도깨비
Goblin · official romanization Dokkaebi
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Build it step by step
The letters of each block, then the block they build. Tap a play button to hear it.
Red first consonantBlue vowelBlack final consonant (batchim)
Block 1: 도 [do]
2 letters
First consonant
디귿 digeut
[d]Vowel
[o]o as in “go”, without the w glide
Built block · vowel underneath
ㄷ + ㅗ =
도
Block 2: 깨 [kkae]
2 letters
First consonant
쌍기역 ssanggiyeok
[kk]Vowel
[ae]like the “e” in “bed”
Built block · vowel on the right
ㄲ + ㅐ =
깨
Block 3: 비 [bi]
2 letters
First consonant
비읍 bieup
[b]Vowel
[i]i as in “see”
Built block · vowel on the right
ㅂ + ㅣ =
비
All blocks together
도 + 깨 + 비 =
도깨비
Spelling vs. sound
The official romanization is Dokkaebi, and English-speaking fans know the show as Goblin. The doubled ㄲ in 깨 is one tense consonant, so the romanization writes it as kk: ㄷ+ㅗ = 도, ㄲ+ㅐ = 깨, ㅂ+ㅣ = 비.
Say it do-kkae-bi. ㄲ is tense: tighten your throat and say a sharp k with no puff of air. ㅐ sounds like the “e” in “bed”, and ㅂ between vowels is a soft b.
Long before television, a 도깨비 was a playful goblin from Korean folk tales, so the word shows up in old stories too. ㄲ is one of five doubled consonants: ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ and ㅉ.
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