Korean · Difficult words
How to pronounce 간 in Korean
간
Romanization: gan
Liver
Standard South Korean; reference: SK-Standard, Seoul · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
간 is pronounced [ka̠(ː)n] in Korean. In 간: Open the jaw for the a-like vowel shown in the IPA. Keep it continuous and follow the recording’s tongue position. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
Explore the app’s available speaking languages
Find the sounds in 간
The reference transcription for 간 is [ka̠(ː)n]. Read adjacent consonants together without inserting extra vowels. Korean pronunciation changes when sounds meet. Follow the spoken transcription and connected example rather than reading each Hangul letter in isolation.
1.An open vowel
In 간: Open the jaw for the a-like vowel shown in the IPA. Keep it continuous and follow the recording’s tongue position.
Watch out: Do not substitute the English diphthong in “day”.
Hear it in context
간이 어디에 있어요?
gani eodie isseoyo?
Where is the liver?
Listen once, say it aloud, then replay at 1.00×. Keep the word connected to the surrounding sentence rather than giving every syllable equal weight.
Pronunciation and variety
간 is presented in standard South Korean pronunciation. Everyday speech can vary in vowel quality and consonant realization. Treat the romanization as a reading aid and follow the Hangul, IPA, and recording together.
The English-style respelling is approximate. Use the IPA and recording together for vowel quality and consonants that do not have an exact English equivalent.
Meaning and everyday use
Questions about 간
How do you pronounce 간?
간 is pronounced [ka̠(ː)n] in Korean. In 간: Open the jaw for the a-like vowel shown in the IPA. Keep it continuous and follow the recording’s tongue position. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In 간: Open the jaw for the a-like vowel shown in the IPA. Keep it continuous and follow the recording’s tongue position. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.

