How to Write Hangul: Stroke Order for Korean Consonants, Vowels and First Words

1. Start with basic lines

Before letters, draw big horizontal lines (ㅡ), vertical lines (ㅣ), bent lines (ㄱ, ㄴ) and circles (ㅇ). Most Korean letters are built from these four shapes, so once the lines feel easy, the letters follow.

2. The basic stroke-order rules

• Write from top to bottom and from left to right.
• A bending stroke such as ㄱ or ㄴ is written in one go without lifting the pencil.
• ㅇ starts at the top and circles to the left (counterclockwise).
• Counting strokes helps: ㄱ, ㄴ and ㅇ have one stroke, ㄷ and ㅅ two, ㄹ and ㅁ three, and ㅂ four.

3. The 14 consonants: fewest strokes first

Begin with one-stroke letters such as ㄱ, ㄴ and ㅇ, then move to letters with more strokes such as ㄹ and ㅂ. Saying the letter name aloud (giyeok, nieun, digeut …) while writing links the name and the shape.

On the practice screen, "Show me" animates each stroke with a numbered starting dot and an arrow. A correct stroke stays green; if the direction or shape is off, that stroke is shown again.

4. The 10 vowels: long and short strokes

• ㅏ, ㅑ: draw the long vertical line first, then the short line(s) on the right.
• ㅓ, ㅕ: draw the short line(s) first, then the long vertical line.
• ㅗ, ㅛ: short vertical line(s) first, then the long horizontal line.
• ㅜ, ㅠ: the long horizontal line first, then the short line(s) below.
• ㅡ and ㅣ are single strokes.

5. Moving on to words: no batchim first

When the letters feel easy, write words without a final consonant, such as 소 (cow), 하마 (hippo) and 사자 (lion). Words with a final consonant, such as 곰 (bear) and 얼룩말 (zebra), fit three parts into one square and are a little harder.

The picture word sets (pets and farm, zoo and savanna, forest and garden, ocean and polar, everyday objects) list words from easy to hard by syllable count and final consonants, and each word shows its English meaning.

6. Writing inside the square

Each Korean syllable goes in its own square with a guide cross. Without a final consonant, the syllable fills the square from top to bottom; with one, the first consonant and vowel go in the upper part and the final consonant at the bottom. Start with the big squares on screen, then move to the smaller squares on the printed sheet.

7. A ten-minute session

• One minute of lines: across, down, circles
• Three or four letters: watch "Show me", then trace
• Two or three words: name the picture → press "Listen" → trace
• Finish with one row on paper using "Print worksheet"

For heritage learners and classes abroad

The English version of the practice pages keeps every Korean set, and "Listen" reads the word aloud if your device has a Korean voice installed. Teachers can project "Show me" on a board and have children trace the strokes in the air before writing.

Practice with this guide

Trace these sets on screen, or print the same letters and words as a worksheet.

ㄱ ㄴ ㄷKorean Consonant Tracing (Hangul)14 basic consonants ㄱ to ㅎStart →ㅏ ㅑ ㅓKorean Vowel Tracing (Hangul)10 basic vowels ㅏ to ㅣStart →Korean Words: Pets and Farm Animals14 Korean words such as 소 (cow), 말 (horse), 양 (sheep)Start →Korean Words: Everyday Objects12 Korean words such as 책 (book), 컵 (cup), 공 (ball)Start →

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