Cheonjiin Keyboard in Korean
Cheonjiin is written 천지인. The three syllables are 천 (cheon, "heaven"), 지 (ji, "earth") and 인 (in, "human"). These are the three elements of traditional East Asian thought, and the same three ideas lie behind the vowel shapes explained in the 1446 commentary to the Hunminjeongeum: a round dot for heaven, a flat line for earth and a standing line for a person.
On a Cheonjiin keypad, the vowel marks are three keys. Pressing them in the order you would write the strokes builds the vowel letters you know:
| Letter | Keys pressed | Idea |
|---|---|---|
| ㅏ | ㅣ then ㆍ | dot to the right of the person |
| ㅓ | ㆍ then ㅣ | dot to the left |
| ㅗ | ㆍ then ㅡ | dot above the line |
| ㅜ | ㅡ then ㆍ | dot below the line |
| ㅑ | ㅣ then ㆍ then ㆍ | two dots on the right |
| ㅕ | ㆍ then ㆍ then ㅣ | two dots on the left |
| ㅛ | ㆍ then ㆍ then ㅡ | two dots above |
| ㅠ | ㅡ then ㆍ then ㆍ | two dots below |
Consonants sit on the number keys: ㄱ and ㅋ share one key, ㄴ and ㄹ share another, and so on. Pressing the same key again cycles through its letters. Check your own keypad, since the grouping depends on the maker. The vowel logic is related to the pairing of bright and dark vowels in bright and dark vowels.
Cheonjiin vs QWERTY 2-Set
Cheonjiin and the QWERTY-based 2-beolsik layout solve different problems. Cheonjiin saves space, and 2-beolsik saves key presses. The table compares the two.
| Feature | Cheonjiin | 2-beolsik (QWERTY) |
|---|---|---|
| Keys | 12 | about 26 letter keys |
| Vowel input | Built from three marks | One key per basic vowel |
| Consonant input | Repeated presses on shared keys | One key per consonant |
| Best for | Small keypads and one-handed typing | Phones with a full keyboard and computers |
| Presses for 안녕 | 9, plus a pause between the two ㄴ | 6 |
Count the example. In Cheonjiin, 안 takes the ㅇ key, then ㅣ, ㆍ, then the ㄴ key: four presses. 녕 takes the ㄴ key, ㆍ, ㆍ, ㅣ, then the ㅇ key: five presses. The total is nine, plus one catch: the two ㄴ presses fall on the same key, and a second press normally cycles ㄴ to ㄹ. You must pause briefly, or tap a next-letter key on keyboards that have one, before the second ㄴ. In 2-beolsik, 안녕 is D, K, S, S, U, D: six presses. Cheonjiin trades more presses for far larger keys.
The standard layout is described in the 2-beolsik keyboard layout lesson.
What Are Examples of Cheonjiin?
Cheonjiin appears in a few places. Many older Korean mobile phones used it, especially Samsung models. Some Android keyboards, including some Samsung keyboards, offer it as an optional layout, and other keyboard apps copy the idea. The steps to switch layouts depend on the phone, so see how to type Korean on Android.
A worked example is 아 (a). With Cheonjiin, you press the ㅇ key, then ㅣ, then ㆍ. The vertical bar plus a dot on its right is ㅏ, and the block 아 appears. For 우 (u), you press ㅇ, then ㅡ, then ㆍ: the line first, then the dot below it.
What Do Learners Get Wrong about Cheonjiin?
Learners get three things wrong.
- They think the dot ㆍ is a normal modern letter. It is an old letter called arae-a (아래아) that is no longer used in the standard alphabet. On this keypad it is only a building mark. Modern standard spelling does not use it. Korean vowels lists the 21 letters in use.
- They think it is the standard Korean keyboard. The standard is QWERTY-based 2-beolsik.
- They think it speeds up learning. The letter shapes are logical, but the extra presses and the shared keys slow down most learners. If your phone has a full keyboard, use that.
Cheonjiin is worth trying only if you like the dot-and-bar idea or must use a 12-key pad.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does Cheonjiin Mean?
Cheonjiin, 천지인, means "heaven, earth, human". The three elements correspond to the three basic marks of the keyboard: a dot for heaven, a horizontal bar for earth and a vertical bar for a person. Combining the marks produces the vowel letters, which is the whole idea of the layout.
Is Cheonjiin the Standard Korean Phone Keyboard?
No. Most smartphones use a QWERTY-style keyboard with the 2-beolsik map. Cheonjiin began on 12-key phones and survives as an option on some Android keyboards. Learners who want one layout for both phone and computer should choose 2-beolsik.
How Do I Type ㅓ on Cheonjiin?
Press the dot key ㆍ and then the vertical bar ㅣ. The order matters, because the same two keys in the opposite order give a different vowel. The vertical bar followed by a dot gives ㅏ. Because the dot sits on the left of the bar in ㅓ, you press it first. Check that the screen shows ㅓ before you go on.
Should I Learn Cheonjiin as a Beginner?
Probably not for now. It can be fun and it teaches vowel logic, but most Korean typing guides, tests and keyboards assume 2-beolsik. Learn that first, and use cheonjiin only if your device offers it and you enjoy the dot-and-bar idea.
Related Terms and Lessons
- 2-beolsik keyboard layout: the default layout.
- Korean vowels: the 21 modern vowel letters.
- How to type Korean on Android: turning on the layouts your phone has.
- Korean keyboard layout: the whole section.
