ends in ㄾ, keeps the ㄹ and makes the next ㄷ tense. Its most useful form is the compound 훑어보다 (to skim, to look someone up and down), said [훌터보다], where the vowel ending brings back the ㅌ with its puff of air.