When learning Korean with Busuu, you will be introduced to the Korean writing system, Hangeul. The information below advises you on how to set up your phone or computer so you can easily write in Hangeul.
For Windows computers:
- Go to Settings > Time and Language > Language and region > Add a language > 한국어 Korean > Next > unselect “Set as my Windows display language and Speech”, select Handwriting > Install.
- You will now be able to change from your default language to Korean by clicking the language icon (next to the time). Select Korean Microsoft IME. You will see the letter “A” appear in your bottom panel bar. Click it once and it will change into 한. Now you can type in Korean!
For Mac computers:
- Go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Input Sources > + select “Korean” and “Add”.
- Look for a text that indicates language next to the date and time at the top of your Mac (for example “GB British). Click on it to display all the language keyboards you have installed. Select 2-set Korean. This should be your main input mode for learning Korean. You are good to go!
How to type Korean (Windows and Mac)
Each key for the alphabet letter represents one particular consonant and vowel in Hangeul. To type certain double consonants (ㄲ, ㄸ, etc) and the vowels ㅖ and ㅒ, you need to press shift and enter the appropriate key. The image below shows the keys for each Korean consonant and vowel.
For iPhones and iPads:
- Go to Settings > General > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard > Korean > Standard (do NOT select 10 Key) > Done.
- To switch between languages on your keyboard, you can click on the little globe on the bottom left corner of your keyboard.
For Android phones:
Method 1
- Go to Settings > General management > Language and input > Add language > 한국어.
- To switch between languages on your keyboard, you can swipe the space bar on the keyboard
Method 2
- First, download Gboard from the Play store.
- Go to Settings > Language and input > Virtual keyboard > Gboard > Languages > Add keyboard > Korean > 2-bulsik
- To switch between languages, you can click on the little globe on the keyboard or press down on the space bar.
Typing on an android device
Typing on some android devices is a little different from an iPhone. The keyboard may look like this.
In this type of keyboard layout, the “.” key in “2” represents the dash in vowels “ㅏ, ㅓ, ㅗ, ㅜ". So to type the vowel “ㅏ", you would type “ㅣ" + “.”.
Below are some examples of how you would type each syllable
1. 사 = ㅅ > ㅣ > .
2. 소 = ㅅ > . > ㅡ
3. 셔 = ㅅ > . > . > ㅣ
4. 솨 = ㅅ > . > ㅡ > ㅣ > .