Ui in Korean: the Vowel ㅢ (의)

In dictionary order ㅢ (ui) is vowel number 20 of 21, after ㅡ and before ㅣ. With 2 strokes, ㅢ (ui) has the same stroke count as 4 other vowels, namely ㅏ, ㅓ, ㅗ, and ㅜ.

Start with flat lips as for ㅡ and glide to ㅣ. In many words ㅢ is said as simply ㅣ or ㅔ, following clear rules.

ㅢ is a mixed vowel: ㅡ under the consonant and ㅣ on the right. At the start of a word, as in 의사 (doctor), it keeps both parts; after a consonant, as in 희망 (hope), it is said [ㅣ].

Because ㅢ has both a vertical and a horizontal part, it wraps around the consonant: the horizontal part goes below and the vertical part stands on the right, as in 긔 (gui).

A bare ㅢ (ui) sound needs a consonant in front, because Korean spelling always wants one: 의 (ui) uses the silent ㅇ.

With ㅢ (ui), the whole vowel is two strokes.

Learn three words, one for each rule: 의자 (chair), 희망 (hope) and the particle 의 in 나의 (my). Say each the way its rule says.

ㅢ has three readings: 의사 [의사] at the start of a word, 희망 [히망] after a consonant, and the particle 의 as [의] or [에], as in 우리의 [우리의/우리에].

Learners often say every ㅢ as u-i. After a consonant it is plain [ㅣ]: 흰색 (white) is [힌색].

Its closest neighbour is ㅣ (i); compare the two in the table below.

ㅢ is ㅡ and ㅣ (i) written together, and its name is 의. It joins the earth line and the standing line of the Hunminjeongeum design.

In 의자 (chair), ㅢ sits in the first block 의, which is ㅇㅢ and is read ui.

In 회의 (meeting), ㅢ sits in the second block 의, which is ㅇㅢ and is read ui.

In 무늬 (pattern), ㅢ sits in the second block 늬, which is ㄴㅢ and is read nui.

In 희망 (hope), ㅢ sits in the first block 희, which is ㅎㅢ and is read hui.

In 의사 (doctor), ㅢ sits in the first block 의, which is ㅇㅢ and is read ui.

Put ㅢ (ui) behind each basic consonant and the row starts 긔 (gui), 늬 (nui), 듸 (dui), and 릐 (rui); only the front of the block changes.

ㅢ (ui) is easiest to hear by reading the whole row aloud, once for every opening position.

Under the silent ㅇ and ㅢ, six common finals give 읙 (uik), 읜 (uin), 읠 (uil), 읨 (uim), 읩 (uip), 읭 (uing).

Listen for ㅢ (ui) in the middle of each block, because it keeps its shape while the final consonant closes the sound.

Close 의 with ㄱ and you read 읙 (uik), closing on a quiet k. Close 의 with ㄴ and you read 읜 (uin), closing on a hummed n. Close 의 with ㄹ and you read 읠 (uil), closing on a tongue-tip l.

Close 의 with ㅁ and you read 읨 (uim), closing on a lip-closed m. Put ㅂ at the bottom of 의 for 읩 (uip), closing on a lip-closed p. Add ㅇ under 의 and you get 읭 (uing), closing on the ng of song.

Continue with ㅣ (i), the last vowel. Then read 의미, 의자 and 흰색 and trace ㅢ.

Print the ㅢ (ui) worksheet when you are ready: one page, built from the facts above, with the strokes to trace and a letter-spotting game.