Tensification (경음화 / 된소리되기)
Tensification (gyeong-eumhwa) is when plain consonants (ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ, ㅈ) turn into tense consonants (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ) in certain environments.
After a Stop Batchim
When the batchim sounds [ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ] are followed by ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ, or ㅈ, those consonants become tense.
학교
hak-kkyo
school — the ㄱ batchim makes the next ㄱ tense, so it sounds like 학꾜.
식당
sik-ttang
restaurant — the ㄱ batchim makes ㄷ tense, so it sounds like 식땅.
잡지
jap-jji
magazine — the ㅂ batchim makes ㅈ tense, so it sounds like 잡찌.
After ㄴ or ㅁ in Verb Stems
After a ㄴ or ㅁ at the end of a verb or adjective stem, a following ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅅ, or ㅈ also becomes tense.
신다
sin-tta
to wear (shoes) — it sounds like 신따.
안고
an-kko
holding/hugging — from 안다, the ㄴ stem makes ㄱ tense, so it sounds like 안꼬.
After the Future/Modifier ㄹ
After a modifier form ending in -(으)ㄹ, a following ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ, or ㅈ also becomes tense.
할 수
hal-ssu
able to (do) — ㅅ becomes tense after ㄹ, so it sounds like 할쑤.
갈 데
gal-tte
a place to go — ㄷ becomes tense after ㄹ, so it sounds like 갈떼.
먹다
meok-tta
to eat — the ㄱ batchim makes ㄷ tense, so it sounds like 먹따.
역시
yeok-ssi
as expected — the ㄱ batchim makes ㅅ tense, so it sounds like 역씨.
감다
gam-tta
to wash (one's hair) — the ㅁ stem makes ㄷ tense, so it sounds like 감따.
Tensification in Sino-Korean ㄹ Words
In Sino-Korean words, a ㄷ, ㅅ, or ㅈ after the batchim ㄹ is pronounced tense.
발달
bal-ttal
development — ㄷ becomes tense after ㄹ, so it sounds like 발딸.
결정
gyeol-jjeong
decision — ㅈ becomes tense after ㄹ, so it sounds like 결쩡.
| Spelling | Pronunciation | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 학교 | [학꾜] | hak-kkyo |
| 식당 | [식땅] | sik-ttang |
| 잡지 | [잡찌] | jap-jji |
| 신다 | [신따] | sin-tta |
| 발달 | [발딸] | bal-ttal |
| 결정 | [결쩡] | gyeol-jjeong |
💡 Tip: Tense consonants are made short and hard, with extra tension in the throat.
Tensification never shows up in the spelling, so you have to apply the rule rather than read letter by letter.