Korean Keyboard Layout
The standard Korean layout (dubeolsik) puts consonants on the left and vowels on the right. Typing g, k, s, r, m, f gives 한글, and the keys for ㄷ ㅏ ㄹ ㄱ combine into 닭.
How to use
- Click the on-screen keys, or just type on your physical keyboard. Each English key maps to a Hangul letter and the letters join into syllable blocks as you type.
- Hold Shift (or press the Shift key on screen) for the double consonants ㄲ ㄸ ㅃ ㅆ ㅉ and the vowels ㅒ ㅖ.
- Use Backspace to delete one letter at a time inside a block. Press Copy to copy the text.
- To practice, choose a word under Practice. The next key to press is highlighted and the full key sequence is shown.
How it works
The layout is the South Korean standard KS X 5002, called dubeolsik (2-set). Consonants sit on the left half of the keyboard and vowels on the right, so a syllable alternates left hand and right hand. 14 consonants and 10 vowels have their own key. The five double consonants are Shift + ㅂ ㅈ ㄷ ㄱ ㅅ and the two vowels ㅒ ㅖ are Shift + ㅐ ㅔ.
Blocks are composed with an automaton. A consonant starts a block, a vowel follows, and a final consonant (batchim) can close it. Two vowels merge when they form a compound vowel (ㅗ + ㅏ = ㅘ, ㅜ + ㅓ = ㅝ, ㅡ + ㅣ = ㅢ). Two final consonants merge into a double batchim (ㄹ + ㄱ = ㄺ, so ㄷㅏㄹㄱ is 닭).
When a vowel is typed right after a final consonant, that consonant moves to the next block (the "ghost fire" rule, 도깨비불). With 닭, typing ㅏ gives 달가: only the second part of a double batchim moves. With 밥, typing ㅏ gives 바바.
The on-screen keyboard and your physical keys both use the physical key position (the US QWERTY key), so it works the same whatever language your operating system is set to. Text is added at the end of the box. Pasting or editing the text in place restarts composition from that text.
Key map
| Row | Keys (English → Hangul) |
|---|---|
| Top | Q ㅂ W ㅈ E ㄷ R ㄱ T ㅅ Y ㅛ U ㅕ I ㅑ O ㅐ P ㅔ |
| Home | A ㅁ S ㄴ D ㅇ F ㄹ G ㅎ H ㅗ J ㅓ K ㅏ L ㅣ |
| Bottom | Z ㅋ X ㅌ C ㅊ V ㅍ B ㅠ N ㅜ M ㅡ |
| With Shift | Q ㅃ W ㅉ E ㄸ R ㄲ T ㅆ O ㅒ P ㅖ |
Compound letters
| Type | Keys | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Vowel | ㅗ + ㅏ | ㅘ |
| Vowel | ㅜ + ㅓ | ㅝ |
| Vowel | ㅡ + ㅣ | ㅢ |
| Final | ㄹ + ㄱ | ㄺ (닭) |
| Final | ㅂ + ㅅ | ㅄ (값, 없다) |
| Final | ㄴ + ㅈ | ㄵ (앉다) |
FAQ
Do I need to install a Korean keyboard?
No. This page converts your keys to Hangul itself. For everyday typing in other apps you will still want to add the Korean keyboard in your system settings, which uses the same 2-set layout.
Why does the last letter change when I type a vowel?
That is the normal Korean rule. A final consonant moves to the next block when a vowel follows, so 안 + ㅏ becomes 아나. Type a space or another character first to keep the block closed.
How do I type double consonants like ㄲ or ㅃ?
Hold Shift and press the key for the plain consonant: Shift + R gives ㄲ, Shift + Q gives ㅃ. The double consonants ㄸ, ㅃ and ㅉ cannot be a final consonant, so they always start the next block.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes, tap the on-screen keys. The phone's own keyboard stays hidden on the text box so it does not cover the layout. To use your phone's built-in Korean keyboard, paste text into the box instead.
What is the difference from the 3-set (sebeolsik) layout?
Sebeolsik gives starting consonants, vowels and final consonants separate keys, so it needs no automaton. It is rarely used. Nearly all Korean keyboards sold are 2-set, which is what this tool uses.