Typing Korean on a Keyboard and Phone

You type letters, the computer builds blocks

When you type Korean, you do not look for whole syllables like 한 or 국. You type the individual letters in order, and the keyboard software puts them together into blocks automatically. To type 한, you press ㅎ, then ㅏ, then ㄴ.

The software is clever. If you type a consonant after a vowel, it first places it at the bottom of the block as batchim. But if you then type another vowel, it moves that consonant to start a new block. For example, type ㅎ ㅏ ㄴ ㄱ ㅜ ㄱ ㅇ ㅓ. You will see 한, then 한구, then 한국, then 한국ㅇ, and finally 한국어. You do not need to do anything special. Just type the letters in the order you write them.

The 2-set keyboard (두벌식)

The standard Korean keyboard is called 두벌식, which means two sets: one set of consonants and one set of vowels. It is printed on most keyboards sold in Korea, but it uses the same physical keys as a normal QWERTY keyboard, so you can use it on any computer.

The design is simple: consonants are on the left side and vowels are on the right side. So your left hand types consonants and your right hand types vowels. Because Korean syllables usually go consonant, vowel, consonant, your hands take turns, which makes typing fast and comfortable.

Compound vowels and double finals

There are no keys for ㅘ, ㅝ, ㅢ or the other compound vowels. You type the two parts in order, and the software joins them. In the same way, double final consonants like ㄺ or ㅄ are typed as two consonants in a row.

If you make a mistake, Backspace usually deletes one letter at a time while you are still building a block. For example, if you typed 갂 by accident, one Backspace gives you 각 again.

Adding a Korean keyboard

Menu names change between versions, so here are the general steps. Look for words like Language, Keyboard or Input.

Windows: Open Settings, go to Time & language, then Language & region. Add a language and choose Korean (한국어). Switch between English and Korean with the Windows key + Space, or with the Right Alt key (it works as the 한/영 key on many laptops).

macOS: Open System Settings, then Keyboard. Under Text Input, edit the input sources, press +, choose Korean, and select 2-Set Korean (두벌식). Switch with Control + Space, the Globe key, or Caps Lock, depending on your settings.

Android: Open the settings of your keyboard app (for example Gboard or Samsung Keyboard). Go to Languages, add Korean, and choose a layout: 2-set (두벌식, like a computer) or 천지인. Switch with the globe icon or by sliding the space bar.

iPhone and iPad (iOS): Open Settings, then General, Keyboard, Keyboards, and Add New Keyboard. Choose Korean, then Standard (두벌식) or 10-Key (천지인). Switch with the globe icon on the keyboard.

One important tip: when the Korean keyboard is on but you type English letters, you are in English mode. Press the switch key once and try again. Every Korean has typed dkssudgktpdy instead of 안녕하세요 at least once!

The 천지인 phone keypad

천지인 means heaven, earth and human. On this keypad there are only three vowel keys: a dot ㆍ (heaven), a flat line ㅡ (earth) and a tall line ㅣ (human). You build every vowel by pressing them in order, just as the vowels were designed in Hunminjeongeum.

For example, ㅣ then ㆍ makes ㅏ. ㆍ then ㅣ makes ㅓ. ㆍ then ㅡ makes ㅗ. ㅡ then ㆍ makes ㅜ. Press ㆍ twice for the y-vowels: ㅣ ㆍ ㆍ makes ㅑ.

Consonants share keys. On most 천지인 keypads, one key holds ㄱ and ㅋ, another holds ㄴ and ㄹ, and so on. Press once for the basic letter, again for the next one, and again for the tense one, for example ㄱ → ㅋ → ㄲ. The exact arrangement can differ a little between apps, so look at the keys on your phone.

천지인 is great for typing with one thumb, and the keys are big. 두벌식 is the same as a computer keyboard, so you only need to learn one layout. Try both and choose the one you like!