Tim, letter by letter
Hangul is written in blocks. Each block is one syllable, built from a consonant, a vowel and sometimes a final consonant at the bottom.
| Block | Letters | How each letter sounds | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| 팀 | ㅌ + ㅣ + ㅁ | ㅌ t ㅣ i, as in “see” ㅁ m at the end | tim |
Why Tim is written this way
- Tim ends in a consonant, so it sits at the bottom of the last block as a final consonant (받침): 팀 has ㅁ at the bottom.
Introducing yourself
The ending after your name depends on how it ends in Korean. 팀 ends in a consonant (ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄹ…) at the bottom of the last block, so you say 제 이름은 팀이에요 (je ireumeun timieyo). With friends, Koreans add 아 (a) when calling someone by name. At work, coworkers will usually call you 팀 씨 or 팀 님.
Official documents such as your residence card use your name in English letters, as in your passport. The Hangul spelling is what friends, coworkers and baristas will write.