Common Mistakes in Korean (2): 빗, 빚, 빛

As a Korean language teacher, I often notice mispronunciations when watching TV, especially from presenters or guests. Some mistakes may go unnoticed by others, but they stand out to me. One of the most frequent issues involves the three words "빗," "빚," and "빛." It’s surprisingly rare to hear someone pronounce them correctly. After reading this post, you’ll likely be able to spot these common mistakes, too!

The Meaning of Each Word

Though these three words sound the same when used alone, their meanings are different:

빗: Comb
빚: Debt
빛: Light

It’s easy to mix them up, but knowing the meanings is key to understanding when you hear them in context.

The Liaison Rule (연음법칙)

In Korean, the consonant "ㅇ" is unique because it doesn't carry any sound on its own. When a syllable that ends in a last consonant (받침, Batchim) is followed by one starting with "ㅇ," the last consonant moves over to take its place. This is called the liaison rule, or "연음법칙." While the name of the rule isn’t crucial, applying it helps you pronounce Korean more naturally. Keep this rule in mind!

Correct Pronunciation

Let’s add the object marker "을" to each of the three words and see how the pronunciation changes:

빗을: [비슬]
빚을: [비즐]
빛을: [비츨]

As you can see, when the final consonant of each word moves to the next syllable, the pronunciation of each word changes slightly. This is the correct way to pronounce them. However, many people mistakenly pronounce "빚" and "빛" as [비슬], the same as "빗."

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➤ While such pronunciation mistakes are minor in everyday conversations, as the meanings are clear in context, using correct pronunciation is still important, especially in formal settings. Just like a typo in an official document, making these errors in speech can affect how others perceive your professionalism or attention to detail.

So, next time you come across these words, try to remember their correct pronunciations. It’s a small step toward mastering more precise and polished Korean!

Common Mistakes in Korean (2): 빗, 빚, 빛

The Meaning of Each Word

The Liaison Rule (연음법칙)

Correct Pronunciation

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