Sometimes, having a little understanding of something, makes it easier to remember. So since I was asked about how to remember bright and dark vowels, I thought I’d discuss it a little! ^^
Understanding BRIGHT and DARK vowels.
If you did not already know, Hangul was created in 1443 by King Sejong and his scholars during the Choson Dynasty. Since Chinese characters were difficult to learn, only privileged aristocrats would be able to read and write (predominantly only male) which meant most commoners were illiterate. Thus, Hangul was developed so that even a commoner could learn how to read and write.
Since King Sejong was quite the perfectionist and idealist, he was adamant that everything needed to work in harmony with the Li principle. King Sejong used the principle of “Heaven, Ground, and Man” to create Hangul. A horizontal line to represent Earth (ㅡ). A dot to represent Heaven (ㆍ), and a vertical line to represent an upright human (ㅣ).
This ultimately led to the creation of the vowels! The consonants came soon after (their design relating closely to the positioning of the tongue, lips, and mouth when speaking) to develop the completed alphabet.
Following the Yin and Yang principle, bright and dark vowels are a way to create balance and harmony within a word. Only vowels of the same kind can be combined together.
For example, the bright vowel 오 can be attached to 아 to form the vowel 와. But you can not attach the dark vowel 우 to the bright vowel 아.
BRIGHT vowels are considered to be lighter vowels, that sound happier. They are categorised as Yang:
아 / 야 / 오 / 요 / 애 / 와 / 외 / 왜 / 얘
DARK vowels are considered heavier, and have a denser sound. They are categorised as Yin:
어 / 우 / 여 / 유 / 에 / 예 / 워 / 위 / 웨
Not only can bright and dark vowels only be combined with their own kind (and neutral), but they can also be seen to reinforce the definition of a word!
For bright words, such as Morning (아침), Beautiful (아름답다), Bright (밝다) they all contain a bright vowel.
For darker words, such as Dark (어둡다), Difficult (어렵다), To Die (죽다), they all contain a dark vowel.
Although this isn’t always the case, it is indeed a nice concept to consider!
Using BRIGHT and DARK vowels.
We use bright and dark vowels as a way to understand which vowels to use when conjugating.
BRIGHT vowels are usually followed by another bright vowel.
Example: Using basic, informal present conjugation.
(Dictionary form) 오다 -> (Verb stem) 오 -> 오+아 -> 오아 -> 와
(Dictionary form) 가다 -> (Verb stem) 가 -> 가+아 -> 가아 -> 가
DARK vowels are usually followed by another dark vowel.
Example: Using basic, informal present conjugation.
(Dictionary form) 먹다 -> (Verb stem) 먹 -> 먹+어 -> 먹어
(Dictionary form) 열다 -> (Verb stem) 열 -> 열+어 -> 열어
NEUTRAL vowels are conjugated the same as dark vowels.
Example: Using basic, informal present conjugation.
(Dictionary form) 씻다 -> (Verb stem) 씻 -> 씻+어 -> 씻어
(Dictionary form) 믿다 -> (Verb stem) 믿 -> 믿+어 -> 믿어
Note: The exception to this rule is when conjugating ~하다 verbs. When conjugating a word stem ending in 하, it is often attached to the dark vowel 여 to form 해. But this isn’t important right now!
The best way to remember which vowels are bright, and which are dark, is to try and think of bright vowels as variations of 오 and 아. If the vowel is not either of these, or a variation of 오 and 아, then you know the rest can be conjugated with a dark vowel.
However, I know that this isn’t always as easy for some, as it is for others. Which is why I get asked how to remember them!
My tip for remembering bright and dark vowels is this:
Bright vowels point to the North (resembling a sunrise) and to the East (the direction the sun rises). Whereas, dark vowels point to the South and to the West (the directions of a sunset).
Neutral vowels are just straight lines, so we know they are neutral!
With 오 and 요, the ㅗ and ㅛ face upwards, much like a sunrise!
With 아 and 야,ㅏandㅑface the right (East), the direction the sun rises from.
So 와, 외, and 왜 each of them have a part of the vowel facing either North or East.
애 and 얘 are simply combinations of 아 and 이, 야 and 이. So the vowels face East, which means they are bright vowels!
With 어 and 여, theㅓandㅕ face West, the direction the sun sets in!
With 우 and 유, the ㅜ and ㅠ face downwards, much like a sunset.
For 에, 예, 워, 위, and 웨, each of them have a part of the vowel that faces West or South like a sunset!
I always find the history behind things incredibly interesting, so I hope you did too. ^^ I also hope that you found this the tiniest bit helpful. If you have any other questions on learning Korean, feel free to ask!
Best of of luck with your studies!
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