비빔밥
Bibimbap · official romanization Bibimbap
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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: 비 [bi]
2 letters
First consonant
비읍 bieup
[b]Vowel
[i]i as in “see”
Built block · vowel on the right
ㅂ + ㅣ =
비
Block 2: 빔 [bim]
3 letters
First consonant
비읍 bieup
[b]Vowel
[i]i as in “see”
Final (batchim)
미음 mieum
[m]plain m
Built block · vowel on the right, final at the bottom
ㅂ + ㅣ + ㅁ =
빔
Block 3: 밥 [bap]
3 letters
First consonant
비읍 bieup
[b]Vowel
[a]a as in “father”
Final (batchim)
비읍 bieup
[p]
Built block · vowel on the right, final at the bottom
ㅂ + ㅏ + ㅂ =
밥
All blocks together
비 + 빔 + 밥 =
비빔밥
Spelling vs. sound
The official romanization is bibimbap: ㅂ+ㅣ = 비 (bi), ㅂ+ㅣ+ㅁ = 빔 (bim) and ㅂ+ㅏ+ㅂ = 밥 (bap). The same letter ㅂ is written b at the start of a word and p at the very end.
Say it bi-bim-bap, three even beats. 빔 ends with closed lips on a soft m, and the ㅂ at the bottom of 밥 is a short p: close your lips and stop, with no puff of air.
The name tells you how to eat it: 비비다 means “to mix” and 밥 means “cooked rice”, so stir everything together before the first bite. 밥 on its own is also an everyday word for a meal.
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