ㅄ (비읍시옷): the Korean double final consonant
ㅄ joins ㅂ and ㅅ under a vowel. Learn which letter is heard. Hear 값 alone as 갑 and linked as 갑씨; print the free ㅄ worksheet.
What sound does ㅄ make at the end of a syllable?
ㅄ (bieup siot) puts ㅂ and ㅅ (siot) together in the final spot, yet only the first letter, ㅂ, is pronounced, as a short p, when the syllable ends. ㅄ is common thanks to two very frequent words: 값 (price) and 없다 (to not exist), which appear in everyday shopping and conversation. Start with 값 (price), which is [갑] by itself and [갑씨] in 값이.
ㅄ bieup siot: parts, sound and strokes
ㅄ 비읍시옷Korean double final consonant
ㅄ joins ㅂ and ㅅ; at the end of a syllable the first letter, ㅂ, is heard.
ㅄ at a glance
Which sound ㅄ makes at the end
비읍시옷ㅄ before a vowel
| Word | Alone | Linked |
|---|---|---|
| 값 (price) | [갑] | 값이 [갑씨] |
| 없다 (to not exist) | [업따] | 없어요 [업써요] |
| 가엾다 (to be pitiful) | [가엽따] | 가엾어요 [가엽써요] |
Before a vowel the ㅅ moves forward and is read as a tense ss: 값이 is [갑씨], 없어요 is [업써요] and 가엾어요 is [가엽써요].
Say 값 (price) on its own first, as [갑], and then 값이, which is read [갑씨]. Say 없다 (to not exist) on its own first, as [업따], and then 없어요, which is read [업써요]. Say 가엾다 (to be pitiful) on its own first, as [가엽따], and then 가엾어요, which is read [가엽써요].
More forms of ㅄ to listen for
| Form | Reading |
|---|---|
| 값도 | [갑또] |
| 없고 | [업꼬] |
| 없지 | [업찌] |
| 없는 | [엄는] |
Before a consonant only the ㅂ is heard, the next consonant often turns tense, and ㅂ before ㄴ turns into an m.
Forms worth repeating are 값도 [갑또], 없고 [업꼬], 없지 [업찌], 없는 [엄는]; the written letters are the same, but the sounds shift around them.
Think of ㅅ as the small hiss hiding behind ㅂ: silent in 값, loud in 값이.
Exceptions and special cases for ㅄ
A common slip with ㅄ
A very common slip is to say 값이 as [갑이] with a clear i and no tense s. The natural reading is [갑씨].
Use 값 and 없다 as anchor words. If you can say 값이 [갑씨] and 없어요 [업써요] without thinking, you have the pattern for every ㅄ word.
How to write ㅄ
Trace bieup siot ㅄ with a finger, mouse or pen: start at the numbered dot, follow the dotted arrow, and press Clear to try again.
Print style 정자체
Follow the numbers and dotted arrows
Handwriting 필기체
Same stroke order as print style
The two letters inside ㅄ
Where ㅄ sits in a block
Words that use ㅄ
Words with ㅄ
The words below all contain ㅄ (bieup-siot); the right-hand column shows how their ending sounds before a vowel.
ㅄ among the other double finals
ㅄ writing worksheet (free printable)
Worksheet · Level 1 · Letters
Korean double final consonant tracing worksheet: ㅄ (bieup siot)
The one-page bieup siot ㅄ sheet shows which of ㅂ and ㅅ is read, traces ㅄ, and practises the words 값, 없다, 가엾다.
- 1 page
- A4 · US Letter
- PDF · 85 KB
- Free · no sign-up
Want more? Get a printable pack of Hangul letters
Worksheet information
- How to use
- Decide which letter of ㅄ you hear, trace it in 6 strokes, then practice 값 and 없다.
Practice ㅄ
Practice the pair [갑] and [갑씨] aloud, bare form first and the vowel form second.
The worksheet for ㅄ (bieup-siot) is a single printable page made from the same data as this page: it has the stroke order, tracing rows and a find-the-letter game.
Try it yourself
Put bieup siot ㅄ, p, into the builder and read the block it makes. Open the syllable builder with ㅄ ready
ㅄ (비읍시옷) — FAQ
Which sound does ㅄ make when it ends a syllable?
Only ㅂ is heard, as a short p.
When is ㅄ read with both letters?
Before a vowel the ㅅ moves forward and is read as a tense ss. Examples: 값이 is [갑씨], 없어요 is [업써요] and 가엾어요 is [가엽써요].
Why is 값이 read [갑씨]?
When the ㅅ of ㅄ moves to the next syllable it becomes a tense ss. So the ㅂ closes the first syllable and 씨 starts the second: 갑씨.
How many strokes does ㅄ have?
ㅄ has six strokes: ㅂ takes 4 strokes and ㅅ takes 2 strokes.
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