Choose the correct pronunciation for the Hangeul syllable.

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

To analyze the options, we need to recall how Hangul syllables are formed and pronounced. The syllable in question is represented by the given correct option and corresponds to the Korean letter block that yields the sound 'ing'.

Option a: 'ng'. This would only be the final consonant sound (받침) and cannot stand as a complete syllable on its own. Korean syllables require an initial consonant cluster (even if silent as ㅇ) plus a vowel, so starting with 'ng' is not a valid syllable anatomy.

Option b: 'ngi'. While it has the /ŋ/ (ng) sequence, the typical Korean syllable structure does not begin with 'ng' as an onset. The initial consonant position cannot produce a standalone 'ng' cluster before the vowel in standard Hangul; thus this form is not a standard syllable pronunciation.

Option c: 'ing'. Here, the initial ㅇ acts as a placeholder consonant with no sound, the vowel is ㅣ giving an 'i' quality, and the final ㄴ or ㅇ contributes the 'ng' ending depending on the exact block. For the syllable commonly transcribed as '잉', the pronunciation is indeed 'ing'. This combination matches the expected phonetic outcome when you have an initial silent ㅇ, a high front vowel, and a final nasal sound.

Option d: 'i'. This would be the pronunciation of the syllable 이 (i) with just the vowel sound and no final consonant. It lacks the final nasal component that characterizes the target syllable's sound.

Taken together, the only option that faithfully represents the full syllable pronunciation with the initial silent ㅇ, the vowel contributing an 'i' quality, and a final nasal consonant is 'ing'. The other choices misrepresent the allowable onset, vowel, or final consonant structure in standard Hangul syllables.

Choose the correct pronunciation for the Hangeul syllable.

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