When you type in Korean on your smartphone, what kind of keyboard do you use? Are you using the familiar QWERTY layout, like the one you typically use on a computer?
Chances are, most people are using this standard keyboard. But did you know there’s another keyboard layout specifically designed for typing in Korean? It’s called the "천지인" (Chunjiin) keyboard. In today’s post, we’ll dive into this unique Korean input method and explore how it works.
What is "Chunjiin"?
"천지인" comes from an ancient East Asian philosophical concept. "Chun" (천, 天) stands for the sky, "Ji" (지, 地) represents the earth, and "In" (인, 人) refers to people. These three elements—heaven, earth, and humanity—were considered the foundation of the universe. This idea was even used as the basis for creating the vowels in Hangul, the Korean writing system. Let’s take a closer look at how Hangul vowels were formed.
"천" (天) is represented by the dot (ㆍ), symbolizing the sky.
"지" (地) is represented by the horizontal line (ㅡ), symbolizing the earth.
"인" (人) is represented by the vertical line (ㅣ), which resembles a standing person.
By combining these three simple shapes, we can create all the vowels in Hangul. Here are a few examples:
ㅣ + ㆍ = ㅏ
ㆍ + ㅣ = ㅓ
ㆍ + ㅡ = ㅗ
ㅡ + ㆍ = ㅜ
Isn’t it fascinating? With just three basic shapes, we can create all the vowels in the Korean language! While the "ㆍ" vowel was used in the original Hangul, it’s no longer in use today.
The Advantages of the Chunjiin Keyboard
Some of you might be hearing about the "천지인" keyboard for the first time. It’s very simple in design. This keyboard was first introduced in the 1990s with Samsung’s Anycall mobile phones. It was created to allow users to type efficiently using just a small numeric keypad on old mobile phones, and it quickly became popular in Korea.
To use it, you simply press the buttons in the sequence that corresponds to the vowel you want to type, just like how we combined the shapes above. One of the biggest advantages of the "천지인" keyboard is that it requires fewer buttons, which allows for larger keys. This reduces the chances of making typing errors, especially on smaller devices.
The Drawbacks of the Chunjiin Keyboard
However, with the rise of smartphones, fewer people are using the "천지인" keyboard. Smartphones have larger screens and more flexibility in keyboard design, making it easier to use a full QWERTY layout.
Because the QWERTY keyboard has more keys, users can type much faster compared to "천지인". In fact, there’s a video on YouTube where someone tests typing speed on both "천지인" and QWERTY keyboards, and the QWERTY keyboard was significantly faster.
➤ The "천지인" keyboard is a unique and efficient way to type in Korean, especially on smaller mobile devices. If you often make typos with the QWERTY keyboard, it might be worth giving "천지인" a try! And for those of you who are learning about it for the first time, it could be a fun experience to test it out. :)
