Korean · Difficult words
How to pronounce 자전거 in Korean
자전거
Romanization: jajeon'geo
Bicycle
Standard South Korean; reference: SK-Standard, Seoul · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
자전거 is pronounced [t͡ɕa̠d͡ʑʌ̹nɡʌ̹] in Korean. In 자전거: Use a single open back-to-central vowel. The spelling “eo” in romanization represents one vowel. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
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Find the sounds in 자전거
The reference transcription for 자전거 is [t͡ɕa̠d͡ʑʌ̹nɡʌ̹]. 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.The eo vowel /ʌ/
In 자전거: Use a single open back-to-central vowel. The spelling “eo” in romanization represents one vowel.
Watch out: Do not read eo as an e followed by o.
2.An open vowel
In 자전거: 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
자전거를 타고 왔어요.
jajeongeoreul tago wasseoyo.
I came by bicycle.
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
자전거 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 자전거
How do you pronounce 자전거?
자전거 is pronounced [t͡ɕa̠d͡ʑʌ̹nɡʌ̹] in Korean. In 자전거: Use a single open back-to-central vowel. The spelling “eo” in romanization represents one vowel. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In 자전거: Use a single open back-to-central vowel. The spelling “eo” in romanization represents one vowel. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
