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Lesson 10

H-Weakening (ㅎ 탈락)

ㅎ as a 받침 disappears before vowel-initial syllables. Combined with ㄴ or in ㄴㅎ/ㄹㅎ clusters, it also weakens.

ㅎ 탈락 — ㅎ Drops Before Vowels

When ㅎ is the 받침 and the next syllable starts with ㅇ (silent/vowel), the ㅎ completely disappears. 좋아요: 좋[joh]+아요 → [조아요]. 놓아요: 놓[noh]+아요 → [노아요].

좋아요 → [조아요]joayo좋[joh] + 아요 → ㅎ disappears: [jo-a-yo]
넣어요 → [너어요]neoeoyo넣[neoh] + 어요 → ㅎ disappears: [neo-eo-yo]

ㄴㅎ Cluster — ㅎ Also Drops

In double-받침 clusters ㄴㅎ (않, 많) and ㄹㅎ (싫, 옳), ㅎ drops before vowels. 많아요: 많(ㄴ+ㅎ)+아요 → [마나요]. 않아요: 않(ㄴ+ㅎ)+아요 → [아나요].

많아요 → [마나요]manayo많(ㄴ+ㅎ) + 아요 → ㅎ drops, ㄴ links: [ma-na-yo]
않아요 → [아나요]anayo않(ㄴ+ㅎ) + 아요 → ㅎ drops, ㄴ links: [a-na-yo]
좋아요joayogood / like (polite)
Examples오늘 날씨가 정말 좋아요.oneul nalssiga jeongmal joayoThe weather today is really nice.
많아요manayothere are many / a lot (polite)
Examples오늘 사람이 정말 많아요.oneul sarami jeongmal manayoThere are so many people today.
넣어요neoeoyoput in / insert (polite)
Examples설탕을 조금 넣어요.seoltangeul jogeum neoeoyoPut in a little sugar.
놓아요noayoput down / leave (polite)
Examples가방을 여기 놓아요.gabangeul yeogi noayoPut your bag here.
않아요anayodo not (polite negation)
Examples저는 고기를 먹지 않아요.jeoneun gogireul meokji anayoI don't eat meat.
좋은joeungood (modifier)
Examples좋은 소식이 있어요.joeun sosibi isseoyoThere is good news.